Health Sciences

Artisan in Community Health

The Artisan in Community Health is a TVET-CDACC examined programme that introduces trainees to the fundamentals of community health practice, hygiene promotion, and basic healthcare support. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and assessed through the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC).

Trainees develop competencies in community hygiene promotion, disease prevention, basic first aid, health education, and support for community health workers. The curriculum emphasises practical skills through community-based learning and attachments at health facilities.

Kenya's community health strategy relies on community health volunteers and support personnel to extend healthcare reach to underserved populations. This programme supports the Ministry of Health's Universal Health Coverage agenda by training frontline community health support staff.

The course combines classroom instruction with community-based practice. Trainees participate in field visits, community health campaigns, and attachments at health centres and dispensaries to gain real-world experience.

Graduates can work as community health support staff in health centres, dispensaries, non-governmental organisations, or community-based organisations. The programme provides a foundation for progression to Certificate in Community Health.

This programme is suitable for individuals with a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) or D- (minus) who are passionate about community health and service delivery. It serves as an entry point into the community health profession for those seeking to make a difference at the grassroots level.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Artisan Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Community Health Basics
Hygiene and Sanitation
Disease Prevention
Basic First Aid
Health Education
Nutrition Fundamentals
Communication Skills
Community Mobilisation

Modules

8 in the programme

Introduction to Community Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces the concepts of community health, primary healthcare, and the Kenyan community health strategy and structure.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers principles of personal and environmental hygiene, water safety, sanitation systems, and their role in disease prevention.
Disease Prevention and Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Trainees learn about common communicable diseases in Kenya, their prevention, and basic control measures at community level.
Basic First Aid
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Develops skills in providing basic first aid for common emergencies including cuts, burns, fractures, and fainting.
Health Education and Promotion
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers methods of delivering health messages to communities, behaviour change communication, and health campaign organisation.
Nutrition Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Introduces basic nutrition concepts, balanced diet, malnutrition identification, and nutrition education for communities.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsElective
Develops interpersonal communication skills for effective interaction with community members and health professionals.
Community Mobilisation
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Trainees learn techniques for mobilising communities around health initiatives and facilitating community health dialogues.

Specialisations

Hygiene Promotion
Focuses on promoting hygiene and sanitation practices in communities.
Disease Surveillance Support
Assists in community-level disease surveillance and reporting.
Health Education
Specialises in delivering health education sessions in communities and schools.
Maternal and Child Health Support
Supports maternal and child health programmes at community level.

A day as a student

A typical day includes morning theory sessions on community health principles, followed by afternoon field visits to communities where trainees practise health education, hygiene promotion, and basic health assessments under supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Community health is a priority area for the Kenyan government's Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Short training duration enables quick entry into community health work.
Opportunities to work with NGOs and international health organisations.

Against it

Community health work can be emotionally challenging when dealing with health crises.
Many positions are volunteer-based or offer modest remuneration initially.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Public TVET institutions (standardized fee)67k at Public TVET institutions (standardized fee)

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67,189/yr public standardized (educationnews.co.ke). Private: unverified.

HELB TVET loans and county bursaries are available for eligible students in CDACC-accredited programmes.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan
County Bursary
NGAAF Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in TVET institutions
County Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Residents of the respective county enrolled in TVET programmes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D-
Alternative entry: KCPE certificate or equivalent. Passion for community health work.

How you are assessed

3 components

CDACC Practical Assessment
Practical assessment60% of the mark
Competency-based practical assessment of community health skills in field settings.
CDACC Theory Assessment
Written assessment30% of the mark
Written assessment of community health theory and knowledge.
Field Attachment Assessment
Practicum10% of the mark
Assessment of performance during community health field attachment.

Accreditation

Assessed and certified by TVET-CDACC under the CBET framework. Institutions accredited by TVETA. Community health practice is overseen by the Ministry of Health.

Accredited by

Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
AcademicRequired
TVET-CDACC assesses and certifies competencies under the CBET framework for community health.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
AcademicRequired
TVETA accredits institutions offering community health programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Community Health Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 35,000
Supports community health workers in health promotion and disease prevention activities.
Health Facility Support Staff
Moderate demandKsh 16,000 to Ksh 30,000
Provides basic support services at health centres and dispensaries.
NGO Community Health Worker
Moderate demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 40,000
Works with non-governmental organisations on community health outreach programmes.
Hygiene Promotion Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 35,000
Promotes hygiene and sanitation practices in communities and schools.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as community health support staff in health centres, NGOs, and community-based organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Artisan in community health is the same as a community health worker.
The artisan certificate provides foundational skills, while community health workers undergo additional training and registration with the Ministry of Health.
There are no jobs for artisan-level community health graduates.
NGOs, community-based organisations, and health facilities employ support staff for community health outreach activities.
This course is only for women.
Community health roles are open to all genders, with many men working effectively in community health programmes.
Artisan certificates cannot lead to nursing.
Graduates can progress to Certificate in Community Health and then to nursing programmes if they meet entry requirements.