Health coaches help people learn fitness skills and develop productive nutrition, sleep, and stress management habits. Earning a health coaching certificate is one way you can prepare for this role. Learning about the different certification options may help you choose one that’s right for you.
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In this article, we explore what a health coach is and what a health coach certification program is, then share the benefits of completing a health coach certification program and a list of seven programs you can consider pursuing if you want to become a health coach.
What is a health coach?
A health coach is an individual who helps clients improve their health and well-being through the use of self-directed behavior change strategies. They assist clients with achieving their health and fitness goals and educate them on ways to integrate healthy habits into their lifestyles. They even help clients address health concerns, such as chronic health conditions or sleep concerns.
Health coaches use their expertise in human behavior and motivation to work with clients to develop fitness routines that suit their lifestyles. They typically use cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing techniques to enable clients to overcome any psychological barriers to success on their health journey. During a health coaching session, the health coach typically discusses goals and strategies to help their client overcome health and wellness challenges, such as:
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Stress
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Smoking
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Addiction
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Chronic disease or illness
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Sleep
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Nutritional issues
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Exercise
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Weight loss
What is a health coach certification program?
A health coach certification program allows coaches to receive training on a variety of topics that relate to health and wellbeing, including behavioral change techniques, nutrition, mentorship, and progress tracking. Health coach certification programs happen virtually or at a physical location through an accredited agency and can span between three and 24 months.
Certification programs often require practical coursework to ensure that students receive training that they can use in their professional roles. After completing their training program, candidates can choose to earn the National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) designation by taking and passing the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) exam.
What does a certified health coach do?
A health coach may work in clinics or in companies, but many are self-employed with their own practice. They may work individually with people in a group setting, or with physicians and other allied health professionals. Some of their common duties and responsibilities include:
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Meeting with clients to identify issues and challenges
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Creating a supportive and safe space for clients to discuss their aspirations, fears, and limitations
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Understanding clients’ unique health-related problems
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Creating actionable health goals for clients and tracking progress toward them
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Discussing strategies with clients to help them overcome their challenges
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Supporting clients in developing personalized, sustainable plans for wellness, diet, exercise, sleep, recovery, or rehabilitation
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Teaching health and lifestyle-related coursework
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Conducting informational sessions or seminars for individuals, groups, or employees
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Developing wellness programs for employees
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Leading workshops and group sessions to share strategies for developing healthy habits
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Educating clients about nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress regulation, and chronic illnesses
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Explaining the science behind behavioral changes and motivation to empower clients to make effective decisions
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Benefits of completing a health certification program
Completing a health certification program has many benefits that can grow you personally and professionally. Health certification programs teach topics such as exercise, lifestyle optimization, and nutrition for individuals of all health backgrounds. Below is a list of four benefits you can gain from completing a health certification program:
1. Helps you improve your own life
Taking a health coach certification course can help you gain valuable insight to improve your own lifestyle. For example, a certification course can teach you how to plan healthier meals and exercise routines. By practicing what you teach and demonstrating your own physical wellness, you can also advertise the benefits of your coaching services.
2. Teaches you how to make health recommendations
Health coach certification courses teach you the skills that allow you to give accurate health recommendations to your clients. If your clients face chronic health concerns, you may want to know how to help them navigate the recovery process. Course materials prepare you to share the information that you learn and apply it to clients’ unique conditions in a way that promotes a healthier lifestyle.
3. Explain how to manage your own business
Many health coach certification courses prepare you to manage a wellness-related business in your state of practice. If you’re new to managing a business or to the coaching industry, this information can help you understand industry standards, trends, and practices. For example, a certification course may teach you how to assist clients with scheduling and billing.
4. Gives you more professional credibility
Some employers eagerly seek candidates with credentials from reputable institutes, as they can serve as a testimony of the candidates’ abilities and potential. A board certification distinguishes you from other candidates and recognizes you as a qualified health coach. Your certification might also assure clients of the quality of your services, as it’s proof of your expertise as a health coach.
