Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) Training

Serve your clients and the community by becoming a Certified Community Health Worker

HealthVisions Midwest Inc (HVM) is an approved vendor of the Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) Training for the Indiana Community Health Worker Association (INCHWA). Participants in the CHW training will obtain their certification by engaging in self-study modules, reading sections of the Foundations for Community Health Workers book, reviewing, and discussing videos, completing quizzes, engaging in weekly online chats and two-hour virtual review sessions. They will complete a community project and present it at the end of the training using skills taught. They will also take a certification exam after completing all course sessions and coursework.

Training Dates

Evening Training

January 14 - February 18, 2026

March 11 - April 22, 2026

May 13 - June 17, 2026

July 8 - August 12, 2026

September 2 - October 7, 2026

October 28 - December 9, 2026

Day Training

January 16 - February 20, 2026

March 13 - April 24, 2026

May 15 - June 19, 2026

July 10-August 14, 2026

September 4 - October 9, 2026

October 30 - December 11, 2026

The last date to register for the training sessions is 10 days prior to the class starting (unless otherwise noted).

This training is designed as a self-paced learning experience combined with a mandatory two-hour virtual session. Participants are expected to complete all assigned self-study materials prior to the virtual meeting to ensure full understanding and active participation. During the live session, participants should be prepared to engage in discussions, ask questions, and share insights from their self-study. Virtual sessions are offered on Wednesday evenings starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern / 6:00 p.m. Central or Friday mornings starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern / 9:00 a.m. Central.

Participants must choose either the day or evening cohort during registration and remain in that cohort for the entire course. Switching between cohorts is not permitted, and make-up sessions are not available, so please plan accordingly. Please join the virtual meeting on time, with your camera and microphone ready, and plan to stay for the full duration. Completion of both the self-study and virtual session is required to receive credit for the training.

For more information email cchw@hvusa.org

Register

What is a Community Health Worker?

“A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy."

American Public Health Association’s definition of CHWs

Who should attend?

Individuals who wish to pursue a career as a Certified Community Health Worker and enter the healthcare and social service arena.
Providers of healthcare who wish to certify staff as Community Health Workers increasing access to health services, support clients in managing chronic disease, and decreasing hospital readmissions.

Eligibility Criteria:

Must be at least 18 years old
Must have at least a high school diploma or GED
Must complete all required documents:

Application
CHW Participant Screening Questionnaire
Participant Consent/Agreement
CHW Training Participant Affidavit (to be completed by Employer)

The Certified Community Health Worker Course consists of five sections, comprised of more than twenty-two modules and is estimated to take at least 45-hours to complete. This course prepares the student for the certification exam.

To be certified in the State of Indiana, participants must successfully complete the following MANDATORY requirements:

A virtual 2-hour orientation
Five self-study sessions
Five 2-hour virtual reviews
Development of an Individual Community Project
Successfully complete final exam with 85% passing score

Fees

$1,200 course fee includes the instruction materials (online student manual and e-text book), registration, examination and 1-year Indiana Community Health Workers Association membership

Topics Include:

Defining Roles, Advocacy and Cultural Sensitivity
Professionalism
Introduction to Public Health
CCHW Core Competencies
Communication Skills
Motivational Interviewing
Customer service in health care
Goal setting with Clients
Confidentiality and HIPPA
Fundamentals of Leadership
Conflict Resolution Skills
Client-Centered Counseling for Behavior Change
Stress Management
Working with Groups and communities
Emergency Preparedness

The CHW can be found in various settings of community healthcare and is known by many titles:

Community Health Educator
Health Advocate
Home Visitor
Mental Health Worker
Navigator
Peer Advisor
Promotor(a) de Salud
And Others...

Technology Requirement:

Reliable Computer - Since this training is online, computers, laptops, tablets, or phones with these features can be utilized. However, printing capabilities from the equipment is required
Internet, WIFI or hot spot to access online manual
Reader Software –E-book link and app will be provided
Web-camera, speakers and microphone
Microsoft Word or word processing program software to help create documents required in some of the student activities or assignments
Printer and printer paper

CANCELLATION POLICY

If Participant cancels at least 10 business days prior to training a $25 processing fee will be charged, and remaining training fees will be refunded. If Participant cancels after the 10-business day cut-off then a credit voucher will be issued for a future training and must be used within one year.
HealthVisions Midwest retains the right to cancel a scheduled session in the event of low participation numbers. If HealthVisions cancels the scheduled class, participants will be notified 10 business days prior to the first class and will have the option to either be issued a full refund or to attend an upcoming class.
Attendance policy: In the event a participant is unable to attend one of the virtual review sessions due to significant illness, personal instances of distress or emergency, religious observances, or required court and/or legal appearances, they must submit a request in writing to be excused from that week’s virtual review session. Approval will be considered on a case by case basis and be communicated to the participant. Participants may miss only one weekly virtual review session; more than one absence will necessitate participant withdrawing from the training class and rescheduling attendance for one of the upcoming classes within the same calendar year. It is the participants responsibility to notify their employer of any missed classes and/or withdrawal from class.