BISMARCK – North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the Community Health Worker (CHW) certification application is now available online.

Establishing a certification process ensures consistency in training and practice standards, according to HHS. Certification also creates a way for North Dakota Medicaid to pay for services community health workers provide to Medicaid members.

Certified community health workers are frontline public health professionals who connect individuals and communities to health care, social services and other essential resources supporting health and well-being. They may work for hospitals and health systems, tribal health, public health units and other entities.

There are four ways to become a certified community health worker. They include community health worker training and internship, Indian Health Service Community Health Representative training, a supervised work experience and reciprocity with another state for individuals already certified or licensed in another state.

“We are pleased to create this certification process and formally recognize the essential role community health workers have in North Dakota,” said HHS Health Response and Licensure Section Director Tim Wiedrich in a news release. “Certification builds trust by ensuring these health professionals are well prepared to meet the needs of individuals and communities.”

The certification application and related resources are available from HHS. To learn more, call 328-8655, 711 (TTY) or email hrlsection@nd.gov.