Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification Training Program
The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.68.02.02 (Community Health Worker Certification Training Programs) requires all CHW certification training programs to be accredited by the Maryland Department of Health (the Department) and that an accreditation shall be issued before an organization may offer a CHW certification training program. To obtain accreditation for a CHW certification training program, an organization must submit an accreditation application to the Department.
Community Health Worker certification training program accreditation applications are accepted on a rolling basis.Before completing an application for accreditation, review all information and documents on this page.
Key things to know about the accreditation process:
- Accreditation applications are being accepted through the Maryland OneStop portal. Read more about the application portal and application fields in Sections VI and VII in the Application Manual.
- There is no fee to apply for accreditation.
- There are two required forms and required supplemental materials to be uploaded to your application. Read more about the required forms, the Curriculum Framework Form, and the Objective Knowledge Assessment Form, along with required supplemental materials in Section V of the Application Manual.
- New CHW certification training program applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Training program applications will be reviewed by a CHW Training Program Review Committee. Read more about the review process in Section X of the Application Manual.
- A CHW certification training program accreditation is effective for 3 years from the date issued. Read more about accreditation expiration and renewal in Section XIII of the Application Manual.
- The CHW team is here to assist. Contact us at MDH.CHW@Maryland.gov or call 410-767-5971.
CHW certification training program requirements:
1. Provide a minimum of 100 hours of instruction
2. Verify successful completion of an additional supervised 40-hour practicum by a student
3. Employ a curriculum framework that incorporates, at a minimum, the Maryland CHW nine core competencies:
- Advocacy and community capacity-building skills
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Cultural competency
- Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues
- Knowledge of local resources and system navigation
- Care coordination support skills
- Teaching skills to promote healthy behavior change
- Outreach methods and strategies
- Understanding of public health concepts and health literacy
4. Include an objective knowledge assessment
Webinars: Community Health Worker Training Program Accreditation Process and Application
Important application documents:
* The required forms are PDF fillable forms. To complete the forms:
1. Save the form to your computer and close the original form.
2. Open the saved form from your computer location and enter information.
Submit an application for accreditation:
Once you begin an accreditation application in the
OneStop portal, you may save your application and return it at any time to continue working on the application. Please be sure that the application is complete, all required forms and supplemental documents are uploaded prior to submitting your application.
The CHW team is available to assist training programs in their application for accreditation. Contact us at MDH.CHW@Maryland.gov or call 410-767-5971.
For information on the renewal of a CHW certification training program accreditation, contact Tina Backe at tina.backe@maryland.gov.
