About the ASU Community Health Worker Training Program  

The ASU Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program was first funded in 2022 through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand Arizona’s CHW workforce in underserved communities. The curriculum is designed for those new to the field or wanting to bolster foundational knowledge and skills needed for the CHW profession. This program was developed by ASU faculty and associates with lived CHW experience using best practices for adult education. 

With the end of our grant funding in 2026, we have transitioned to a sustainable training model where we are looking to partner with community organizations to offer our curriculum as part of a standardized training and onboarding process. Training is now asynchronous and does not require progression with a cohort. Content is divided into 37 modules with estimated completion times provided for each section. The original schedule allowed for completion of all curriculum over the course of two academic semesters with a time commitment of 10-15 hours per week; however, this can be adjusted depending on individual/organizational needs.   

Interested individuals may also elect to self-pay for the course, but please note we are no longer able to provide support for accruing supervised hours required for voluntary CHW certification. 

Course materials are aligned with the national Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) and state recognized CHW core competency areas, including: Communication, Interpersonal/Relationship Building, Outreach, Advocacy, Service Coordination, Capacity Building, Assessment, Education & Facilitation, Knowledge Base, Professional Conduct, and Evaluation/Research.  

This curriculum meets educational requirements for voluntary CHW certification through the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS, pathway 2). Originally developed through a HRSA grant, the training program has been redesigned for sustainability by partnering with community organizations to support standardized training and professional development of newly hired CHWs, promoting consistency and better preparedness for those entering this growing field.

Foundational skills and competencies

The Community Health Worker training program is designed to build foundational skills and knowledge needed to be a successful CHW. CHW is used here to describe many different jobs as a trusted frontline worker in healthcare, including Promotores de Salud, Community Health Representative, Patient Navigator, Community Health Advisor, and more. This engaging and impactful fully online curriculum was developed with the needs of the CHW in mind. Topic areas align with the core competencies identified by the Arizona Community Health Workers Association and include subjects such as client centered communication, social determinants of health, and motivational interviewing. 

Voluntary Certification

While voluntary in the state of Arizona, certification is a way for CHWs to gain professional recognition and respect for their knowledge and skills. Certified CHWs are eligible for reimbursement of their services from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as of April 1, 2023. Completion of the curriculum, along with 480 supervised hours of on-the-job training, is an accepted pathway for voluntary CHW certification by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS, pathway #2). We strongly encourage all participants to obtain certification! Additional FAQ on the ADHS voluntary certification process. Click here for additional trainee resource links.  

*This program was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,999,934 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.