Does the RLHO CHW Training Center offer an approved DSHS-certified 180-hour competency-based CHW or CHWI training course?

No, the RLHO CHW Training Center is not approved to provide the 180-hour certification training for CHWs, Promotores, or CHWIs. We plan to explore the possibility of becoming a certified training program for this course soon.

For a list of training centers that do offer the 180-hour competency-based CHW or CHWI training course, visit CHW and CHW Instructor Training | Texas DSHS.

Does the RLHO CHW Training Center offer DSHS-certified continuing education or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Community Health Workers (CHWs), Promotores, or Community Health Worker Instructors (CHWIs)?

Yes, the RLHO CHW Training Center is certified by the Texas DSHS to provide training that meets the continuing education (CE) requirements for CHWs, Promotores, and CHWIs.

For information on upcoming training opportunities for CHWs and CHWIs, visit Training and Resources and sign up for email and text updates.

Does a certified CHW Instructor have to renew their affiliation with a certified training center?

No, a certified CHW Instructor’s affiliation is automatically re-instated whenever the instructor renews their CHW Instructor certification.

Can a CHWI be affiliated with several training centers?

Yes, CHWIs can be affiliated with more than one training center. Typically, CHWIs are affiliated with the training center where they received their certification. If you want to teach certified CEUs for CHWs or CHWIs at another DSHS-certified training center, you first need to get their agreement to affiliate with you. Next, the training center must submit an affiliation request to the DSHS by emailing CHW@dshs.texas.gov for approval. You can be affiliated with several DSHS-certified Training Programs.

Can a CHWI from New Mexico (NM) be affiliated with a CHW training center in Texas, and vice versa?

To be certified in the state of Texas, you must be a resident, which means you need to have a permanent address in Texas. Other states, including New Mexico, have their own CHWI certification programs and training centers.  It is recommended to check with your state’s health services department for specific certification requirements.

For more information on New Mexico’s policies, visit the New Mexico’s Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) website. 

What should be included in a DSHS-certified continuing education curriculum for CHWs or CHWIs?

To find the list of requirements, refer to the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program Policy, Section VII. Certification of Training Programs-Curricula (page 7).  Look under “Continuing education for CHWs or CHW Instructors curricula” for detailed information.

What If my organization does not have a certified CHW Instructor to teach certified RLHO CHW training? Can we use a guest instructor?

Yes, guest instructors may provide a one-time training under the supervision of a certified CHW Instructor affiliated with the RLHO CHW Training Center. Review the DSHS Community Health Worker (CHW) or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program Guest Instructor Procedure form for further guidance.

To request guest instructor approval for RLHO-certified training, fill out the Guest Instructor Request Form and email it to  CHWCoordination@dshs.texas.gov

Note: If you already know you will have a guest instructor when submitting your Training Program Curriculum Submission Form to our training center, you can fill out the section under the “Guest Instructor” in the Curriculum Submission form. This will suffice instead of completing the “Guest Instructor Request Form”.

Our RLHO training center will then email the Guest Instructor Form to CHW@dshs.texas.gov for review and approval.  You will be notified by the RLHO training center once it is approved. 

Can my certified CHW training center borrow a DSHS-certified curriculum from the RLHO CHW Training Center or other certified CHW training centers?

If you wish to borrow a DSHS-certified curriculum from another certified training center, follow these steps:

1. Step 1: Get a Curriculum Authorization Release Letter or e-mail from the training center that owns the curriculum. The letter must confirm that you have permission to use their curriculum.
2. Step 2: The training center that is sharing the curriculum needs to email the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program at chw@dshs.texas.gov. In this email, they must confirm the details in the Curriculum Authorization Release Letter, including the name of the requesting organization, and any conditions related to the release of the curriculum.
3. Step 3: Once the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program receives this e-mail, they will provide the requested curriculum to the training center that requested it.
4. Step 4 (optional): If you need to update or revise a borrowed DSHS-certified curriculum (with training center authorization), you may submit an addendum for revisions, as per the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program Policy, Section VII. Certification of Training Programs (page 8).

For a list of approved DSHS-certified CHW/CHWI curricula that can be shared among training programs, e-mail the CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program at chw@dshs.texas.gov.