A Community Health Worker (CHW) or Promotor(a) de Salud is a person who, with or without compensation, helps connect people in their community with healthcare and social services. They understand the culture, language, and life experiences of the people they serve.

CHWs help individuals find the services they need and strengthen the community as a whole. They provide information about health, help people become more independent, and offer support through activities like outreach, guiding patients, teaching about health, giving informal advice, and assisting in patient information gathering and evaluation.

The CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program (CHW Program) manages the policy framework and rules for the training and certification of CHWs.

The CHW Program provides certification for CHWs, CHW instructors, CHW training centers, and training curriculums. It also provides resources, reports, articles, and research material to foster sustaining employment for current and future community health workers.

Becoming a CHW

Discover more about Community Health Workers and what it takes to be certified.

Becoming a CHW Instructor

Ready to move up? Learn what it takes to become a Community Health Worker Instructor.

Receive notices from the CHW Program, including CHW courses and continuing education units (CEUs) by signing up for email and text updates.