On April 7, 2026, Treasure Gallagher, Executive Director of the RICB, led a zoom to share credentialling info and resources with CHWs. Watch a portion of the zoom here.
Key points include:
- When possible, communicate via email or submit applications online. Try to avoid using the US Postal Service as their current service is 2-3 weeks delayed.
- Use your personal email when creating an account on the site. Work emails change much more often than personal emails. If you lose access to your email, the RICB cannot get in touch with you regarding updates or expirations. Change you account to your personal email now!
- Utilize website tools! Once you create an account, within your portal you can download your certification certificate AND upload CEUs. This way as you walk out of a training, you can take a picture of your certificate, upload it, and then it’s done. The date and hours will be recorded for your re-certification records! You can check a certification expiration date under “Certification, Verify a Credential.”
- “Lapsed Status” ending. Currently (4/2026) a CHW certification lasts two years. There has then been a ‘lapsed’ period of one year before a certification expires. The ‘lapsed’ period is going away at some point in 2026. The RICB will inform us before that happens.
- Re-Certifying On Time Saves you Money! CHW certifications last two years and must be renewed to stay active. If you renew your CCHW before the two year expiration, the re-certification fee is $75. You may renew as soon as 3 months before your expiration date. After your expiration date, you will be given a 3 month grace period where you may still re-certify. If you renew during that grace period, you will pay the recertification fee of $75 plus a late penalty of $75. (Total of $150). If you fail to renew before the grace period ends, your certification status will become expired. If you CCHW is expired, to re-certify you will need to contact the RICB to receive a re-application packet (similar to your original portfolio application), submit that full application, and pay the re-application fee, currently $125 (4/2026). If your status is expired and you would like to re-apply, email info@ricertboard.org with the subject line: Requesting CCHW Re-Application.
- Refer to the Domains Regarding Training Eligibility. The RICB fields thousands of emails a day and is not able to respond as quickly as they would like to questions like, ‘Would this training count towards re-certification?’ They encourage you to refer to the CHW Domains (listed on the CCHW application and here) and ask yourself if the training covers material in one or more of those categories. If it does, then it will most likely ‘count.’