Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Business Guides

ToughJobs may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to Become a Licensed Wellness Coach

By

If you’re the type of person that gets fulfillment from helping others lead healthier lives, then a career as a wellness coach might be the right path for you. A wellness coach helps people become the best version of themselves in terms of mental and physical health. Assisting others to become healthier doesn’t mean that wellness coaches are physical trainers helping people shed pounds and get fit, although some are both.

Wellness coaches help people achieve goals that support a healthy lifestyle. These goals can range anywhere from improving energy levels, to managing stress, to prioritizing self-care. Wellness coaches help bridge the gap between personal lifestyle changes and the methods of traditional medicine.

Recommended Videos

There is no test you can pass that will give you a license to coach people on their wellness. There are, however, multiple ways to obtain a wellness coach certification. It may seem like a license and a certificate are the same things, but they aren’t, exactly. The difference lies in who is giving the authority. Licenses typically come from governing bodies, while private entities create certifications. Think of a driver’s license versus a forklift certification.

Related

Regardless of semantics, obtaining a wellness coaching certification is the first crucial step in becoming a wellness coach. Here’s what you need to know to become certified.

man in online class
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to become a wellness coach

Although you don’t technically need to have a certification to become a wellness coach, if you want to earn a living doing so, you’ll want to acquire one. A wellness certification gives you a level of credibility in the eyes of prospective employers and teaches you processes backed by scientific evidence.

The crucial thing to look for in a wellness coaching certification program is that it’s accredited. Like a college degree, a certification’s legitimacy lies within the eye of the beholder (or potential employer). Some wellness certifications are more niche in respect to an organization’s goals. The Corporate Health and Wellness Association (CHWA), for example, offers a wellness certification program geared toward corporate wellness. In contrast, providers like Precision Nutrition focus more on wellness for the health and fitness industry.

In 2016 the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) teamed up with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to create a board-certified examination that all organizations can use as the gold standard. Today, many wellness coaching certification providers use the NBHWC exam as the basis of their coursework. If you plan to take the NBHWC exam to become certified, make sure they approve the course provider.

Certification programs vary in length to a few hours to a few days, depending on the institution, and can range from $400 to $2000 on average. Wellness coaching certification courses are available online, at in-person classes or workshops, or through books and printed materials.

two women chatting
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Becoming a Certified Wellness Coach

After you’ve obtained your wellness coaching certification, there are many different paths you can take to begin your career as a wellness coach. The first option is to seek out a specific institution or organization that offers both a certification program and a path to employment. This route may take a bit more work, such as being an unpaid intern for a time or completing a certain number of coaching hours before being hired. However, the extra work makes up for potentially lengthy job searches. The Mayo Clinic offers one of many of these work certification programs.

The next option is to seek employment with a company or organization that aligns with your motivation to become a wellness coach. HR departments of corporations and small businesses hire full-time and part-time wellness coaches to help ensure their employees have the resources they need to live healthy lives. The same goes for nonprofits, as well as state and local governments.

Finally, if you’re unsure of the right wellness coaching path for you, you can work on a freelance basis. Many self-employed freelance wellness coaches take on multiple clients. Many companies hire part-time and full-time freelance wellness coaches on a contract basis. Also, individuals may seek out personal wellness coaching to help them achieve a particular wellness goal. Although the work may not be as steady as a full-time wellness coaching position, freelancing is an opportunity to gain experience with the many different types of entities that hire wellness coaches. After you’ve tested the waters and have an understanding of the type of client you like working with the most, then you can seek full-time employment with that type of company if you so choose. All you need to become a freelance wellness coach is your certification and a website that highlights your services.

Final Thoughts

The health and wellness industry is booming, and becoming a wellness coach is an excellent career path for those who enjoy helping others live healthier lives. It’s highly recommended that you obtain a certification from an accredited institution if you wish to become a wellness coach. Before becoming certified, consider your options for employment and chart a course towards the type of work you want to do.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Steven Johnson
Steven Johnson
Freelance Contributor
Steven Johnson is a chef-turned-content strategist. He now helps companies attract and retain more customers through content…
Fun Activities ideas for your job as a party planner
serving platters office party man woman

Many creative ways or hobbies can be fun and brings the family closer together. Board games, education toys, and card games are a positive way to pass the time and promote socializing. Toys and games are a great way for children to make friends and create hobbies. The items listed below are just a few ways that promote your ideas for an event and planning parties. Your hobby can become your career for the rest of your life. You can stabilize a connection with friends and family through a fun activity full of laughter.

The dinosaur decorations are a fun and educational theme for a party planner, and who does not like dinosaurs? The nerf gun ammo is fun for children who love to be active out in their backyard, and it is safe for children to use. The card capacity workout will help you or anyone shuffle their cards and make it easier for you, not mixing the same cards twice. The unicorn float is great for summertime fun. Lastly, toys can also be educational and fun, like the 5 color push buttons. There are many toys and games that children can enjoy.

Read more
5 great toys and games to have on-hand at the next outdoor family office event
Coworkers high five outdoors after doing a team building exercise

Hosting summer parties where employees and their families can come enjoy a field day, cook-off, or simple outdoor barbeque is a great way to increase the bond in the workplace. This is a chance for many employees to introduce their families to their coworkers and celebrate family fun with others. Since it's not uncommon to bring their kiddos to these fun office get-togethers, it can be a good idea to have some thrilling kids toys on-hand to keep children occupied. So, here are five great kids toys to bring to the next outdoor office event to increase the fun for everyone involved.

Outdoor family office events are a great way to strengthen the bond of your employees while also providing a fun weekend activity for everyone to enjoy. So during your next office cook-off, barbeque, or tailgate session, try bringing some of these fun toys and games to help appeal to family members of all ages.

Read more
Kitchen tools to strengthen your catering business
griddle pancake two cooks with gloves and red aprons

A career in the catering industry is typically heavily service-oriented. When catering, it’s important that your customers receive fresh, quality food and beverages in a timely manner. Because caterers are often hired by customers for scheduled special events, they usually require lots of planning and preparation. Still, accidents can happen. Garnishes may be forgotten, meats can be overcooked and side dishes sometimes burn but you can lower the risk of this happening with the help of some quality kitchen tools. If you’re a caterer and want to learn how to make the most of your next catering event, you might consider incorporating some of these useful products into how you work:

Though it would seem so, providing delicious food or beverages to customers isn’t the driving factor behind a successful catering business. To set your catering business apart from the others, it’s also important to focus on yourself and your employees. Having useful kitchen tools for preparing, cooking, and serving food is just as important as the food itself. With the help of some of the products listed, you can increase productivity among staff. From an apron that can preserve the integrity of company uniforms to a cooking sheet set that can act as a baking pan and cooling rack, these items are great for maximizing your work time.

Read more