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Certified Wellness Coach certification requirements are being updated.

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Become a Certified Wellness Coach

Becoming a Certified Wellness Coach (Coach) lets you play a role in improving mental health and well-being of children and youth in California. Discover your path to certification today.

How to Become a Certified Wellness Coach

2

Apply for Certification

3

Receive Certification

ONGOING Approval will be granted on a rolling basis.

4

Enter Workforce as a Certified Wellness Coach

2

Apply for Certification

3

Receive Certification

4

Continue working in the field as a new Certified Wellness Coach

Why should I become a Certified Wellness Coach?

A certified wellness coach leads a group of smiling children in a field.
Bridge the Gap Icon

Meet The Need

Without the need for an advanced degree, the Certified Wellness Coach role is an entry-level opportunity for people who have associate and bachelor’s degrees. This addresses gaps in the behavioral health field.

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Empower Your Community

Equip yourself to make a meaningful impact and inspire positive change in your community's well-being.

Transform Lives Icon

Transform Lives

Support California's youth in leading healthier, happier lives by serving vulnerable populations where they live and study.

A group of children are smiling together in front of a grassy field.
Bridge the Gap Icon

Meet The Need

Without the need for an advanced degree, the Certified Wellness Coach role is an entry-level opportunity for people who have associate and bachelor’s degrees. This addresses gaps in the behavioral health field.

Community Icon

Empower Your Community

Equip yourself to make a meaningful impact and inspire positive change in your community's well-being.

Transform Lives Icon

Transform Lives

Support California's youth in leading healthier, happier lives by serving vulnerable populations where they live and study.

Testimonials

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Our California youth need more support.

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We can begin to make a mindset change about mental health and wellness.

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There’s not enough of us in the profession.

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Our California youth need more support.

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We can begin to make a mindset change about mental health and wellness.

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There’s not enough of us in the profession.

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Ways to Become a Certified Wellness Coach

There are two pathways to become a Certified Wellness Coach:

Workforce 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.

Education Pathway

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

Workforce 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.

Education Pathway

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

Certified Wellness Coach Core Competencies

Core Competencies & Skills

  • Cultural responsiveness, humility, and mitigating implicit bias
  • Professionalism, ethics, and legal mandates
  • Communication
  • Operating in different roles and environments
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Core Services

  • Wellness promotion and education
  • Screening
  • Care coordination and extension
  • Individual support
  • Group support
  • Crisis referral
Two young women looking at a cell phone.

Core Competencies & Skills

  • Cultural responsiveness, humility, and mitigating implicit bias
  • Professionalism, ethics, and legal mandates
  • Communication
  • Operating in different roles and environments
A woman wearing a gray sweater.
Two young women looking at a cell phone.

Core Services

  • Wellness promotion and education
  • Screening
  • Care coordination and extension
  • Individual support
  • Group support
  • Crisis referral

Certified Wellness Coach Requirements

Education Pathway

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APPLICANT TYPE

Recent graduates

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DEGREE PROGRAM

  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Human Services
  • Addiction Studies

Certified Wellness Coach I

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FIELD EXPERIENCE

400 hours*
(application accepted with 150 hours)

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DEGREE

Associate degree
from any accredited California Community College within the last six years

Certified Wellness Coach II

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FIELD EXPERIENCE

800 hours*
(application accepted with 300 hours)

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DEGREE

Bachelor’s degree
from any accredited California college or university within the last six years

Workforce Pathway

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APPLICANT TYPE

Professionals currently working in Wellness Coach-like roles

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DEGREE PROGRAM

  • Any Degree

Certified Wellness Coach I

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FIELD EXPERIENCE

1,350 hours
of related experience

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DEGREE

Associate degree
from any accredited college in the U.S.

Certified Wellness Coach II

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FIELD EXPERIENCE

2,700 hours
of related experience

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DEGREE

Bachelor’s degree
from any accredited college or university in the U.S.

*

Education Pathway: Experience must be providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to clients in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. Any hours not completed during the degree program can be completed post-graduation via relevant internship, volunteer, or work experience.

Workforce Pathway: Experience must be 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.

Education Pathway Workforce Pathway

right facing green arrow

APPLICANT TYPE

Recent graduates

right facing green arrow

DEGREE PROGRAM

  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Human Services
  • Addiction Studies

right facing blue arrow

APPLICANT TYPE

Professionals currently working in Wellness Coach-like roles

right facing blue arrow

DEGREE PROGRAM

  • Any Degree

Certified Wellness Coach I

right facing green arrow

FIELD EXPERIENCE

400 hours*
(application accepted with 150 hours)

right facing green arrow

DEGREE

Associate degree
from any accredited California Community College within the last six years

Certified Wellness Coach I

right facing blue arrow

FIELD EXPERIENCE

1,350 hours
of related experience

right facing blue arrow

DEGREE

Associate degree
from any accredited college in the U.S.

Certified Wellness Coach II

right facing green arrow

FIELD EXPERIENCE

800 hours*
(application accepted with 300 hours)

right facing green arrow

DEGREE

Bachelor’s degree
from any accredited California college or university within the last six years

Certified Wellness Coach II

right facing blue arrow

FIELD EXPERIENCE

2,700 hours
of related experience

right facing blue arrow

DEGREE

Bachelor’s degree
from any accredited college or university in the U.S.

*

Education Pathway: Experience must be providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to clients in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. Any hours not completed during the degree program can be completed post-graduation via relevant internship, volunteer, or work experience.

Workforce Pathway: Experience must be 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.

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How much does it cost to become a Certified Wellness Coach?

To become a Certified Wellness Coach, you will need an associate or bachelor’s degree. Once you apply to become a Certified Wellness Coach, certification is free.

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How much does it cost to become a Certified Wellness Coach?

To become a Certified Wellness Coach, you will need an associate or bachelor’s degree. Once you apply to become a Certified Wellness Coach, certification is free.

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Program Milestones

We're here to support you on your journey to becoming a Certified Wellness Coach. Sign up for updates to stay informed and learn more.

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Candidate Certification Website Launched

February 2024

Apply now for Wellness Coach Certification.
Get Certified

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New Certified Wellness Coach candidates enter HCAI-Designated Education Programs

Fall 2024

Find a designated education program near you.

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Certified Wellness Coach Scholarships

February 2025

Scholarship applications closed on February 13, 2025.

Certification Icon

Candidate Certification Website Launched

Apply now for Wellness Coach Certification.
Get Certified

February 2024

Graduation Cap Icon

New Certified Wellness Coach candidates enter HCAI-Designated Education Programs

Find a designated education program near you.

Fall 2024

Clipboard Icon

Certified Wellness Coach Scholarships

Scholarship applications closed on February 13, 2025.

February 2025

Sign Up for Updates

Frequently Asked Wellness Coach Questions

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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.

Salaries differ based on experience, work environment, and employment type, like agency, union, or private practice.

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.

The first cohort of designated education programs will launch Fall 2024. Additional programs will continue to be added on a rolling basis.

Stay
Updated

HCAI is working closely with California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and private nonprofit universities to begin bringing you a list of programs with designated curriculum by Fall 2024.

Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.

Stay
Updated

HCAI is working closely with California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and private nonprofit universities to begin bringing you a list of programs with designated curriculum by Fall 2024.

Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.

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