Latest Update: Community Health Training: JCHEW Now ND, CHEW Now HND

Update in Community Health Training: JCHEW Now ND, CHEW Now HND – What This Means for You

In a significant development that reshapes the landscape of Community Health education in Nigeria, the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) has officially aligned the JCHEW and CHEW qualifications with the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels respectively. This alignment comes with a directive for all institutions to integrate NBTE (National Board for Technical Education) accreditation standards before the end of December 2025.

Understanding the Change

According to the official circular released on April 11th, 2025, this move is part of a broader reform to standardize community health training across the country and ensure smooth academic progression and recognition of qualifications. In simple terms:

JCHEW (Junior Community Health Extension Worker) is now considered equivalent to a National Diploma (ND).

CHEW (Community Health Extension Worker) is now recognized as equivalent to a Higher National Diploma (HND).

This means graduates of these programs will now have easier access to university programs via Direct Entry, paving the way for broader career opportunities.

Why This Matters

• For students, this change is a major win. It ensures:
• National recognition of their training credentials.
• Eligibility for Direct Entry admissions into universities.
• Greater employment opportunities both in public and private sectors.
• Alignment with modern education policies and frameworks.

For institutions, however, it’s a call to action. Only NBTE-accredited schools will be eligible to enroll students into the new diploma-based system. Those that fail to comply by the December 31st, 2025 deadline risk losing CHPRBN support for program indexing, examinations, or recognition.

What Schools Must Do

Institutions must:

Begin or complete NBTE accreditation for their JCHEW and CHEW programs.

Upload graduate records to the JAMB portal for direct entry processing.

Adhere strictly to NBTE-recommended student intake limits.

The CHPRBN has emphasized that this directive is final and non-compliance will mean exclusion from national educational recognition frameworks.

Final Thoughts

This reform isn’t just about academic titles – it's about transforming the quality and recognition of community health education in Nigeria. If you're a student, this opens doors. If you're an administrator, it's time to act.