National standards and certification are the first steps in advancing consistent training, education, and assessment of competencies. The National Board Certification for Health & Wellness Coaching is based on extensive research. First, practicing health and wellness coaches gathered for three days to identify core competencies that are vital to effective coaching. Through a rigorous Job Task Analysis (JTA), the tasks, skills and knowledge to be mastered by a competent coach were identified and then validated through a survey completed by more than 1,000 practicing health and wellness coaches. Then in 2016, facilitated by the National Board of Medical Examiners, a comprehensive examination blueprint was developed which expanded upon the JTA.

The national certification is accelerating the professionalization of this emerging field, and enabling the growth of an evidence base. Reputable coach training and education programs have joined this endeavor, and the national board certification allows proficient coaches to highlight that they have received adequate coach training and assessment of their coaching skills and knowledge, and passed the National Board Certification Exam.

Applications for the Spring 2024 exam will be accepted from December 4th, 2023 through January 17th, 2024 at 5 pm EST.

This 4-hour exam will be administered at more than 340 Prometric testing sites throughout the United States, and abroad between March 11 – 29, 2024.

For more information, click here.

National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches receive these benefits:

• They can become a part of our NBC-HWC Directory created for people seeking a qualified health & wellness coach.
• They are able to use the NBC-HWC logo to help them differentiate themselves and highlight the fact that they are board certified in the profession.
• They can become a part of our private Facebook page specific for NBC-HWCs who would like to network with each other.
• They can attend Meet & Greets throughout the country, offered only for National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches.
• They may attend the NBHWC Quarterly Connects featuring industry experts and providing complimentary continuing education credits.

The NBHWC and the National Board of Medical Examiners formed a partnership in May 2016 to launch the first-ever national board certification for health & wellness coaching. There are now over 9,400 National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches.

To review our full FAQ page, click here.