About Community Health Worker

Build a career advocating for health and social justice.

The CHW Program trains and certifies students to work in the fields of public health, health care and social services. Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide a wide range of services, including health outreach and education, client-centered counseling and case management, and client and community-based advocacy. They work to reduce unequal rates of illness and death between different communities and to promote health equity or justice, prioritizing communities with the greatest health risks.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Community Health Worker can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Community Health Worker
  • Promotor de Salud
  • Case Manager
  • Outreach Worker
  • Health Navigator
  • Enroll as a Credit Student: see how to apply
  • 14 units of core courses (HLTH 201, HLTH  202, HLTH  203 & HLTH 203W)
  • 3 units of elective courses (see elective courses below)
  • A 120-hour internship placement
  • A final Performance-Based Exam (PBE) administered by local public health experts

Elective Course Options

Students can select from the following courses to customize their certificate and receive training in different areas of emphasis such working with elders or youth, supporting people coming home from incarceration (re-entry) or supporting people living with HIV or Hepatitis diseases:

  • Health 10: Health and Aging.  3 units
  • Health 64: Health Education Training: Skills and Practice.  3 units.
  • Health 65: Youth Development and Leadership. 3 units.
  • Health 66: Chronic Conditions Management. 3 units.
  • Health 67: HIV and Hepatitis Navigation Skills.  3 units.
  • Health 85: Community Nutrition and Education.  3 units.
  • Health 91C:  Hepatitis ABCs.  1 unit
  • Health 91H: Elder Abuse Prevention.  1 unit
  • Health 91J: Advancing Language Justice for Health.  1 unit
  • Health 95: Transgender Health: Working with Clients & Communities. 1 unit.
  • Health 110: Health impacts of Incarceration.  3 units
  • Health 116: Conflict Resolution Skills in Health.  1 units
  • Health 221: Health and Social Justice. 3 units
  • Health 231: Policy, Advocacy & Community Health.  3 units

NOTE: Students who enrolled in the CHW Program in earlier years may have Catalog Rights, and may choose to complete the courses that were required for a certificate at the time of their enrollment. If you have questions about Catalog Rights, please contact the CHW Program Coordinator or Community & Public Health Department Chair.

CourseTitleUnitsNotes
HLTH 59Intro to the CHW field1.0Completed with a "C" or higher

OR

Documented successful experience as a Community Health Worker and submission of a completed program application by the deadline

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
HLTH 201CHW Principles & Practice 15 
Elective Courses 3 

Semester 2

Course NumberCourse TitleUnitsNotes
HLTH 202CHW Principles & Practice 25 
HLTH 203Professional Skills for CHWs 2 
HLTH 203WCHW Internship Placement2 

The CHW Certificate is designed to prepare students for employment and professional success.  Learning outcomes are based on input from local employers, program graduates who are working in the field, and research and emerging standards for the CHW profession.  

Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  • Analyze and evaluate public health concepts and information for health promotion.
  • Assess and integrate professional skills necessary for employment in the CHW field.
  • Evaluate and implement entry-level proficiency in CHW core competencies for working effectively with diverse individuals, groups and communities.
     

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. Start planning your transfer by exploring Community Health Worker programs at the following institutions: 

  • San Francisco State University
  • Cal State East Bay

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.