Best health coach certifications for 2024

Let’s be honest, living a healthier lifestyle is a goal of most of us. Luckily, there are thousands of individuals out there whose goal is to help others with their well-being. Health coaches, as they are called, help empower people to live healthier lives through the lenses of nutrition, exercise, attitude, and more.

However, if you’re among those who want to become a health coach, Fortune Education’s inaugural ranking of the best health coach certifications for 2024 will help you make a decision.

The best health coach certifications for 2024

Best for career development: mindbodygreen

The mindbodygreen’s health coach certification is focused on “interactive, cohort-based learning experience over 20 weeks.” The program covers everything from nonviolent communication and SMART goal-setting to lifestyle factors like sleep and addiction. Two live classes occur every week, with one-on-one sessions with faculty also available. Participants also get life-time access to training. 

Why we picked it

mindbodygreen values student success during and after its health coach certification program. It not only wants students to be able to help others with their health issues, but also to be able to build a career as either a career changer or expander.

The organization is also very transparent. It lists its instructors directly on the main certification page before you sign up, and includes names, photos, and experience. Its website also features a week-by-week curriculum list, an average “week in the life” of a student, and an extensive question and answer section.

Finally, graduates get free access to twenty hours of annual education for ongoing support and development, a business course, and study successions for the NBHWC exam.

Best overall: Catalyst Coaching Institute

Catalyst Coaching Institute prepares students for the NBHWC exam through its Fast Track Certified Wellness Coach and Master Certified Wellness Coach programs. The training consists of both recorded webinars as well as live training sessions during the evening. Practical coaching skills assessments are also conducted via mentor coaches. 

Why we picked it

CCI’s fast track and master certified health coaching programs together provide students with everything they need to become a certified health coach. The organization has relatively affordable programming offers financing options and scholarships, and has a mentorship program. The learning itself is build for those who desire flexibility but also human connection; there are both asynchronous, recorded lectures to watch as well as live training sessions.

For those seeking to sit for the NBHWC exam, CCI offers prep classes and study groups for students at no additional charge.

Most affordable: International Sports Sciences Association

The International Sports Sciences Association’s (ISSA) health coach certification seeks to empower students to be able to make a positive impact on health and disease and guide clients to achieve longevity. The program consists of video lectures and ends with an online, open-book multiple choice exam. A success team is available for “unlimited support” for students.

Why we picked it

With a starting price of $988, ISSA offers the cheapest route toward learning the foundations of health coaching on the market. The organization allows students to pay through a 12-month, interest-free payment plan via credit card or PayPal.

Despite its low price, ISSA still has a robust curriculum founded in evidence-based learning. Students get access to an extensive textbook, video lectures, and practical worksheets. Because the course is fully asynchronous, students can learn on their own pace from anywhere. The final exam is online, open-book, and multiple choice—and has unlimited retake opportunities. Finally, ISSA’s student success team can be contacted via phone, email or chat.

Other certifications offered by ISSA

• Personal trainer certification: Best for diverse learning opportunities
• Nutritionist certification: Best for Spanish speakers

Best for mentorship and skills assessment: Wellcoaches

Wellcoaches’s Certified Health and Well-being Coach certification consists of three modules: core coach training; deepen knowledge and practice; and one-on-one mentoring and skills assessment. In line with the NBHWC requirement, participants must have an associate degree or two years of work experience. The program boasts of having trained over 15,000 coaches over a span of 20 years.

Why we picked it

Wellcoaches values human-centered health coaching. This is embodied in their industry-leading curriculum textbook, which is used by other health coach programs and even in university classrooms, as well as their emphasis on required synchronous learning. Wellcoaches is centered around creating a world “where everyone welcomes change, enjoys growth, and is good at both.”

As part of the path to becoming NBHWC certified, students engage in three, 1-hour individual mentoring sessions as well as a 30-minute skills assessment. Its recent cohort of NBHWC exam takers had a pass rate of 93.7%. Wellcoaches also hosts a job board on their website for students to find opportunities. Its instructors and leaders are readily accessible for students with any questions before, during, and after the program.

Learn more: Read our Wellcoaches review.

