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Health promotion specialist

Alternative titles for this job include Health improvement specialist

Health promotion specialists educate and inform people about health issues.

Average salary (a year)

£25,000 Starter

to

£35,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends occasionally

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could do a degree in a subject like:

  • health promotion
  • public health policy
  • behavioural science
  • health studies

You might be able to do a subject like psychology, social sciences or education.

You could also start by doing a foundation degree in health and social care.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could do the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care to get some of the skills and knowledge you'll need in this job. 

If you're 19 or over, you could do an Access to HE Diploma as a way to get into university. 

You could do Access to Health and Human Science or Access to Health Science.

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a Public Health Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This usually takes 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a health promotion assistant or an NHS 111 health advisor and complete training to work your way up.

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary work experience in healthcare before you apply for a course.

Direct Application

You could apply directly to health promotion specialist roles.

You'll usually need a qualification and experience in medicine, nursing, teaching or social work.

It might also help to have experience of working with communities.

More Information

Career tips

You could work for different types of organisations like the NHS, local authorities or charities.

You can also find details of current health campaigns and initiatives through the Royal Society for Public Health.

Further information

You can find out more on careers in health promotion as a public health practitioner through Health Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to enjoy working with other people
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • administration skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You might need a driving licence for some jobs.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a health promotion specialist you could:

  • promote healthy eating and regular exercise
  • give advice on the dangers of smoking or drinking too much
  • give information about the risk of coronary heart disease and cancers
  • raise awareness of mental health, sexual health and drug misuse
  • do research, make publicity materials, run training courses and organise events
  • give information and advice to managers in health authorities and local councils

Working environment

You could work at a health centre or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

  • move into a senior role and be responsible for planning projects and strategies
  • get a postgraduate qualification and manage projects and a team or health promotion specialists
  • work as a freelance consultant

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a health promotion specialist right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to Health Science (Blended)

  • Provider: HEART OF YORKSHIRE EDUCATION GROUP
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Selby

Access to HE: Health Science Professions

  • Provider: HULL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Hull
Find courses near you

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