A Personal Health Navigator (PHN) is an individual who provides information, assistance, tools and support to enable a patient to make the best health care decisions. A PHN is an individual who meets qualification criteria adopted by the authority under ORS 414.665 and who provides information, assistance, tools and support to enable a patient to make the best health care decisions in the patient's particular circumstances and in light of the patient's needs, lifestyle, combination of conditions and desired outcomes.
There are three pathways to becoming a state certified Personal Health Navigator in Oregon. Please review the requirements below to see which is the best certification pathway for you:
Pathways to Certification
Complete an Authority-approved minimum 80-hour foundational training program and provide a certificate of completion issued by an Authority approved training program
Complete an Authority-approved oral health training and provide a certificate or evidence of completion.
Applicants who hold a non-Oregon certification whose certification process is similar to that of the state of Oregon for a PHN may be granted certification by the Authority. An applicant must submit a complete application and satisfy the following requirements of the Authority's certification process for reciprocity:
Applicants seeking to use prior experience as a PHN may be granted Oregon certification by the Authority. An applicant must satisfy the requirements of the Authority's application process by:
Submitting a minimum of one written professional letter of recommendation using the template provided by the Authority. Professional letters of recommendation must be from a past or current supervisor, licensed health provider, colleague, or a community-based organization who is familiar with the applicant's work experience in the past five years.
Submit verifiable evidence of 3000 hours of work or volunteer experience within the past five years.
"Verifiable Evidence" means a pay statement, services contract, student practicum, volunteer time log, or other documentation reflecting hours worked or volunteered. Verifiable evidence will not include college credits as qualification hours. As defined in OAR 950-060-0010.
Complete an Authority-approved oral health training and provide a certificate or evidence of completion.