Best for life-stage learning: Dr. Sears Wellness Institute

Dr. Sears Wellness Institute’s master health coach certification consists of 24 weeks of training (includes a two-hour virtual class every Thursday at noon ET) as well as a skills assessment with three live mentor coaching feedback sessions. Individuals also get the opportunity to take 6-week life-stage specialization training: families; adults and seniors; or pregnancy. 

Why we picked it

Dr. Sears Wellness Institute is the only health coach certification with thorough life-stage specialization opportunities—something that is especially important in a field where individualized care is important. The families course focuses on healthy eating habits and disease prevention; the seniors course touches on sharpening thinking, boosting energy, and preventing age-related diseases; the pregnancy course touches on health for the mother and baby, delivery and recovery, and pre- and post-natal nutrition strategies.

The specializations are paired with its thorough core and master curriculum, which focus on the foundational of heath coaching as well as strategic marketing and coaching ethics.

Best for diverse learning opportunities: American Council on Exercise (ACE)

ACE Fitness’s advanced health coach training program gives individuals access to the organization’s most robust study program, additional training in behavioral change—as well as a live, one-on-one skills assessment. In order to sit for the ACE Health Coach certification exam, individuals must have an associate’s degree in a related field or have other relevant certifications or experience. 

Why we picked it

ACE Fitness allows students to learn via a variety of different mediums, including video lectures, textbooks, live class & webinars, quizzes, practice tests, audiobooks, and a study companion. However, the additional mediums do cost extra.

The curriculum is rooted in impact. ACE believes its health coach coursework can not only transform students’ lives, but also the lives of others. By becoming an ACE certified health coach, students can reach vulnerable populations and help them optimize their health and wellbeing.

ACE also emphasizes careers and the desire for people to “get paid to do what you love.” Students get lifelong access to its career resources such as its job board and “Pro Compass.”

Other certifications offered by ACE Fitness

• Personal trainer certification: Best for on-the-go learning
• Nutritionist certification: Best for on-the-go learning

Best holistic approach: American Fitness Professionals and Associations (AFPA)

American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA)’s certified master health and wellness coach combines self-paced learning (35+ hours) with live Zoom classes (48 hours). The training, in part, walks students through the current trends in the industry, scope of practice, and how to creating coaching agreements. The organization boasts of training more than 130,000 students through its 30+ certification programs.

Why we picked it

AFPA takes a holistic approach to its health coach training, meaning it places an emphasis on one’s entire health, including food, sleep, behavior, and more. The course’s live and self-paced study allows students to connect with both themselves as well as instructors and peers.

The program also includes personalized attention, simulated coaching sessions and roleplaying, and client-ready handouts.

Other certifications offered by AFPA

• Nutritionist certification: Most affordable

Best for business development: Primal Health Coach Institute

Primal Health Coach Institute’s certification combines multimedia learning (videos, audio, and text lessons) with live monthly webinars. The program consists of 23 chapters and five projects, covering topics from fat and cholesterol to imposter syndrome and marketing. For those struggling through the course, staff is available for one-on-one support. The program has no prerequisites to participate. 

Why we picked it

On day one of Primal Health’s certification program, students are able to start building their business with marketing strategies, resources, and tasks. This is paired with their rigorous curriculum that trains students on how to be the best at coaching healthy lifestyles, fitness, and dietary choices. Graduates also get lifetime access to its Business Resource Center to help “launch your business and scale for maximum profit and impact.”

Primal Health is values transparency—evident by its thorough course outline offered to prospective students, where all 23 course chapters, five business projects, and four coaching practicums can be seen, along with each resource type.

Best for small group learning: Precision Nutrition

Precision Nutrition’s level 2 master health coach certification combines immersive study, guided practice, and live weekly online learning sessions to help participants feel confident to “help anyone create a meaningful health transformation.” Instructors have a combined 70+ years of coaching experience. For those that finish the program and still aren’t satisfied, a full refund may be possible. 

Why we picked it

PN has both self-guided and cohort-based health coach certification training programs. The cohort program in particular includes live weekly sessions, a private cohort Facebook group, case studies, and sets students up to become board certified health and wellness coach.

