Health promotion specialist
Health promotion specialists educate and inform people about health issues.
Also known as: Health improvement specialist
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£35,000 a year
- Typical hours38 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a health promotion specialist you could:
- promote healthy eating and regular exercise
- give advice on the dangers of smoking or drinking too much
- give information about the risk of coronary heart disease and cancers
- raise awareness of mental health, sexual health and drug misuse
- do research, make publicity materials, run training courses and organise events
- give information and advice to managers in health authorities and local councils
Working environment
You could work at a health centre or in an office.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- to enjoy working with other people
- sensitivity and understanding
- administration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a health promotion specialist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You could do a degree in a subject like:
- health promotion
- public health policy
- behavioural science
- health studies
You might be able to do a subject like psychology, social sciences or education.
You could also start by doing a foundation degree in health and social care.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could do the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care to get some of the skills and knowledge you'll need in this job.
If you're 19 or over, you could do an Access to HE Diploma as a way to get into university.
You could do Access to Health and Human Science or Access to Health Science.
Entry requirements
You may need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
Apprenticeship
You could do a Public Health Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This usually takes 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a health promotion assistant or an NHS 111 health advisor and complete training to work your way up.
Volunteering
Volunteering in the NHS is a good way to get work experience in healthcare. This can be helpful when you apply for jobs or training.
You can also find opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do it .
Direct application
You could apply directly to health promotion specialist roles.
You'll usually need a qualification and experience in medicine, nursing, teaching or social work.
It might also help to have experience of working with communities.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
You might need a driving licence for some jobs.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- move into a senior role and be responsible for planning projects and strategies
- get a postgraduate qualification and manage projects and a team or health promotion specialists
- work as a freelance consultant
Career tips
You could work for different types of organisations like the NHS, local authorities or charities.
You can also find details of current health campaigns and initiatives through the Royal Society for Public Health.
Guides for this industry
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