Recognition for schools that meet The Health Coach Alliance™ (HCA) Curriculum Requirements
Registration of professional Health Coaches exists to protect the public from people who are not qualified to practice, just as licensure of physicians protects the public from people who are not qualified to practice medicine.
The continual upsurge in the popularity of Health Coaches and those seeking alternative and complementary care has emphasized the need for competent, educated professionals and rigorous standards for professional training.
Voluntary registration with a recognized professional association such as HCA that independently promotes and maintains curriculum standards is a benchmark for distinguishing knowledgeable, well trained practitioners and the educational institutions training them.
The continual upsurge in the popularity of Health Coaches and those seeking alternative and complementary care has emphasized the need for competent, educated professionals and rigorous standards for professional training.
Voluntary registration with a recognized professional association such as HCA that independently promotes and maintains curriculum standards is a benchmark for distinguishing knowledgeable, well trained practitioners and the educational institutions training them.
Curriculum Resource Guide for Schools:
Click the image below to download the guide:
Become an HCA Recognized School
If you are an educational institution offering a Health Coach certification and/or continuing education courses to Canadian and US students (inclusive to international schools offering online programs accessible to Canadian and US students), you are invited to submit your program and/or courses for approval.
Choose from:
1) Full HCA program approval leading to registration status for your Health Coach graduates.
or
2) Continuing education credit approval for your courses allowing graduates to fulfill their CE credit requirement through your school.
It is the responsibility of the educational partner to notify HCA of any program/course price changes
(ie special discounts, or price increases).
*Note* If you are already a registered and approved school with HCA, you may submit your additional continuing education courses for 50% off within one year of "Approved School" status. See details here.
Professional Designations Available:
Click on the tabs below to review a brief outline of the requirements for each designation.
HCA Registered Health Coach™ (RHC™) designation is available to graduates of approved schools who have completed a minimum of 200 hours of study in the field of health coaching in addition to a combined minimum of 30 hours of case study work, and / or client sessions.
In order to qualify for program approval, the course must include:
Optional/Recommended Courses:
In order to qualify for program approval, the course must include:
- The Role and Characteristics of a Health Coach
- Coaching Skills
- Nutrition Fundamentals
- Psychology of Habit Change
- Counselling and Coaching Skills including Listening Strategies, Client Engagement, Motivational Interviewing
- Coaching Clients with Chronic Conditions
- Facilitating Behaviour Change
- Goal Setting - Habit Change, Healthy Lifestyle, Physical Activity
- Weight-loss Management including Physical Assessments, BMI, Behaviour Therapy, Mindful Eating Habits, Identifying Triggers, Pantry Cleanse
- Clear Scope of Practice
- Physical Activity
- Managing Stress
- Standards of Care / Ethical Practice
- Working / Partnering with Primary Caregivers
- Case Studies and/or Skills Labs
- Section Knowledge Tests and at least 1 Final Exam
Optional/Recommended Courses:
- Business Basics
- Evidence Based Health Coaching in a Clinical Setting
- Corporate Wellness
HCA Registered Clinical Health Coach™ (RCHC™) designation is available only to licensed health practitioners with the following titles: Medical Doctor, MD, General Physician, GP, Naturopathic Doctor, ND, Nurse Practitioner, NP, Chiropractor, DC
The course must include 100+ hours in Health Coach training including the following topics:
The course must include 100+ hours in Health Coach training including the following topics:
- The Role and Characteristics of a Health Coach
- Coaching Skills
- Nutrition Fundamentals
- Psychology of Habit Change
- Counselling and Coaching Skills including Listening Strategies, Client Engagement, Motivational Interviewing
- Coaching Clients with Chronic Conditions
- Facilitating Behaviour Change
- Goal Setting - Habit Change, Healthy Lifestyle, Physical Activity
- Weight-loss Management including Physical Assessments, BMI, Behaviour Therapy, Mindful Eating Habits, Identifying Triggers, Pantry Cleanse
- Clear Scope of Practice
- Physical Activity
- Managing Stress
- Standards of Care / Ethical Practice
- Working / Partnering with Primary Caregivers
- Case Studies and/or Skills Labs
- Section Knowledge Tests and at least 1 Final Exam
Optional/Recommended Topics:- Business Basics
- Evidence Based Health Coaching in a Clinical Setting
- Corporate Wellness
HCA Registered Health & Nutrition Counsellor™ (RHNC™) designation is an advanced standing available to students who have completed a combined Health and Nutrition Coach training.
The course must include 200 hours in Health Coach training (See RHC requirements) in addition to a minimum of an additional 800 hours of study including but not limited to the following:
The course must include 200 hours in Health Coach training (See RHC requirements) in addition to a minimum of an additional 800 hours of study including but not limited to the following:
- Fundamentals of Nutrition (full macro/micro nutrients coverage)
- Nutrition Sciences - Including Fundamentals of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Nutritional Support of the Body Systems, Environmental Influences on Health
- Life Cycle Nutrition (Pre/Post Natal, Pediatrics, Men, Women, Geriatric)
- Fundamentals of Sports Nutrition
- Preventative Health Care
- Nutritional Supplementation: Indications, Contraindications / Interactions with Herbs, Medications, and Foods
- Nutrition Assessment: Health Assessments
- Nutritional Counselling and Coaching Skills
- Introductory Herbology
- Cooking With Whole Foods and Meal Planning
- Case studies and/or Skills Labs
- Section Knowledge Tests
- One Final Exam consisting of a minimum 100 questions
- Nutrition Business Fundamentals
- Nutritional Research Applications
Continuing Education
If you are already an HCA Approved educational institution offering other programs in addition to your Health Coaching certification to Canadian Students (inclusive to international schools offering online programs accessible to Canadian and U.S. students), you are invited to submit your program and/or courses for continuing education approval at 50% off. This will allow graduates and members to fulfill their CE credit requirements through your school.
If you are an independent education provider looking to share your courses with our members you may also apply to have your programs approved, subject to review.
If you are an independent education provider looking to share your courses with our members you may also apply to have your programs approved, subject to review.
Benefits of Becoming an Approved Partner:
- Attract more sign ups for your school / program as an approved education provider in Canada
- Ability to list CE credit courses and have exclusive access to all of our current members in need of continuing education
- Added recognition and credibility for your graduates
- Higher success rates for your graduates
- Being part of a community of Health Coaches and advocates supporting industry growth
Registration with The Health Coach Alliance helps ensure that the general public can find properly trained, knowledgeable practitioners and sound guidance.