PN’s curriculum emphasizes goal settings, healthy ways to cope, body confidence, sleep, and more. The master coaching certification is especially built for anyone interested in the health and wellness field who want to get their skills and career to the next level. If that’s not enough, Precision Nutrition offers a 100% money-back guarantee within 45 days.

Best for integrative medicine: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Whether you’re new to the wellness, health, and nutrition coaching ecosystem or well-versed, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s flagship coaching program aims to teach students everything from bio-individuality to multidimensional health. For an added $1,500, students can reserve a seat in IIN’s NBHWC-coaching intensive to fulfill the education requirements needed to sit for the exam. The programs are offered in both English and Spanish. 

Why we picked it

IIN places values nutrition as a core part of anyone’s health journey. Its three main curriculum focuses are bio-individuality, multidimensional health, and primary food. IIN also places a large emphasis that all health journeys are different—and there is no “one size fits all.” This means that student should apply their learning to their and their clients individualized history and goals.

The flagship program hosted by IIN can be completed in six or 12 months, and students will interact with close to 100 educators with backgrounds in business, medicine, and research.

Learn more: Read our Institute for Integrative Nutrition review.

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Our methodology

In formulating our ranking, we designed a methodology that considered a variety of factors such as cost, student support, and outcome after completion of the program. While there are a number of organizations seeking to set industry standards, there is no end all be all regulator. Because of this, it can be difficult to compare programs across the board, especially for important factors like completion rate and student success. In the end, after consultation with our expert panel, we utilized indicators that we felt best judged the health coach certification ecosystem for 2024.

We reviewed 17 certification programs and listed the top 10.

Here are the data points we used:

• Price (25%): We considered the total cost of getting certified.
• Financing options (15%): Whether a certification accepted financing—as opposed to requiring upfront payment—makes the program more accessible.
• Lending partnerships (10%): Programs that have special partnerships with financial institutions can make financing easier and can potentially offer favorable terms.
• Scholarship availability (15%): For those who cannot or unwilling to pay off certification through a loan, a scholarship is a good way to lower the total cost.
• Bachelor’s degree requirement (10%): Forgoing degree requirements make the program more accessible.
• National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) certified (8%): The NBC-HWC credential represents a standard for training for certification programs and those that are certified through this body received points.
• International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified (2%): Another accrediting body, programs that are certified through the ICF received points.
• Mentorship programs (10%): We reviewed whether each certification offers mentorship programs to each student to better prepare them for securing a job in this field.
• Life-stage specializations (5%): Certifications that consider's various stages in a client's life helps students to better understand and cater to those they help through their health coaching.

Our expert panel 

In preparation for the release of our new ranking, Fortune sat down with two experts who have worked in the health and wellness coaching space for a number of years.

• Nicole Pope: Director of operations and certification project manager, National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching
• Duston Morris: Department chair, health and wellness coaching, and associate professor, Maryland University of Integrative Health

By asking questions about the importance of health coach education, different types of programs, and the skills needed to succeed, we hoped to better understand how to effectively guide those pursuing a career in the field. It’s noteworthy that neither expert was directly involved in ranking any programs.

The reason you should get certified

When looking at lists of the top health coaches online, you’ll find that some people are not certified by an accredited organization. Harvard Medical School says that because the industry is still young, the definition of a “health coach” is still highly debatable. 

Many people claim to be health coaches without participating in formal training, studying, or research. 

“Those people are very different from somebody who has actually gone through and completed an approved coaching program recognized by the NBHWC,” Morris tells Fortune. 

When it comes to providing clients with evidence-based information and providing a real service to the world, he says certificates prove that one understands the ethics and competencies of a certified health coach.

“It's really critically important that anybody who goes into health and wellness coaching—or any field where they're going to be working with clients—has some background demonstrating their ability, efficacy, and knowledge,” Morris adds. 

He explains that more often than not, if you’re looking to be employed by an organization or a school, hiring managers are looking for credentials. 

According to Glassdoor, if you get hired or manage to build a solid client base, a certified health coach makes an average of $95,000–$161,000 each year.

