CHES CERTIFIED HEALTH EDUCATION
SPECIALIST EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE (2026/2027 EDITION)
150 Multiple-Choice Questions - Complete Practice Exam
Independent-Study Disclaimer
This practice examination is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) or any other testing organization. It is
provided for educational and self-assessment purposes only and is not a substitute for official CHES study
materials, the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis, or professional guidance. Competencies and
standards are subject to change; always consult current NCHEC resources and evidence-based practice.
, Section 1: Assessment of Needs & Capacity – Community Needs
Assessment, Data Collection, and Analysis (25 questions)
Q1: The first step in planning a community health program is typically:
A. Writing the budget
B. Implementing the intervention
C. Conducting the outcome evaluation
D. Conducting a needs assessment [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A needs assessment identifies the community's needs and assets before planning. The other
steps occur later.
Q2: Which of the following is a qualitative data collection method?
A. A survey with closed-ended questions
B. Biometric screening
C. Focus groups and in-depth interviews [CORRECT]
D. Registry data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Focus groups and in-depth interviews are qualitative methods. Surveys, biometrics, and registries
are quantitative.
Q3: Which of the following is a quantitative data collection method?
A. An open-ended interview
B. A structured survey producing numerical data [CORRECT]
C. A focus group
D. Observation notes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quantitative methods produce numerical data, such as a structured survey. The others are
qualitative.
Q4: Which of the following best describes a 'needs assessment'?
A. A marketing plan
B. The systematic process of identifying and analyzing community needs and assets [CORRECT]
C. An intervention
D. An evaluation design
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A needs assessment systematically identifies and analyzes community needs and assets. The
others are different.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 2
, Q5: A 'capacity assessment' focuses on:
A. Identifying community assets, resources, and strengths [CORRECT]
B. Only deficits
C. Only funding
D. Only staffing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Capacity assessment identifies assets, resources, and strengths. It is not deficit-only.
Q6: Which of the following is a key purpose of a community needs assessment?
A. To satisfy a public relations need
B. To identify the priority health needs and guide program planning [CORRECT]
C. To replace the program
D. To eliminate data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A needs assessment identifies priority needs to guide planning. The others are not its purpose.
Q7: Primary data are:
A. Data collected directly for the specific purpose of the assessment [CORRECT]
B. Data already collected by others
C. Data from the census
D. Published research
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Primary data are collected directly for the assessment. Secondary data are collected by others.
Q8: Secondary data are:
A. Data collected for the current study
B. Interview transcripts
C. Focus group notes
D. Data that already exist and were collected for another purpose [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Secondary data already exist from another source. Primary data are collected for the current
study.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of secondary data?
A. A new survey
B. A focus group
C. Census data and existing surveillance reports [CORRECT]
D. A key informant interview
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Census data and surveillance reports are secondary data. Surveys, focus groups, and interviews
collect primary data.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 3
, Q10: A 'stakeholder' in a health program is:
A. Only the program staff
B. Only the funders
C. Any person or group with an interest in or affected by the program [CORRECT]
D. Only the target population
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stakeholders are all parties with an interest in or affected by the program. The others are too
narrow.
Q11: Which of the following is TRUE about engaging the community in a needs assessment?
A. Community engagement improves relevance and buy-in [CORRECT]
B. It is optional
C. It is discouraged
D. It biases results
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Engaging the community improves relevance and buy-in. The others are incorrect.
Q12: A 'logic model' is best described as:
A. A visual representation of the relationships among resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes
[CORRECT]
B. A budget
C. A survey
D. A needs assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A logic model shows the links between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. The others are
different.
Q13: Which of the following is an output of a logic model?
A. The long-term health outcome
B. The resources
C. The direct products or deliverables of program activities [CORRECT]
D. The community need
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Outputs are the direct products of activities. Outcomes are the results, and inputs are the
resources.
Q14: Which of the following is an outcome in a logic model?
