What to look for in a health & wellness coaching certification
You’ve decided to pursue a career as a health & wellness coach. You love the idea of pursuing a career that is built around one of the biggest passions in your life. You’re encouraged by the way the industry has changed for the better since 2017 to bring more credibility and respect to the profession of coaching. You’ve even done your homework about the various opportunities ranging from starting your own practice to being an on-site coordinator to working for an organization like US Corporate Wellness. Now it’s time to pursue your coaching certification and get started.
But you’re stuck. There are SO many different options when it comes to coaching certifications. How can you make sure you pick the one that is best for you? In this video, I’m going to walk you through the 4 key aspects to selecting the wellness coach certification that will be the best fit for you.
The first step is to make certain you’re not hamstringing yourself out of the gate by selecting a program that is not approved by the NBHWC. If you’re going to pursue a career as a health & wellness coach, you want to be certain your training has been approved by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. Head over to NBHWC.org and make sure your program is listed there. If you see the organization you’re considering, you’re likely in good hands. If not, scratch that one off the list and look for alternatives.
Once you’ve narrowed your search to a handful of options, then the next step is to look into the format and scheduling of the training. Some will offer only online options while others involve an actual classroom setting. Speaking of classrooms, some will involve enrolling in a university while others function completely independently. Some require attending at certain times of the day, while others offer at least partially on-demand training that you can work around your schedule. Some include one-on-one mentoring while others depend more on group settings. Think about what fits you best and use those preferences to guide you as you narrow your decision further.
Looking into the total cost of the program is #3 on the list. Like purchasing a car, the total price won’t always be obvious from the website, so dig a little deeper on this one. When I’m buying a car, I always like to confirm we’re talking “out the door” pricing – meaning the price I’m discussing with the dealer includes EVERYTHING so there are no surprises later. You might want to use a similar approach when confirming your total investment. It’s always good to remember you’re looking at the training that will provide the cornerstone of your future career, so you’re not necessarily looking at the “cheapest” option. At the same time, why spend an extra thousand dollars or more if another program offers everything you’re looking for.
Finally – it’s important to take a look behind the curtain to learn about the personality or culture of organization. Are those doing the training coming from an academic or coaching background? Are you always speaking with a different person when you contact them? Have they been in existence long enough to have an established reputation? Will they be there to support you long after you graduate from their program or are they just there to get you through your training? What other resources do they have available for you as a coach? Remember, you’re essentially “hooking your wagon” to this organization. Is their “horse” strong enough to take you where you want to go?
I hope this is helpful. If you have other things you think future coaches should consider, please note them in the comments section below. And if you like these types of videos, please subscribe below and we’ll make an effort to provide more in the future. And of course, if you have any more detailed questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime at Results@CatalystCoachingInstitute.com.
This is Dr. Bradford Cooper signing out. I’ll be back here next week with a new video and if you’re heading over to the Catalyst Health, Wellness & Performance Podcast next, I’ll speak with you there in a few minutes!