Coaching is where science meets communication 

Because health coaching is so interactive, Pope says that any good program should have an aspect of synchronicity.

“Many programs are totally asynchronous, so you never meet with a faculty member. [NBHWC] does not approve of that at all,” she explains. That’s why she advises being wary of programs that simply swipe your credit card, tell you to complete modules, and pronounce you as a health coach. 

The NBHWC requires training courses to include student-with-student communication and interactive practice with trained faculty. 

Pope and Morris agree that besides communication, a handful of other skills embody a great health coach. Be on the lookout for programs that teach you how to:

• Practice deep and reflective listening
• Assess a client’s readiness to change a behavior or habit
• Set reasonable and attainable health goals with clients

Regarding hard skills, our experts narrowed them down to three main areas: 

• The ability to perform assessments and collect client data
• The ability to interpret the data
• The ability to provide clients with actionable feedback based on that data.

According to Pope, it is crucial to understand that health coaches are not authorized to diagnose, treat, or provide meal plans. For instance, if a client has diabetes and fails to disclose it, and the health coach devises a diet plan, it can lead to complications that are beyond the scope of a certified health coach's expertise. 

“At the end of the day, you are talking to clients about their behavior, and a good curriculum should teach you how to do that,” Pope says. 

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What is a health coach?

A health coach supports individuals set and reach health-related goals and outcomes. Their coaching is not just restricted to diet and exercise; in fact, they take a holistic view of a client's life, including sleep, stress management, and emotional health. Health coaches may have their own private practice or work in gyms, wellness centers, and beyond.

Is it worth getting a health coach certification?

If you want to have the appropriate skills to help a client set and strive toward health and wellness goals, then obtaining a certification is a great avenue. Plus, it will provide you with organizational backing that you are in fact educated in the space.

Can anyone call themselves a health coach?

Yes, because there's no state or federal regulation of the health coach profession, anyone can call themselves a health coach. Despite this, in order to be successful in the field, having a degree—or at least a certification—is advisable—not only to ensure you are educated in the field, but also so that clients trust your expertise.

What's the difference between a health coach vs. a life coach?

While their areas of focus overlap, health coaches work more closely at the intersection of mental and physical wellbeing—like diet, exercise, and sleep—whereas life coaches may work more holistically and even emphasize personal wellbeing more—like relationships, grief, and spirituality. Life coaches also be more akin to an unlicensed therapist or psychologist.

What is the best degree for a health coach?

While you do not necessarily need a degree to become a health coach, having a degree in a related health and wellness field, such as nursing, public health, social work, psychology, nutrition, or counseling can only help.

In order to sit for the NBHWC exam, individuals must have at least an associate's degree or 4,000 hours of work experience, but there are no subject matter parameters with those requirements.

What is the best certification for coaching?

While each certification program may meet different needs, Fortune's research and analysis concluded that Catalyst Coaching Institute is the best overall health coaching program for 2024.

Are health coaches in high demand?

Yes, as a growing number of Americans become more health-conscious, the demand for coaches to help with accountability on their journey is growing. Research also suggests that the health coach market is growing by hundreds of millions—if not billions—of dollars each year. Moreover, the number of organizations in the health coach education space is increasing, with there being many more certifications and degree pathways than just a decade ago.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a health coach make?

Health coach salary typically sits around $60,000, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Salary.com. However, this number can vary dramatically based on level of education, experience, and location. Many health coaches also work directly with local clients and may not have a direct employer.

Is a health coach certification worth it?

Yes. Obtaining a health coach certification not only provides you with the necessary skills and training to effectively improve clients' health, but also it provides added credibility to your work. This added layer of trust and expertise will also go a long way in helping you make money as a health coach. Just think of it from the other side: would you pay a health coach who does not have a certification to prove their skills?

Can you call yourself a health coach without certification?

For better or for worse, because there is no overarching body that dominantly regulates the health coach industry, it is true that anybody can call themselves a health coach. However, if you want to succeed in the space and have clients who can trust your expertise, obtaining a health coach certification is certainly important. The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) sets some of the most robust and industry-respected for health coaches.

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Sources

• National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching
• International Coaching Federation
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics