Health Educator Pathway to Licensure Overview

he Health Educator program is designed to provide currently licensed educators the competencies needed to qualify for a Vermont health education endorsement. The content of the course work addresses the essential competencies required by the State of Vermont. Currently licensed and endorsed health educators are welcome to take courses for professional development or recertification credits.

For more information, please contact Susan Yesalonia, at [email protected] 

Endorsement Guidance

Qualified individuals may request transcript analysis by the Vermont Agency of Education Educator Licensing Department. To qualify for transcript review, students must have completed at least two-thirds of the required college-level coursework necessary to satisfy competency requirements for endorsement in health education. In addition, endorsement in health education requires a 60-hour practicum completed by the student under the supervision of a licensed health educator and passing the Praxis II exam for health education.

Sequence of Courses and Course Descriptions

The 18-credit sequence of graduate level courses includes 5 content areas. These courses are designed to meet most of the required competencies for health educator licensure in Vermont. Students may not need to take all VT HEC health courses; only an official transcript review will help students determine which competencies they need to meet in order to qualify for licensure in health education. In addition, students must complete a 60-hour practicum, which is completed by the student under the supervision of a licensed health educator. For more information about this and other related licensing questions, contact the Vermont Agency of Education’s educator licensing division at 802-828-3440 or [email protected].

View the Licensing chart for health courses. This chart aligns coursework with the current required competencies.

View the two-year course rotation for 2022-2024. This chart shows the semester/year in which courses are offered.

Nutrition and Food Education

3 credits = 45 contact hours
Course Description: As the need to address student nutrition has come into focus, a comprehensive approach to changing nutrition behaviors must include facilitating development of nutrition related health literacy among youth. This course is designed for professionals to learn how to teach nutrition education while working collaboratively across school and local communities to establish healthful, sustainable food systems for schools.

Principles & Methods for Effective Health Education

3 Credits = 45 contact Hours
Course Description: This participatory course will provide teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver effective standards-based health education curriculum, instruction, and assessment. An examination of health education principles, theories, and practices will form the foundation of the course. Coursework will focus on the field of health education in terms of historical developments, theoretical foundations, National Health Education standards, and research-based methods needed to implement and assess effective skills-based health education.

Substance Misuse Prevention Education

3 Credits = 45 contact Hours
Course Description: This course is designed for school health staff, consultants and community partners to provide a sufficient level of knowledge, skills and resources to teach in a school’s curriculum and substance misuse prevention and education program. The aim is to prevent negative consequences of substance misuse, and the development of substance use disorder with students at risk and to prepare professionals to serve as resources for youth, families and school staff within the school’s health education and school health program. The course content, activities and the course project are aligned to the Vermont Health Education Standards and the VT Rules Governing the Licensing of Health Educators. Participants apply the course teachings in a school-based  project.  

Concepts in Personal and Community Health for Educators

3 credits = 45 contact hours
Course Description: This course is a comprehensive study of personal health with emphasis on mental, social, and emotional health; stress management; self-esteem; communicable and degenerative diseases; health benefits of physical activity; consumer and community health; Whole School, Whole Community and Whole Child (WSCC); and how to advocate for health education.

Promoting Personal Health and Safety Through The Prevention of Injury and Violence

3 credit = 45 contact hours
Course Description: This course is designed for K-12 health educators, school health staff, consultants and community partners to provide a sufficient level of knowledge, skills and resources to teach and support a school’s health curriculum and Injury and Violence Prevention Education Program. The aim is to prevent negative consequences of intentional and unintentional injury, and to prepare educators and professionals to serve as resources for youth, families and school staff within the school’s comprehensive health education and school wellness program. The course content, activities and the course project are designed to teach and apply concepts of mental health and injury prevention and address Vermont Health Education Standards to meet the endorsement competencies defined by the Vermont Rules Governing the Licensing of Health Educators. Participants apply the course teachings in a school-based project.

Human Sexuality and STD Prevention

3 credits = 45 contact hours
Course Description:

This participatory, project-based course will provide teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver an effective standards-based sexuality education curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Vermont’s focus on proficiency-based learning and teaching in a health education classroom will be addressed. Coursework will allow students the opportunity to explore a broad perspective on sexuality education, including what research indicates is  effective, adolescent brain development, cross-cultural sexual expression and behavior, attitudes and social norms, barriers to change, and communication skills all within the context of positive, healthy sexuality.