The Florida Association of Professional Health Educators (FAPHE) has been instrumental in developing a voluntary registration/certification process to upgrade professional standards, identify health educators, and establish a network for the purpose of continuing education. Eight basic steps have been identified as necessary for the development of the plan: (1) establish a registration/certification committee within FAPHE; (2) determine the levels of certification needed; (3) determine the initial registration/certification requirements, including determination of criteria and time frame for "grandfathering in"; (4) determine the immediate and long-term goals for the plan; (5) develop a series of steps related to increasing requirements for registration/certification to be implemented over a period of years; (6) develop an examination procedure necessary for the plan; (7) develop the record keeping procedure and fee structure which will keep the plan financially self-supporting; and (8) implement the plan. A description is given of how each of these steps has been addressed, and the impact the project has had upon the FAPHE since its inception. (JD)