How to Become a Community Health Worker

Q: What's the difference between a community health worker and a health educator?

Community health workers typically focus on direct outreach, care navigation, and connecting individuals with services, while health educators more often design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs for groups and organizations.

Q: Do I need a degree to become a community health worker?

Not always. Many entry-level community health worker positions require only a high school diploma and job-specific training, though some employers prefer candidates with college coursework or a bachelor's degree for advancement opportunities.

Q: Is community health worker certification required?

Certification requirements vary by state and employer. Some states have formal certification or licensure systems for community health workers, while in other areas certification remains voluntary but may improve employment opportunities.

Q: What settings do community health workers work in?

Community health workers are employed by hospitals, community clinics, nonprofit organizations, local health departments, schools, insurance companies, social service agencies, and federally qualified health centers.

Q: How does speaking a second language affect job prospects as a CHW?

Bilingual skills are highly valued in community health work because they improve communication and outreach with diverse populations. Many employers actively seek bilingual candidates, particularly in multilingual communities.

Community Health Career Overview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What CHWs Do How to Become One Certification by State Key Skills Education & Advancement Salary & Job Outlook Resources FAQ

Public Health Degree Resources:

Epidemiology Resources:

Written by Laura Bennett, MPH, Last Updated: May 28, 2026

At a Glance

Community health workers promote wellness and connect people to health services in their communities. Entry-level roles require a high school diploma, though a bachelor’s degree improves job prospects and advancement potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $51,030 and projects 11% job growth from 2024 to 2034.

When COVID-19 swept through underserved neighborhoods at disproportionate rates, community health workers were the ones knocking on doors, translating health guidance across language barriers, and connecting families to testing and care. The role isn’t new, but the pandemic significantly increased public awareness of the role. Demand for community health workers (CHWs) was already climbing before 2020. It hasn’t slowed since.

CHWs serve as the link between people and the healthcare system, often working in the same communities they grew up in. They advocate for patients, run outreach programs, and help individuals navigate services that can otherwise feel inaccessible. If you’re drawn to public health careers that involve real one-on-one contact with the people you’re helping, this career is worth understanding in detail.

What Community Health Workers Do

The day-to-day work of a community health worker varies considerably depending on employer and setting, but the core purpose stays the same: help people adopt healthier behaviors and connect to the resources they need. CHWs work with individuals, families, and groups, and they often serve as the human face of public health programs that would otherwise reach people only through pamphlets or websites.

Typical responsibilities include:

Advocating for individual and community health needs with healthcare providers and social service agencies
Providing informal counseling, social support, and health education to clients
Conducting outreach for health organizations and connecting clients to services
Collecting data to help identify community health needs and program gaps
Planning and implementing community programs that promote overall health
Some CHWs may assist with basic screenings such as blood pressure checks, depending on employer protocols and state regulations
Serving as a cultural and linguistic liaison for organizations working with specific populations

CHWs work in a wide range of settings. Many are employed by local health departments, community health centers, and non-profit organizations. Others work in hospitals and outpatient care centers, health insurance companies, or federally qualified health centers that serve low-income and underserved populations. Some CHWs are embedded within school systems or social service agencies.

How to Become a Community Health Worker

The path into community health work is more accessible than most healthcare careers. There’s no single required degree, and entry-level positions are open to candidates with a high school diploma and relevant experience or certification. That said, the field is professionalizing quickly, and more employers are favoring candidates with postsecondary education or state certification.

Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma or GED

This is the minimum requirement for most entry-level CHW positions. You’ll also want to begin building any relevant language skills or community connections that employers value. Bilingual candidates, particularly Spanish speakers, are consistently in demand across most states.

Step 2: Complete On-the-Job Training or a CHW Certificate Program

Most community health workers receive on-the-job training when they’re hired, typically covering their employer’s specific programs, client populations, and protocols. Some states and employers also support or require a formal CHW certificate, which can usually be completed in a few weeks through a community college, health department, or workforce development program. These programs cover health education, motivational interviewing, cultural competency, and community outreach.

Step 3: Consider a Relevant Degree

A bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, nursing, health education, or a related field makes you more competitive for higher-paying roles and supervisory positions. Many employers list a bachelor’s degree as preferred, and some public health department roles require it. If you’re aiming for program management or policy-level work over time, a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field can open those doors.

Step 4: Pursue State Certification if Available

Many states have established voluntary or required certification for CHWs, administered through the state health department or a designated credentialing body. Certification typically involves completing an approved training program, logging supervised field experience, passing an exam, and clearing a background check. Even where it’s optional, state certification often allows your employer to access additional public funding and can be required for positions with state or local health agencies.

Featured Programs:

Licensing and Certification by State

State-level CHW certification and licensure vary widely. Some states have mandatory certification for certain roles, while others offer voluntary programs. The table below shows states that have an established CHW certification or licensure process. Certification requirements and program status change regularly. Verify current rules with your state health department before applying.

