Summary:
TruMerit has introduced two new global credentials—the Certified Global Health Worker-Rehabilitation (CGHW-R) and Certified Global Health Worker-Rehabilitation Advanced (CGHW-RA)—to validate and recognize the competencies of healthcare workers providing rehabilitation, habilitation, and restorative care worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new certifications aim to elevate global standards for the more than two billion people needing rehabilitation-related care.
  • CGHW-RA targets degreed professionals in rehab fields, while CGHW-R is for experienced workers without formal post-secondary education in rehabilitation.
  • Developed with input from 200 experts across 45 countries, the credentials require verified experience and passing a proctored global exam.

TruMerit, known for its healthcare workforce development, has launched two new global credentials for healthcare workers specializing in rehabilitation, habilitation, and restorative care.

The Certified Global Health Worker-Rehabilitation (CGHW-R) and the Certified Global Health Worker-Rehabilitation Advanced (CGHW-RA) have been developed specifically for eligible health workers worldwide who wish to have their applied experience and competencies in rehab care recognized and verified by passing a certification examination. These credentials, along with the Certified Global Nurse-Rehabilitation (CGN-R) that TruMerit established last year, are intended to advance and improve services for the more than two billion people worldwide who need this care.

The CGHW-RA credential was developed for those with a degree or diploma in a rehabilitation field. These include clinicians, educators, and instructors with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, or other rehab-related specializations.

The CGHW-R credential was designed for those who have rehab health experience but have not completed post-secondary education in an area of rehab specialization. These would include technicians, assistive personnel, nursing assistants, and home or community health aides working in rehabilitation, habilitation, and restorative care settings.

In addition to education and degree requirements, candidates for these credentials must have at least two years of work experience in a rehabilitation, habilitation, or restorative care setting during the last five years. Upon verification of their credentials by TruMerit, they must pass a proctored exam that is offered at more than 1,000 test centers worldwide.

In 2019, CARF International, a non-profit organization that accredits rehabilitation care providers worldwide, alerted TruMerit (known then as CGFNS International) about the growing demand for validating practice competence of the rehabilitation health workforce and raising standards across the care continuum. TruMerit and rehabilitation experts from across the world began the process to create exam-based global certifications for healthcare professionals working in rehabilitation, habilitation, and restorative care settings. The process has included more than 200 subject matter experts from 45 countries from all world regions and income levels.

“Caring for the huge and growing population of persons living with a disability is one of the most pressing issues facing healthcare today. By validating the knowledge and skills of those who devote their careers to providing this care, global credentials will help drive efforts to expand and equip this vital workforce to meet the challenges of the future. We are grateful to the global team of rehab care experts who helped make these credentials possible,” says Julia To Dutka, chief of TruMerit’s Global Health Workforce Development Institute, which is leading the initiative. 

You can view more information on TruMerit’s global rehab certification program.

Featured image: TruMerit