How to Become a Certified Traditional Health Worker

Please note that, due to website migration, we will not be able to change/update information on the Traditional Health Workers web page. If you have questions regarding Traditional Health Workers, please send an email to THW.program@dhsoha.state.or.us. Thank you for your patience.

The purpose of the Traditional Health Worker (THW) program is to help THWs in Oregon become trained and certified to meet current standards, diversify the health care workforce, provide high-quality and culturally competent care to our increasingly diverse populations and ultimately promote health equity.

Once you are certified with the Oregon Health Authority, we will add you to our state registry. The registry is a reliable, trusted source for finding a traditional health worker in Oregon.

Traditional Health Worker Registry

Who is eligible?

Traditional Health Workers (THWs) help individuals in their communities, providing physical and behavioral health services. There are five traditional health worker types:

DOULA: A (Birth) Doula is a birth companion who provides personal, nonmedical support to women and families throughout a woman's pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum experience. (From original version of the THW rules, 410-180-0300).
PSS: A Peer Support Specialist is any [range of] individuals who provide supportive services to a current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment. (From ORS 414.025).
PWS: A Peer Wellness Specialist is an individual who has lived experience with a psychiatric condition(s) plus intensive training, who works as part of a person-driven, health home team, integrating behavioral health and primary care to assist and advocate for individuals in achieving well-being.
PHN: A Personal Health Navigator is an individual who provides information, assistance, tools and support to enable a patient to make the best health care decisions.
CHW: A Community Health Worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. (APHA CHW Section).

Criteria for becoming a certified traditional health worker or renewing your certification

You must meet all of these criteria to become certified by the Oregon Health Authority:

Be at least 18 years old
Not be listed on the Medicaid provider exclusion list
Have successfully completed all training requirements for certification
Submit all required documentation and a completed application
Pass a criminal background check
Complete Oral Health training

If you submit a renewal application with a different email address than your original application, please contact us at thw.program@dhsoha.state.or.us, as soon as possible, otherwise you will be issued a new THW number. Please, always provide us with a permanent email address.

Please know, for privacy reasons, we correspond only with individual applicants regarding the status of their application.

The following documents must be prepared before submitting for review:

Traditional Health Worker Full Certification and Renewal Application
Copy of your training certificate from an OHA-approved training program
Clear copy of a government-issued identification
Proof of Oral Health training

Send your application and documents to:

Traditional Health Worker Program
Office of Equity and Inclusion

Email: thw.program@dhsoha.state.or.us *Email is the quickest and most preferred method*
421 SW Oak St. Suite 750
Portland, Oregon 97204
Fax: 971-673-1128

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a civil rights complaint or concern regarding THW services?

For additional Information about the THW program, please contact us at:

Telephone: 971-673-3353
Fax: 971-673-1128
Email: thw.program@dhsoha.state.or.us

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