Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES) Program

HEART has acquired the Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES) nationwide credentialing program and certification registry from our longtime field partner, the Academy of Prosocial Learning (APL).

Earn your Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES) credential through our online program of study. The CHES program is designed to equip traditional and non-traditional educators with high-quality training to provide effective humane education to children in a variety of youth settings from schools to summer camps to community-based organizations.

The CHES program consists of five virtual on-demand and instructor-led training courses. The program also maintains the only registry of credentialed humane educators. CHES’s affordable tuition for students makes humane educator credentialing more accessible than any university program, bringing certification within relatively easy reach of a broader base of program participants, including teachers, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, informal educators, activists, and others.

How to Become a Certified Humane Education Specialist (CHES)

  • HE 001 History of Humane Education
    Self-paced; begin any time.
    Prerequisite for the CHES program.
    Humane education has a long and rich history. This mini-course will introduce you to some of the key players and groups of past and present humane education as well as review the changes (both good and bad) as they relate to the humane movement.

  • HE 002 Humane Pedagogy and Theories of Learning and Development
    Instructor-led. Prerequisite course: HE 001
    This course is designed to give educators an understanding of the fundamental theories of learning and how they relate to humane education and moral development. The course includes a detailed examination of humane education programs and humane pedagogy. Students will reflect on their previous experiences and learn how to create curricula and environments to support academic, social, and emotional growth for a wide range of student abilities and diversity.

  • HE 003 The Magic of Stories: Encouraging Empathy Through Narrative
    Instructor-led.  
    Examine the way narrative is compatible with the way the human brain works, why stories are so effective at imparting moral virtue and how it builds student perspective. The course contains both practical and theoretical content about stories and literature and is designed around understanding the elements of a story, components of realistic-fiction and humane-themed literature, and composing questions that build perspective and critical thinking.

  • HE 004 Empowering Youth Through Service-Learning
    Instructor-led.
    Explore how schools, youth groups and even individual students can partner with humane organizations to create local change and help students practice important academic and life skills. In this course, you’ll learn how students can gain hands-on problem-solving skills, develop an aptitude for critical thinking and become active citizens in creating a humane society. Additionally, discover how to work with a variety of community partners on broad-based humane education issues.

  • HE 005 The Educator's Role in Breaking the Cycle of Violence
    Self-paced; begin anytime.
    Learn strategies to increase empathy as a preventative to violence; acquire useful tools for recognizing and responding to abuse related to children and families with animals; explore community level partnerships and mandated reporting involving humane societies, social service providers, educators, and law enforcement agencies.

To complete the full program of study and to earn your credential (allowing your name to be added to the Humane Educator Registry), complete the five courses listed here. Individuals may take courses without committing to the full program. Self-paced courses are available immediately upon registration and are open to students for 90 days. Instructor-led courses have a set beginning and end date. During a lesson, students can log in anytime to attend the lecture and complete readings. Assignment due dates are outlined in each course syllabus.

REGISTER FOR CHES COURSES

Register with us through DigitalChalk to see complete offerings and course descriptions. Limited scholarships are available for the CHES courses through the Scholarship for the Advancement of Humane Education. Contact us for more information at ches@teachheart.org.

Interactive CHES Registry Map

Discover our worldwide network of certified specialists. Click a marker on the map below to learn more about the educators leading the way in humane pedagogy across the globe.

CHES Directory

Search the directory below to find qualified Certified Humane Education Specialists worldwide. Our members are equipped with the skills to lead impactful programs that benefit animals, people, and the planet.

To navigate: Use the Filter or Search icons at the top of the gallery to find specialists by name, organization, or location.