Learner Objectives:
Participants will:
1. review a brief overview of the CUP research process; 2. examine implications for applications of the study findings; 3. deduce ramifications for follow-up research endeavors.
Over a six-year period, the National Health Educator Competencies Update Project (CUP) addressed the degree to which the role definition of the entry-level health educator was still up-to-date, and continued with the development of the advanced-level competencies. Analysis of the data from 4,030 respondents (70.6% adjusted response rate) from all states and the District of Columbia resulted in a hierarchical model with three levels of practice (Entry, Advanced 1, and Advanced 2), comprised of seven Areas of Responsibility, 35 competencies and 163 sub-competencies. Selected examples from the CUP model will be presented and discussed. Implications for applications of the findings will be discussed, particularly as they impact professional preparation, credentialing, and professional development. In addition, selected recommendations for follow-up research using the CUP database will be discussed. These include further analysis of the percentage of time spent and assessment of importance by health educators in each Area of Responsibility, and the supervisory role of health educators in relation to the Areas of Responsibility in distinct work settings. The research results are jointly owned by the American Association for Health Education, the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and the Society for Public Health Education.