State	Certification/Licensure Status
Alaska	Established program
Arizona	Established program
California	Established program
Florida	Established program
Illinois	Established program
Indiana	Established program
Kentucky	Established program
Louisiana	Established program
Maine	Established program
Maryland	Established program
Massachusetts	Established program
Michigan	Established program
Minnesota	Established program
Mississippi	Established program
Missouri	Established program
Nebraska	Established program
Nevada	Established program
New Jersey	Established program
New Mexico	Established program
New York	Established program
North Dakota	Established program
Ohio	Established program
Oregon	Established program
Rhode Island	Established program
South Carolina	Established program
Texas	Established program
Washington	Established program

If your state isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean there’s no path to credentialing. The CHW National Consortium and state-level CHW associations can point you toward emerging certification frameworks and workforce development programs in your area.

Skills That Make a Difference

CHWs succeed because of the trust they build with the people they serve, and that trust depends on a specific combination of interpersonal, cultural, and practical skills that can’t be learned entirely from a textbook.

The skills that employers consistently look for include strong communication and active listening, cultural competency and sensitivity to the communities you serve, and the ability to speak the language of your clients, whether that’s Spanish, a Southeast Asian language, or the informal language of a specific neighborhood. Bilingualism is one of the most valuable qualifications in many markets, and many employers specifically recruit bilingual candidates to serve communities where English is not the primary language.

Beyond those, you’ll want to develop empathy and patience for working with people in difficult circumstances, including those facing mental health challenges, data collection and basic documentation skills, and enough knowledge of local health and social services to make meaningful referrals. Many of these skills deepen with experience. The entry-level bar is achievable. The ceiling is high.

Education and Advancement

Community health work offers real room to grow, and education plays a direct role in where that growth takes you. Entry-level CHWs with a high school diploma and certification can move into senior or lead CHW roles, supervisor positions, or program coordinator roles over time. Many of those upper-level positions require or strongly prefer a bachelor’s degree.

Relevant fields of study include public health, social work, nursing, health education, statistics, cultural studies, ethics, and foreign languages. The right choice depends on the population you want to serve and the kind of work you want to lead. A social work background prepares you for case management and behavioral health settings. A public health degree opens doors in program planning, epidemiology, and policy work.

For those aiming at management, research, or policy-level positions, a Master of Public Health (MPH) is the most common advanced credential in the field. MPH programs typically require two years full-time and include core coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, and social and behavioral sciences.

Salary and Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $51,030 for community health workers as of May 2024. That figure sits well above the median for all occupations in the U.S. and reflects a field where demand has been growing steadily for more than a decade.

Metric	Figure
Median annual wage (May 2024)	$51,030
Total employment (2024)	65,100
Projected job growth (2024–2034)	11%
Projected annual openings	~7,800

The BLS projects 11% growth in CHW employment from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average across all U.S. occupations. That translates to roughly 7,800 job openings per year over the decade, a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. Salary varies by employer type, geographic area, and experience, with government and hospital-based positions often paying at the higher end of the range.

Professional Resources

These national organizations support community health workers through career development resources, professional networks, and advocacy on workforce and policy issues:

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a community health worker and a health educator?

Community health workers focus on direct outreach, case navigation, and connecting individuals to services, often working one-on-one in community settings. Health educators typically design and implement broader health promotion programs for groups or organizations. The roles overlap, and both fall under the same BLS occupational category, but CHWs tend to have more direct client contact and less program design responsibility.

Do I need a degree to become a community health worker?

Not necessarily. Most entry-level CHW positions require only a high school diploma plus on-the-job training or a short certificate program. That said, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, and a degree becomes more important as you move into supervisory or program management roles. Bilingual skills and lived community experience can outweigh formal education at the entry level.

Is community health worker certification required?

It depends on your state and employer. More than two dozen states have established CHW certification or licensure programs, and some public agencies require it. Where certification is voluntary, it still improves your job prospects and may allow your employer to access additional state funding. Check with your state health department for current requirements.

What settings do community health workers work in?

CHWs work across a wide range of settings, including local health departments, community health centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, health insurance companies, non-profit organizations, and federally qualified health centers. Some are embedded in schools or social service agencies. Rural, urban, and border communities all employ CHWs, though the specific responsibilities vary by setting and population served.

How does speaking a second language affect job prospects as a CHW?

It significantly improves them. Bilingualism is one of the most valued qualifications in this field, and many employers specifically recruit bilingual candidates to serve communities where English is not the primary language. Spanish fluency is the most consistently in-demand language skill, but demand varies by region. In some markets, bilingual candidates are strongly preferred even for positions that don’t list it as a formal requirement.

Key Takeaways

Community health workers bridge the gap between individuals and health services, doing direct outreach, advocacy, and education in community settings.
Entry-level positions require a high school diploma, but a bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, or a related field improves advancement potential.
More than two dozen states have established CHW certification or licensure programs. Certification may be required for public agency roles and can expand your employer’s funding options.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $51,030 and projects 11% job growth from 2024 to 2034, well above the average for all occupations.
Bilingual skills, cultural competency, and lived community experience are among the most valued qualifications in this field at every level.

Interested in a public health career that puts you at the center of community health work? Browse accredited degree programs by state and find options that fit your goals.

Find Schools Near You

Laura Bennett, MPH Public Health Educator

Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training

See Full Bio

2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Community Health Workers represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.