The Wellness Coach certificate is free.

Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach I education program is for those with little or no experience in behavioral health or related fields. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their associate degree in a qualifying subject and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals is wellness education, life skills, linkage to care, and supporting universal mental well-being for children and youth.

Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach II education program is for those who already have an associate degree in a related field or are completing a bachelor’s degree at a California university. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their bachelor’s degree in a qualifying subject with specified competencies and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals builds on the Wellness Coach I scope, including supporting individuals and small groups in goal setting, life skills, and coping skills.

These two levels make sure that Certified Wellness Coaches can help a wide range of people in the community, from basic support to specialized assistance.

There are two ways to become a Certified Wellness Coach: the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway.
The Workforce Pathway is for people who have experience providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth through age 25 in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. They will also have an associate or bachelor’s degree from any accredited program within the U.S. (International degrees accepted with proper equivalency paperwork.)

The Education Pathway is for recent graduates with an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited California college or university with a degree in human services, social work, addiction studies, or psychology within the last six years.

Employers set salaries based on their organization type and location. For HCAI’s Employer Support Grant, salary benchmarks were chosen by looking at living wage suggestions, and what other behavioral health workers earn in different areas. The median salary ranges below were identified and used for the grant:

• CWC I: $53,500 + benefits
• CWC II: $63,500 + benefits

Being a Certified Wellness Coach can be a job all on its own. And it can also be a starting point that gives you job and training benefits if you want to move up in your career by learning more and getting further education.

Some colleges and universities are launching their HCAI-Designated Education Programs soon. Check out which programs are partnering with HCAI here.

Your certification is valid for two years from the date it was issued. You can check your certification status, issue date, and expiration date at any time. You will receive an email notification six months before your deadline with an application link to renew your certification.

Explore recertification requirements or log into your individual certification portal to recertify today.