Sexual Health Educator Certification (SHEC)

The Options for Sexual Health Sexual Health Educator Certification (SHEC) Program is a competency, knowledge, and performance-based training.

The program is designed to prepare individuals to deliver comprehensive sexual health education sessions to a variety of audiences in the public and private sectors.

Options for Sexual Health is committed to increasing the number of well-qualified sexual health educators in the province as part of its campaign to improve the quality of school, adult, parent, and professional sexual health education.

Options for Sexual Health is a Canadian organization based out of the Province of British Columbia. International students are welcome to apply to the program with the knowledge that the information taught is geared towards Canadian audiences. 

Program Description

The SHEC program is comprised of three elements: a course component, a practicum component, and a continuing education requirement.

The course component consists of a series of five 3-day workshops (modules) on specific related topics using evidence-based methodology to provide participants with sound theory and opportunities for observation, demonstration, presentation, facilitation, and evaluation.

During the practicum, participants will each be required to perform 60 hours of sexual health education to various audiences. Fifteen of these hours will need be supervised and evaluated by a preceptor. Nearly half of the required 60 hours are accumulated during the course component.

Once the course and practicum components are completed, recommendations for certification are reviewed by the SHEC Advisory Committee.

The continuing education component requires a demonstration of participants’ ongoing knowledge, skills, and competency development through completion of approved courses, workshops, and ongoing sexual health education delivery.

Course Overview

Who Should Apply?

The SHEC program is for individuals who would like to build a specialized skill set for teaching comprehensive sexual health education to a variety of audiences: preschool, elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students; professionals; adults; and parents.

SHEC Will Be Of Particular Interest To:

• teachers, especially those delivering the sexual health curriculum
• health professionals performing community and school education
• counsellors specializing in human sexuality and sexology who wish to expand their skill set and business to group session delivery
• and others with some background knowledge, experience, and passion for sexual health and sexuality who wish to enter the field of sexual health education

What Is The Total Cost For The Program?

The total cost for the SHEC program is $3600. This includes all five modules, the practicum component and materials but does not include text books. Attending a SAR is not included in this cost. For more information on payment options for SHEC, please visit the FAQ page.