Consumer Health Information Specialization

The MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) offers training in providing health information services to consumers and recognition for the accomplishment of acquiring new health information skills.

Why Get a CHIS?

Librarians and other information and health professionals know the life-saving and life-enhancing value of accurate health information. By earning your CHIS, you acquire skills and knowledge needed to become a confident, expert provider of health information to your community.

Your CHIS shows employers, colleagues, and the public you serve that you are committed to offering quality consumer health information services and to staying current with developments in consumer health information resources, technologies, and services. For more information on the specialization, download the MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization brochure.

These articles show the value of training in providing health information services:

Elizabeth Kiscaden, Michele Spatz, Susan Wolfe, Molly Knapp, & Erica Lake, “Impact of a consumer health information specialization (CHIS) sponsorship program on the ability of public library staff to provide consumer health information” Journal of the Medical Library Association. Volume 109, No. 2 (April 2021): 267-274

Brandi Borman & Pamela J. McKenzie. “Trying to Help without Getting in Their Faces: Public Library Staff Descriptions of Providing Consumer Health Information” Reference & User Services Quarterly. Vol. 45, No. 2 (Winter 2005), pp. 133-136, 140-146.

Kenneth Lee, Kreshnik Hoti, Jeffery D. Hughes, & Lynne M. Emmerton “Interventions to Assist Health Consumers to Find Reliable Online Health Information: A Comprehensive Review.” PLOS One. April 7, 2014.

Ellen L. Rubenstein, “I Want to Provide Patrons with Good Information”: Public Library Staff as Health Information Facilitators," The Library Quarterly 88, no. 2 (April 2018): 125-141. [Abstract only]

Nancy D. Zionts, Jan Apter, Julianna Kuchta, & Pamela K. Greenhouse, “Promoting Consumer Health Literacy Creation of a Health Information Librarian Fellowship” Reference & User Services Quarterly, 2010, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 350–359.

Who Is the MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization Designed For?

Medical librarians
Public librarians
Librarians working in consumer health libraries
Allied health professionals
Information professionals
Anyone who cares about providing accurate and useful health information to the public

Over 1,300 librarians, health and information professionals, and others have earned their CHIS!

See a list of current CHIS recipients.

What is the Cost of CHIS?

Most CHIS courses are offered by the Network of of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) at no cost. It is easy to meet the requirements for both levels with NNLM courses. MLA charges a modest fee (members: $99, non-members: $129) for reviewing applications and granting certificates. NNLM generously sponsors the CHIS application fee for library staff and students who reside within any region of the NNLM. Click here to apply for NNLM to cover your application fee.

What Are the Requirements for Earning CHIS?

CHIS is organized around eight Core Competencies for Providing Consumer Health Information Services and two levels of accomplishment.

1. Know the Community

Know the characteristics of the community served by the library, including demographics, special populations, health status indicators, and needs of community members. Understand that beliefs, customs, and values of different cultures can influence thoughts and actions around health, illness, and health care decisions. Be respectful and responsive to all user groups. Practice cultural humility through self-reflection and awareness that one’s own beliefs and experiences can impact interactions with others; be open to learning about the experiences and cultural identity of others as a lifelong endeavor.

2. Know the Health Consumer

Understand the principles and practices related to providing appropriate, relevant information services to meet the needs of different types of users, including patients, caregivers, educators, students, and health practitioners. Understand and respond to the issues and barriers faced by health information seekers.

3. Knowledge of Subject Matter and Resources

Solid knowledge of specific resources for general and specialized health topics is essential, as well as resources for specific population groups or for users with special needs. Know the library’s print collection, both circulating and reference materials. Be well-versed in library subscription databases, including the coverage of materials, currency, and appropriateness for specific requests. Have knowledge of quality web-based resources, and strive to stay current as resources change or are replaced with new resources.

4. Evaluation of Health Information

Understand the principles of evaluating consumer health information for quality. Apply quality criteria when selecting items for the print or electronic collection. Have the ability to critically examine and filter materials from web-based and other resources when choosing an appropriate resource for a particular patron. Provide users with evaluation criteria and guidance for finding appropriate health materials.

5. Communication, Reference, and Instruction

Know and apply effective communication techniques; understand and apply the additional components of health reference interviewing. Be able to recognize and take advantage of teachable moments with patrons. Effectively teach users how to use search engines, library catalogs and subscription databases, reference materials, and online resources.

6. Literacy and Health Literacy

Understand the related issues of literacy and health literacy and the principles and practices of serving users with low literacy skills or low health literacy, including knowledge of understandable and appropriate print, online, and multimedia health materials. Be able to gauge the readability of resources, and be aware of signs of low literacy in patrons. Recognize that low health literacy can affect anyone regardless of education or socioeconomic levels.

7. Technology and Health

Understand current technology used by patrons within and outside of the library. Have proficiency assisting users with library computers, the library catalog, subscription-based health information resources, Internet search, and web-based health resources. Be aware of emerging technology trends in health-related social networking, mobile access, electronic health records, and personal health records.

