Community Health Worker Certification

Want a career helping people get connected to care, resources, and real support?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is someone who helps people in the community navigate health and social services—without the medical jargon and runaround.

CHWs are often trusted community members who:

  • Help people find the right services (healthcare, housing, food, treatment, benefits, etc.)

  • Explain information in a way that actually makes sense

  • Provide support, encouragement, and advocacy

  • Do outreach and health education in the community

You may also hear CHWs called patient navigators, outreach workers, health educators, community health advisors, and more.

Requirements (Maryland)

To earn CHW Certification in Maryland, you must complete:

  • 100 hours of training

  • 40 hours of internship/practicum

  • Pass the CHW certification exam

To enroll, you must:

  • Be 18 or older

  • Have a high school diploma or GED
    (No GED yet? Don’t panic—we can help connect you to resources while you’re working toward it.)

What you’ll learn in Voices of Hope’s CHW Program

Our CHW training builds real-world skills so you’re ready to work in the field. You’ll cover things like:

  • Professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality

  • Communication skills

  • Wellness

  • Community outreach and resource navigation

  • And more…

Internships/practicum hours can be completed at:

  • A Voices of Hope center, or

  • A partner organizations across Maryland

Maryland CHW Core Competencies

During training and practicum, you’ll build skills in:

  1. Advocacy & helping communities build strength

  2. Clear communication

  3. Cultural awareness and respectful support

  4. Ethics & confidentiality

  5. Finding resources and helping people navigate systems

  6. Care coordination support

  7. Teaching/coaching for healthier choices

  8. Outreach strategies

  9. Public health basics and health literacy

Ready to enroll?

Step 1: Fill out the CHW Interest Form

Click CHW Program Interest Form and submit your info.

What happens next:
You’ll receive an email (usually within 1 business day) with exactly where to start.

📞 Questions? Call (443) 993-7055 and select option 5.

CHW Program Interest Form

 FAQs

 

  • The program cost is about $2,500. Most participants use workforce funding (WIOA) or grant funding, so the training ends up being free to the student.

    1. Register with your county’s American Job Center

    2. Attend their orientation

    3. Get assigned an employment specialist/counselor

    4. Request funding for the Voices of Hope Community Health Worker Training Program

    5. Once approved, send us your funding verification to finalize enrollment

  • Reach out anyway. We can suggest other options and help you explore different funding paths. If you got denied in one place, it can still be worth checking another—rules and eligibility can vary.

  • Yes. Some employers will pay for certification training. Ask your supervisor or HR department. If they can’t, we’ll point you toward workforce funding options.

  • Yes. Voices of Hope is an accredited Maryland CHW training program.

  • Yes. While funding is processing, you can attend free webinars/open trainings when available.
    After you submit the Interest Form, you’ll be added to our training email list so you can see what opens up. (Seats can fill, so nothing is guaranteed until you’re fully enrolled.)

  • After you submit the Interest Form, you’ll get an email with steps to begin. Since enrollment is rolling, you can apply anytime.

  • No. There is no recovery-time requirement for CHW. This track is open to anyone who wants to do community health outreach and support.

  • CHW is a broader pathway and does not require recovery experience. It includes community health and public health topics, and many people use it as a stepping stone into the field. Some folks later transition into CPRS once they meet CPRS requirements.

  • It depends on your schedule and how quickly you complete your trainings and practicum hours. Many students finish in a 6-9 months.

  • We’ll coordinate your 40-hour practicum. It can be completed with Voices of Hope or an approved community partner. You’ll have supervision and documentation support so your hours count.

  • Yes. After you complete the training and practicum, we schedule your CHW Certification Exam. You must score at least 80% to pass. We’ll prepare you and guide you through the certification steps afterward.

  • Maryland certification is state-issued. Other states may have different rules. Your training may still be valuable, but you should check your state’s requirements.

  • Most classes are live on Zoom. You’ll need:

    • A computer or tablet (not a cellphone)

    • Working camera and microphone

    • On-time attendance and full participation

  • Many courses run on set dates and require full attendance. If you miss time, you may need to wait for the next offering to receive credit.

Still have questions?

If your question isn’t covered above, you can book a call/meet with the Training Program Coordinator.
Thank you!

Book A Call/Meet
Heather P.
Paula C.
Rachael A.
Diana W.