Certified training programs provide training for promotores, community health workers (CHWs), and/or CHW instructors. Organizations may apply to provide the following training:

• Certification course of at least 180 hours with at least 20 hours for each of the Texas CHW core competencies;
• Continuing education; or
• Both–certification courses and continuing education

Requirements

The following minimum eligibility requirements apply to organizations applying for certification:

• Physical location in Texas;
• Experience in training promotores or CHWs, health care professionals, or paraprofessionals and training experience within the past two years and related to the core competencies; and
• Affiliation with one or more instructors currently certified by the department.

Application

Training programs applying for the first time must include:

• A complete initial certification application provided by DSHS
• A plan to provide trainings on an annual basis which includes:
  • Locations
  • Training schedule
  • Recruitment and registration/enrollment procedures
  • Cost of classes
  • Training methodology (classroom or distance learning)
  • Completion/graduation requirements
  • Training evaluation
• A curriculum consistent with the type of training provided
  • Certification course for CHWs or CHWIs
  • Continuing education (CE) for CHWs or CHWIs

A training program applying for the first time may include a DSHS certified curriculum from a DSHS certified training program that has agreed to share their curriculum. In this situation, the training program application must include:

• Description of changes, if any, to the DSHS certified curriculum
• Documentation from the DSHS certified training program agreeing to share their DSHS approved curriculum with the training program applying for certification

Certificate Expiration and Renewal

Certifications are valid for two (2) years. To renew a certification, DSHS certified training programs must submit the following:

• A complete renewal application provided by DSHS
• Record of trainings offered during the previous two-year certification cycle
• List of instructors
• A plan to provide trainings on an annual basis which includes:
  • Locations
  • Training schedule
  • Recruitment and registration/enrollment procedures
  • Cost of classes o Training methodology (classroom or distance learning)
  • Completion/graduation requirements
  • Training evaluation
• List of each DSHS certified curriculum used by the DSHS certified training program and the last date of certification.
• An assurance statement stating the curricula is accurate and relevant with the most current research available.

If a DSHS certified training program applying for renewal submits a new curriculum with their application, the DSHS certified training program must follow the Initial Certification Curricula requirements.