8. Ethical and Legal Issues

Understand ethical issues surrounding the provision of medical information, including the use of discretion and the patron’s need and right to privacy. Know and apply the library’s policies regarding the use of disclaimers when providing medical information. Provide recommendations for health information resources only; never provide medical advice. Understand the limitations of the librarian’s role, and always recommend that the user discusses the information received with a health professional.

Competencies are from Finding Health and Wellness @ the Library: A Consumer Health Toolkit for Library Staff, 2^ndEdition. Updated March 2018.

CHIS Levels I and II

Experts in providing consumer health information created two levels of CHIS. Level I requires courses in five foundational competencies. While you may take courses in other competencies, you will gain skills in the basics when you earn Level I. Level II requires you to take courses in three additional competencies. While you may take courses in other competencies, you will gain skills in higher level competencies when you earn Level II.

Your Level I CHIS shows that you have skills in these 5 Core Competencies for Providing Consumer Health Information Services:

Know the Community
Know the Health Consumer
Knowledge of Subject Matter and Resources
Evaluation of Health Information
Communication, Reference, and Instruction

You meet the requirements for Level I by completing 12 credit hours in these five competencies.

Your Level II CHIS shows that you have skills in all 8 Core Competencies for Providing Consumer Health Information Services:

Know the Community
Know the Health Consumer
Knowledge of Subject Matter and Resources
Evaluation of Health Information
Communication, Reference, and Instruction
Literacy and Health Literacy
Technology and Health
Ethical and Legal Issues

You meet the requirements for Level II by completing 12 additional credit hours that include the three bolded competencies above.

Credit hour and time to completion requirements

Each level requires 12 MLA CE credit hours of coursework.

You must meet Level I requirements before you can earn Level II status.
In meeting the requirements of Level I, you may take courses in Level II competencies or multiple courses that meet a Level I requirement. Taking courses in all 8 competencies at Level I does not qualify you for Level II.
You have three years to accomplish the required coursework.
Your CHIS is valid for three years.
To keep your CHIS valid at either level, you must take eight credit hours of coursework in any competency area every three years. We recommend that individuals with a Level I CHIS use their three years to acquire their Level II CHIS. This requires only 4 more credits than a renewal.

CHIS Courses

These MLA-approved consumer health courses have been developed and selected for the MLA Consumer Health Specialization. Use the CHIS Competencies Tracking Grid to ensure that you take courses in the required competencies.

Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) now offers five free learning modules that cover the basics of providing consumer health information and earn up to 5 MLA CE credits. Register now.

Credit for Activities Not Approved for CHIS

If you complete an educational activity, a Discussion Group activity, Independent Reading Program activity, webinar, or other activity not on the list of MLA-approved consumer health courses and would like to have it considered for meeting a CHIS requirement, please fill out an Individual Participant Request (IPR) form and submit it with your application.

Applying for or Renewing Your CHIS

Before submitting your application

Take the required number of MLA-approved consumer health courses for the level for which you are applying. See Credit hour and time to completion (above) for renewal requirements.
Use the CHIS Competencies Tracking Grid to ensure that you have met the competencies requirements for your level. DO NOT submit the Grid with your application.
Collect certificates of completion. If you received a certificate of completion through MEDLIB-ED, you need only tell us this in your application. We’ll access your transcript.
Complete an Individual Participant Request (IPR) form to apply for credit for educational activity not on the MLA-approved consumer health courses. If you have questions about an activity, please contact MLA's Professional Development Department before completing an application.

Requesting an application form

To receive an application, pay the application fee by visiting the MLA Store. The application fee is $99 for MLA members and $129 for non-members. (If you applied for NNLM sponsorship of the application fee, do not purchase the fee here. You will receive application instructions by email.)

Completing your application

After your payment is processed, we’ll email you a link to the online application.
Complete the online application and indicate if you would like a letter celebrating your accomplishment sent to your supervisor.
Upload your certificate(s) and IPR form(s) for each course or activity not on your MEDLIB-ED transcript. To make your application easier, we will access your transcript and check it against the Competencies requirements for your level.

MLA will process your application and, on approval, send you a certificate recognizing your accomplishment. Your award letter will include a link to a digital badge you can include in your email signature line or website:

We encourage you to Promote Your Accomplishment with a press release your public relations office can publish in your organization’s newsletter and local papers, print and digital. Customize the release to highlight your unique CHIS-related achievements.

Instructors: Get Your Course Approved for CHIS

Only courses that focus directly on consumer health issues or on providing consumer health information can be approved for CHIS. To be considered, select "Consumer Health" in the Specialization Consideration part of the Submit a Course for MLA CE Approval application form. Contact the MLA Professional Development department for more information.

LIS and iSchool instructors can also get their class approved to offer CHIS through the Consumer Health for Library Students program. In partnership with the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM), NNLM is delighted to guide LIS and iSchool instructors through getting their classes approved to offer CHIS certificates to students. Teaching an MLA-approved consumer health course in your program allows students to gain knowledge in providing health information services to patrons and recognition for the accomplishment of gaining new health information skills from future employers.

Visit nnlm.gov to learn more about the benefits, feedback from students and professors participating in the program, and how to get your class approved to offer CHIS.

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