Certified Hospitality Instructor (CHI)

The Certified Hospitality Instructor (CHI) program will enhance your hospitality knowledge and skills and sharpen your ability to convey the information to students so they may be better prepared for a career in the hospitality and tourism industry. The CHI was developed to help secondary school and workforce development teachers effectively teach lodging, tourism, and food & beverage courses. The newly developed self-study format makes it convenient and flexible for educators to fit into their schedules. Teachers receive a custom printed textbook, as well as access to online lectures delivered by a Certified Hospitality Educator to help guide them during the study process. The CHI designation may be used on letterhead, business cards, and other writings. There are 15 hours of online content for Level 1, and 10 hours of online content for Level 2.

Qualifying Candidate
Hold an academic degree; be currently employed full or part-time as a secondary school instructor teaching a hospitality curriculum or teaching one of AHLEI’s programs to include Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP), and Skills, Tasks, and Results Training (START).

Prerequisites:
• Currently employed as a secondary school hospitality instructor or workforce program hospitality instructor.
• Successfully complete Level 1 and Level 2 of the CHI self-study materials.
• Complete 120 hours of internship with a hospitality organization.

Topics covered
Level 1:
• Introduction to Hospitality and Guest Service
• Operations
• Finance

Level 2:
• Leadership
• Human Resources
• Sales and Marketing
• Safety and Security

Application
Candidates must submit an application and meet the necessary prerequisites. All Professional Certification programs must be completed within one year from enrollment. CHI Internship Verification Form must be submitted as proof of completion of the CHI's 120-hour internship requirement.

Fee includes
• CHI Level 1 Resource Participant Manual
• CHI Level 2 Resource Participant Manual
• CHI Internship Verification Form
• Exam for both Level 1 and Level 2
• Certificate and lapel pin upon successful completion of the exams and internship requirement

Exam
The CHI has two exams, one each for Level 1 and Level 2.
• Each exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within a four hour time period.
• Pass Level 1 and Level 2 exams with a score of 70% or higher.
• CHI exams are delivered online; there is no paper-based option for the CHI when taking as an individual
• Two retakes are allowed if a candidate does not pass the exam. The fee is $75 and must be completed within the same one year time frame of enrollment.

Recertification: None.