9 health certification programs for health coaches
Health coach certification programs help health coaches prepare for their career responsibilities. In these programs, students review a variety of training topics during in-person or virtual classes. Below is a list of nine different certification programs that you may consider:
1. Health Coach Institute Health and Life Coach
The Health Coach Institute offers a six-month Health and Life Coach certificate program with a community-based approach to its curriculum. Students complete lessons from health coaches with over 25 years of experience in the field. The virtual program option is a unique opportunity for many students since some certification programs require in-person contact hours through an institution. In this program, you can learn topics such as psychology, neuroscience, habit change, intuitive listening, and healthy lifestyle design. You also learn how to coach and run a business.
2. National Society of Health Coaches Certified Health Coach
The National Society of Health Coaches’ Certified Health Coach program features a patient-centered approach and is a self-paced, 12-month program. Professional clinicians developed the materials for this course to enable the general public to understand and implement what they learn.
This program focuses on active listening and lifestyle change for patients who have a wide range of health circumstances. Among health coaching skills, you’ll also learn to integrate evidence-based health coaching with motivational interviewing to identify your clients’ issues and empower them to overcome their challenges.
3. Dr. Sears Wellness Institute Certified Health Coach
The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute’s Certified Health Coach Path is an accredited health coaching certification program that teaches students how to adapt wellness processes for individual clients. This program’s training emphasizes holistic medicine for those who want to use a total-body wellness approach.
The institute has offered this service since 2008, making it one of the oldest programs available. The institute offers 6-, 9- or 12-week program options and an option to choose a specialty of your choice between families, pregnant or adults, and seniors. After you receive your Health Coach Certification, you even have the opportunity to pursue a Master Health Coach Certification program.
4. International Association of Wellness Professionals
The International Association of Wellness Professionals issues the Certified Holistic Wellness Coach distinction to qualified candidates. The organization has offered health certification training for 14 years. This training program offers certification in under six months through its self-paced certification course.
It has international accreditation and applies to a variety of advanced organizations or coaching groups. Students in this program may learn the differences between health and wellness, and how to focus on mental, physical, and emotional health through their unique training method.
5. Precision Nutrition Master Health Coaching Certification
Precision Nutrition (PN) provides a diversified approach to health coaching education. They offer a variety of certifications in health coaching and related fields, such as nutrition and lifestyle changes.
They have international accreditation and flexible programs to cater to a variety of student preferences. The Master Health Coaching Certification is a 20-week program focusing on optimizing areas of health like nutrition, mental health, emotional management, stress, recovery, sleep, and exercise.
6. Precision Nutrition Level 1 Sleep, Stress Management and Recovery Certification
PN’s self-paced Sleep, Stress Management, and Recovery certification program allows health coaches to gain deeper insight into these common issues that affect clients’ overall health. Through the program’s teachings, you learn about strategies to get higher-quality sleep, achieve higher energy levels, and reduce physical stress. This credential can help coaches offer more comprehensive services and understand the relationship between mental and emotional issues and physical well-being.
7. The Chapman Institute Certified Wellness Program Coordinator
The Chapman Institute brings 40 years of expertise in the health and wellness field to its Certified Wellness Program Coordinator certification program. It offers a hybrid learning model and a low-priced virtual learning model.
This institute offers a variety of certifications and has options for government employees. The curriculum focuses on the administrative features of health coaching, such as vendor selection and integration strategies, and it targets people who work for healthcare and wellness organizations.
8. American Council on Exercise Health Coach Certification
The American Council on Exercise (ACE)’s accredited Health Coach Certification trains students on how to promote positive lifestyle changes to achieve better overall health. The ACE encourages students to embrace clients’ unique individual needs and develop personalized plans for each person. You can choose between a fundamental version of the program or an advanced study version that includes more in-depth training.
9. American Fitness Professionals and Associates Health and Wellness Coach Certification
The American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA) Health and Wellness Coach Certification is part of their series of health industry certifications focusing on developing effective lifestyle plans and using an evidence-based approach to coaching. The Health and Wellness Coach Certification teaches you how to implement coaching techniques and foster successful behavior changes. This accredited program features two online modules to complete.
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