mbg Associate Food and Health Secretary
mbg Associate Food and Health Secretary
Merrill Reidman is Associate Food and Health Editor at Mindbodygreen. Ridman is a Fordham University graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in film and television. She has covered beauty, health and well-being throughout her editorial career.
Image by Evan Jean / Stocky
June 4, 2022
The health and wellness industry has skyrocketed in the last few years, making the demand for qualified health coaches much more pronounced. Right now, people need certified specialists to help and advise you to work through illness and disease — and one way to get your credentials is through the best online health coaching programs.
If you are considering joining the field and becoming a health instructor, read on to unveil the most complete information and training courses. Whether you’re working on a budget or already have a baseline of knowledge, here’s what you need to know to choose the right health coaching program.
What is a health trainer?
A health trainer is a trained specialist in nutrition and overall well-being who provides clients with specific guidelines for improving their health.
Instead of looking at the basics of your life for general diagnosis and counseling, health trainers are trained to look at your sleep, diet, lifestyle and more to find out the root causes of the problems you are struggling with – chronic or not. In fact, Kelly Levek, an overall nutritionist and celebrity health trainer, once told MBG that health trainers could “support the solution.” [a client’s] Symptoms, and possible resolution [their] The state of the disease. ”
Specializing in topics such as diet and nutrition, fitness and stress, a good health trainer should be able to adopt 360 methods for wellness to provide the highest quality care to their clients.
How To Become A Health Instructor.
To become a certified health instructor, you must complete a training course to prepare for your role. There are a wide range of options to choose from — in fact, an overwhelming amount — but it’s a good rule of thumb to look for courses recognized by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).
These courses vary in time, financial investment and results, so setting realistic goals before entering the program will ensure that you get the most out of it. Some require a college degree to get started, and others are more suitable for starting your own personal health coaching service. Knowing what you want from a course before you make a decision will ensure that you are not wasting any time.
You should also be prepared to take a detailed test at the end of your course, which will determine your readiness to enter the field.
How we picked:
We’ve chosen programs at various price points to meet incoming health trainers, where they are, as well as making the process accessible.
It is important that a good health coaching program is recognized by a reliable source, and that every certificate we select is recognized by the NBHWC or NCCA.
Health coaching is an investment of time, and some give more time than others. We have selected different programs with different time requirements to fit different schedules.
You want a health coaching program that covers a variety of information across health scales and each of our selections provides the breadth of knowledge needed to build you as the best trainer.
Mbg’s choices for the best health coaching program of 2022:
Professional
- Round method for Mars
- Skilled 20-week course
- NBHWC-approved
- Great for career changers and those who are already in the health field
Cons
- The 20-week program may not be on all schedules
If you are looking for a well rounded health coaching course that sets you up for success in just 20 weeks, mbg’s HCC is right for you. An NBHWC-approved training program, this course covers a powerful perspective on health to prepare graduates through a combination of instruction, office hours, and response sessions. Although virtual, previous reviewers have described the courses as helpful and interactive, this proves that you don’t have to meet with IRL to get a rich environment. It combines well with MBG’s effective nutrition training to further expand your knowledge in the field.
Professional
- Brand-building skills
- Measurable
- NBHWC-approved
The Health Trainer Institute sets you up with the knowledge to improve your brand and share your skills, making it a top pick for those who want to create their own health coaching service after completing the training. NBHWC-approved, this program offers a general health coach option as well as a coach master’s course to take your education to the next level. The latter connects you with people who have completed the course for previously added community support.
Professional
- It’s great for people to change careers
- No prerequisites
- Offers special learning
- NBHWC-approved
Cons
- Less general views about health, may be limited
Many health coaching programs require prerequisites before starting — whether it’s a bachelor’s degree or CPR certification — but Dr. Sears Wellness Institute welcomes all levels. If you want to focus on more specialized areas of health by offering certification for pregnancy, family and adults / adults then this program is great. Online courses take 6 to 36 weeks to complete, depending on how rigorous you want to be. Not to mention, it is also recognized by the NBHWC.
Professional
- Affordable
- Great for special training
- NCCA-approved
Cons
- Not NBHWC-approved
- CPR / AED certification required
We acknowledge that health coaching is not a small investment, especially if you have just started your own business. Even when you want to spend less, it is important to find a program that will set you up for success. ACE’s health coaching program starts at just $ 650 and takes three to four months to get your certification. The program offers three different levels at different price points, making it more accessible across different income levels. The program is recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Professional
- No prerequisites
- Self-propelled
- Measurable
Cons
- You will actually get earlier
- The only focus is on nutrition rather than overall health
- Not recognized
- Limited instructional support
If your focus in health coaching is more on nutrition, then the Level 1 course in Precision Nutrition will give you a broad base of information. No prerequisites required, the virtual course is self-paced and provides valuable information about nutrition coaching for those looking for more specialized practice. Although the program is not recognized, it has been recognized and approved for continuing education units by a variety of organizations, including ACE, NASM, and more.
Created by pioneers in health and wellness, IIN was the first health coaching program available. This gives IIN an advantage over competitors: it offers a wide range of alumni network, which can be helpful after graduation from the program. They also offer 6- or 12-month options. However, the course is expensive and requires extensive weekly coursework to ensure that you complete the 6-month program on time. It is worth noting that it was acquired in 2018 by a Minnesota-based private equity firm.
Look at IIN, ($ 6795)
Takeway.
Choosing the right health coaching program for you is essential to optimize your experience and spend the time and resources you have for a certificate that sets you up to best serve your clients. Whether you go with mbg’s HCC or any other program, qualified health professionals are needed to make improved wellness more accessible.