Their mission was to improve development of the field by promoting, preparing and certifying health education specialists. The division boards that included preparation, professional development and certification of health educator professionals. The third board, which is called the Division Board of Certification of Health Education Specialist, has the responsibility of developing and administering the exam. An initial certification process allowed 1,558 individuals to be chartered into the program through a recommendation and application process. The first exam was given in 1990.