No, the OBPH CHW Training Center is not approved to provide the 160-hour certification training for CHWs, Promotores, or CHWIs. We plan to discuss with our OBPH Regional staff the possibility of becoming a certified training program for this course soon.
For a list of training centers that do offer the 160-hour competency-based CHW or CHWI training course, please visit the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program website.
Yes, the OBPH 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, please visit the OBPH CHW Training and Resources website and the DSHS Community Health Worker (CHW) or Promotor(a) Education Calendar.
No, a certified CHW Instructor’s affiliation is automatically re-instated whenever the instructor renews their CHW Instructor certification.
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.
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, please visit the New Mexico’s Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) website.
To find the list of requirements, please refer to the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program Policy, Section D. Certification of Training Programs-Curricula (page 5). Look under “Continuing education for CHWs or CHW Instructors curricula” for detailed information.
Step 1: Submit a curriculum proposal to the OBPH CHW Training Center. To do this, complete the Training Curriculum Proposal Form (refer to Question #4 for more details) and send it via e-mail to OBPHCHWTrainingCenter@dshs.texas.gov
Step 2: The OBPH CHW Training Center will review your proposal and will contact you via email with the next steps.
Yes, guest instructors may provide a one-time training under the supervision of a certified CHW Instructor affiliated with the OBPH CHW Training Center. Please 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 OBPH-certified training, fill out the Guest Instructor Request Form and email it to OBPHCHWTrainingCenter@dshs.texas.gov.
Note: If you already know you will have a guest instructor when submitting your Training Program Curriculum Submission Form to the OBPH, 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”.
The OBPH will then email the Guest Instructor Form to CHW@dshs.texas.gov for review and approval. You will be notified by the OBPH once it is approved.
If you wish to borrow a DSHS-certified curriculum from another certified training center, please follow these steps:
For a list of approved DSHS-certified CHW/CHWI curricula that can be shared among training programs, visit the Texas DSHS CHW or Promotor(a) Training and Certification Program “Shareable Curriculum List”.
The CHW Training Center that created the curriculum will always be the owner and developer of the curriculum. When sharing a curriculum with another certified CHW training center, the training center borrowing the curriculum to use for training in their region will receive the credit for the number of CHWs or CHWIs trained. When the training and certification program, receives the approval memo allowing the sharing of the curriculum, the curriculum developer will be noted on it.
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