Public Health Micro-Credential

Build the skills to promote health literacy in public health programs, high-risk situations, chronic disease management, and community-based interventions.

Public Health is a 8-module, self-paced course that covers all aspects of bringing a health literacy perspective in developing strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, risk communication, chronic disease management, and public health campaigns and messaging. Covers these aspects in community-based programs, services and campaigns. Includes use of plain language and prioritizing health literacy in high-risk situations, and using data-informed strategies to address the needs of groups at risk for limited health literacy (8 CECHs).

This course is part of IHA’s Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Program, but is available to complete individually to develop specific skill sets. Group discounts available for teams of 5 or more (tiered pricing based on number of participants), please use the team enrollment form for a custom quote.

Why This Course Matters

Public health depends on clear communication—especially for communities disproportionately impacted by limited health literacy. Whether sharing safety alerts, designing prevention campaigns, communicating in high-risk situations, or helping people manage chronic conditions, the clarity of your message can save lives.

This course equips you with public health–focused strategies to improve communication equity at the individual, group, organizational, coalition, and policy level. You’ll learn how to develop accurate, accessible, and actionable content that supports healthier, safer communities.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

After completing this course, you’ll know how to:

  • Identify groups at highest risk for limited health literacy
  • Understand why low health literacy is a public health risk factor
  • Collect and interpret public health data related to health literacy needs
  • Develop accurate, accessible, and actionable health information
  • Apply plain language to public health recommendations
  • Communicate clearly in high-risk public health situations
  • Lead community-based public health and health literacy initiatives
  • Advocate for health literacy at five levels: individual, group, organizational, coalition, and policy
  • Promote health literacy in chronic disease prevention and management programs

How to Enroll

Standard Price: $320

Current Online Price: $190 with discount code WBPH424

Enroll today for $190 and save $130 (40%) from the regular program price of $400. Use the following code at checkout: WBPH424.

Enroll Today! Enroll Your Team!

What’s Inside the Curriculum

Note: This course takes approximately 8 hours to complete.

Learn which groups are most likely to have low health literacy, how this affects outcomes, and methods for collecting population-level health literacy data.

Explore strategies for identifying and assisting groups with low health literacy, as well as challenges in evaluating health literacy initiatives.

Learn how to create high-quality public health information, identify key attributes, and develop a reliable review process.

Understand why plain language is critical for public health messaging and how to test materials with intended audiences.

Learn terms and challenges associated with high-risk situations, and strategies for making critical information easy to find, understand, and use

Explore how community-based initiatives and community health literacy programs intersect, and how to involve community members at every stage.

Learn what health literacy advocacy means and how to advocate at five levels: individual, group, organizational, coalition, and policy.

Examine behavioral and environmental factors that support wellness and chronic disease management, and explore programs that promote health literacy in these contexts.

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand how health literacy shapes public health risks, outcomes, and priorities.
  2. Create clear, accurate, and actionable health information that people can use.
  3. Strengthen public health impact through community engagement and advocacy.

Earn Continuing Education Credits and a Digital Badge

5 Continuing Education Credits in the following categories:

  • CHES/MCHES (Category 1 Continuing Education Contact Hours) from NCHEC, Provider #101864
  • CEs for Nurses outside of California
  • California Nurses CEs from The California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP# 11933
  • CPH Recertification Credits from National Board of Public Health Examiners’

*AHIMA members are approved for 4 Continuing Education Credits.

Digital Badge

Upon completion, you’ll earn an Education digital badge—see FAQ About Digital Badges for complete info.

Take the next step in advancing public health outcomes by promoting clear, accessible, and equitable health information for all communities.

For technical product or payment help, please use this online support form