ADD ADVICE TO FAVHealth education and promotion officer
Health education and promotion officers work mainly for the National Health Service and local authorities and also for schools and prisons.
What health education and promotion officers do
- help individuals to understand matters affecting their health
- manage projects designed to address particular health issues
- acquire expert knowledge on issues relating to health, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, etc
- address groups of clients about health matters
- devise creative and interesting methods for presenting health education information, for example, through written materials, slides, photographs, etc
- work with other healthcare professionals.
Key skills for health education and promotion officers
- genuine interest in working with people
- good written skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- project-management
- creativity.
Training to be a health education and promotion officer
To enter and train you need a degree in a relevant subject. Within a year you would be encouraged to take a postgraduate qualification in health promotion.
Relevant experience in a health-related profession, such as nursing or social work, can be a useful prelude to this occupation.
Salaries for health education and promotion officers
There is no nationally agreed pay structure, and salaries will depend on the type of employing organisation. However, starting salaries in the NHS are usually in the range of £19,166 to £24,803. Management positions command salaries in excess of £36,000 although only a few positions are available.
Professional bodies
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
- Society of Health Education and Health Promotion Specialists