A. The number of workshops delivered
B. The funding
C. The staff
D. Changes in knowledge, behavior, or health status resulting from the program [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Outcomes are the changes resulting from the program. Outputs are the deliverables, and inputs
are resources.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 4
SPECIALIST EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE (2026/2027 EDITION)
150 Multiple-Choice Questions - Complete Practice Exam
Independent-Study Disclaimer
This practice examination is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) or any other testing organization. It is
provided for educational and self-assessment purposes only and is not a substitute for official CHES study
materials, the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis, or professional guidance. Competencies and
standards are subject to change; always consult current NCHEC resources and evidence-based practice.
, Section 1: Assessment of Needs & Capacity – Community Needs
Assessment, Data Collection, and Analysis (25 questions)
Q1: The first step in planning a community health program is typically:
A. Writing the budget
B. Implementing the intervention
C. Conducting the outcome evaluation
D. Conducting a needs assessment [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A needs assessment identifies the community's needs and assets before planning. The other
steps occur later.
Q2: Which of the following is a qualitative data collection method?
A. A survey with closed-ended questions
B. Biometric screening
C. Focus groups and in-depth interviews [CORRECT]
D. Registry data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Focus groups and in-depth interviews are qualitative methods. Surveys, biometrics, and registries
are quantitative.
Q3: Which of the following is a quantitative data collection method?
A. An open-ended interview
B. A structured survey producing numerical data [CORRECT]
C. A focus group
D. Observation notes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quantitative methods produce numerical data, such as a structured survey. The others are
qualitative.
Q4: Which of the following best describes a 'needs assessment'?
A. A marketing plan
B. The systematic process of identifying and analyzing community needs and assets [CORRECT]
C. An intervention
D. An evaluation design
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A needs assessment systematically identifies and analyzes community needs and assets. The
others are different.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 2
, Q5: A 'capacity assessment' focuses on:
A. Identifying community assets, resources, and strengths [CORRECT]
B. Only deficits
C. Only funding
D. Only staffing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Capacity assessment identifies assets, resources, and strengths. It is not deficit-only.
Q6: Which of the following is a key purpose of a community needs assessment?
A. To satisfy a public relations need
B. To identify the priority health needs and guide program planning [CORRECT]
C. To replace the program
D. To eliminate data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A needs assessment identifies priority needs to guide planning. The others are not its purpose.
Q7: Primary data are:
A. Data collected directly for the specific purpose of the assessment [CORRECT]
B. Data already collected by others
C. Data from the census
D. Published research
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Primary data are collected directly for the assessment. Secondary data are collected by others.
Q8: Secondary data are:
A. Data collected for the current study
B. Interview transcripts
C. Focus group notes
D. Data that already exist and were collected for another purpose [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Secondary data already exist from another source. Primary data are collected for the current
study.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of secondary data?
A. A new survey
B. A focus group
C. Census data and existing surveillance reports [CORRECT]
D. A key informant interview
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Census data and surveillance reports are secondary data. Surveys, focus groups, and interviews
collect primary data.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 3
, Q10: A 'stakeholder' in a health program is:
A. Only the program staff
B. Only the funders
C. Any person or group with an interest in or affected by the program [CORRECT]
D. Only the target population
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stakeholders are all parties with an interest in or affected by the program. The others are too
narrow.
Q11: Which of the following is TRUE about engaging the community in a needs assessment?
A. Community engagement improves relevance and buy-in [CORRECT]
B. It is optional
C. It is discouraged
D. It biases results
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Engaging the community improves relevance and buy-in. The others are incorrect.
Q12: A 'logic model' is best described as:
A. A visual representation of the relationships among resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes
[CORRECT]
B. A budget
C. A survey
D. A needs assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A logic model shows the links between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. The others are
different.
Q13: Which of the following is an output of a logic model?
A. The long-term health outcome
B. The resources
C. The direct products or deliverables of program activities [CORRECT]
D. The community need
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Outputs are the direct products of activities. Outcomes are the results, and inputs are the
resources.
Q14: Which of the following is an outcome in a logic model?
A. The number of workshops delivered
B. The funding
C. The staff
D. Changes in knowledge, behavior, or health status resulting from the program [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Outcomes are the changes resulting from the program. Outputs are the deliverables, and inputs
are resources.
CHES Exam Practice - 2026/2027 Edition Page 4
