Health Sciences

Diploma in Community Health Assistant

The Diploma in Community Health Assistant is a KNEC-examined programme that trains individuals to serve as community health assistants supporting community health workers and public health officers. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

Trainees develop competencies in community health practice, household health assessment, referral systems, health data management, disease prevention, and health education. The curriculum combines theoretical instruction with extensive community-based practice and attachments at health facilities.

Kenya's community health strategy requires trained assistants to support the delivery of primary healthcare services at the community level. The programme supports the government's Universal Health Coverage agenda by training personnel who bridge the gap between communities and formal health facilities.

The course is delivered through classroom sessions, community field practice, and supervised clinical attachments. Trainees conduct household visits, manage community health data, and support health campaigns under professional supervision.

Graduates can work as community health assistants, health outreach coordinators, or community health data managers in county health departments, NGOs, and community-based organisations. The programme provides a foundation for progression to Bachelor of Science in Public Health.

This programme is suitable for individuals with a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus) who have a passion for community health service. It provides advanced skills for structured community health practice.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 122,200
Job market: High

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: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Community Health Practice
Household Health Assessment
Referral Systems
Health Data Management
Disease Prevention and Control
Health Education
Maternal and Child Health
First Aid and Emergency Care

Modules

8 in the programme

Community Health Practice
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers community health practice principles, the Kenyan community health strategy, and the role of community health assistants.
Household Health Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Develops skills in conducting comprehensive household health assessments and identifying health risks and needs.
Health Data Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers collection, management, analysis, and reporting of community health data using Ministry of Health tools.
Disease Prevention and Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers communicable and non-communicable disease prevention strategies and community-level control measures.
Referral and Linkage Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Trainees learn the referral system between community and health facilities including criteria and follow-up.
Health Education and Promotion
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Develops skills in planning and delivering health education sessions for communities and schools.
Maternal and Child Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers maternal and child health programmes, antenatal care support, immunisation, and child health monitoring.
First Aid and Emergency Care
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Develops first aid and emergency response skills for community health emergencies.

Specialisations

Maternal and Child Health
Focuses on supporting maternal and child health programmes at community level.
Health Data Management
Specialises in community health data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Disease Surveillance
Covers community-level disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Health Education
Focuses on delivering structured health education in communities and schools.

A day as a student

A typical day includes morning theory on community health practice, followed by afternoon field visits to communities where trainees conduct household assessments, manage health data, and support health education sessions under supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Community health is a government priority under Universal Health Coverage.
Opportunities to work with NGOs and international health organisations.
Foundation for progression to public health degree programmes.

Against it

Field work can be physically demanding in remote areas.
Some positions are contract-based depending on project funding.

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 122k

67k at Public TVET institutions (standardised rate)122k at KMTC (Year 1 self-sponsored)

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

KMTC self-spon 118K-122K/yr (tvet.co.ke). TVET 67K/yr. Private: unverified.

HELB TVET loans, KUCCPS capitation, and county bursaries are available for eligible students.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 50,000Kenyan
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: C-
Alternative entry: Passed Certificate in Community Health or equivalent.

English
D
Biology
D

How you are assessed

3 components

KNEC Module I Examination
Written examination70% of the mark
Module I theory examination covering community health foundations.
KNEC Module II Examination
Written examination70% of the mark
Module II theory and practical examination covering advanced community health practice.
Field Practice Assessment
Practicum30% of the mark
Assessment of community health field practice competencies.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA. Community health practice is overseen by the Ministry of Health.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
KNEC examines and certifies the Diploma in Community Health Assistant.
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
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 60,000
Supports community health programmes in health centres and county health departments.
Health Outreach Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Coordinates health outreach activities for NGOs and community-based organisations.
Community Health Data Manager
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000
Manages community health data collection and reporting for county health departments.
Health Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000
Delivers health education programmes in communities and schools.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as community health assistants and health outreach coordinators in county health departments and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Community health assistants are just volunteers.
Diploma-level assistants are formally trained and employed by county governments and organisations.
This is the same as a nursing diploma.
Community health assistants focus on community-level health services, not clinical patient care in facilities.
There is no career progression.
Graduates can progress to Bachelor of Public Health and related health science degrees.
Community health work is only about giving talks.
The role involves assessment, data management, referrals, disease surveillance, and programme support.