Guidelines For Acquiring A Health Coach Certification

By Susan Hayes


Lately, there has been mounting interest on the need for people to live healthier lifestyles. This has been brought about by the rise in mortality caused by lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. With this in mind, more and more young people looking for the correct career paths are turning towards the health sector. With these few steps, you should be well on your way to earning your health coach certification.

The first step you should take is research. It is through research that you will be able to identify the correct certification program to opt for. You can get a list of programs from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

Also called the NCCA, its main role is to accredit certifiable courses in the US. In essence, accreditation ensures a set of defined standards governing education and training are met. Majority of employers usually verify if those they wish to hire have certificates that have been accredited by this body.

Once you identify a program you are interested in, proceed to gather all the study materials you will need. Depending on the institution you enroll in, you may study at home most of the time or attend fulltime classes. Nonetheless, most institutions prefer self paced modes of study. This has been made possible through e learning.

The one time you may have no choice but to go to a physical classroom is when taking practical lessons. Other than this, you should spend most of your time studying for the certification exam. You will need approximately 100 hours for your studies if the exam is to be easy. Generally, this equates to between three and four months. Most institutions like to offer tools that learners can use during self paced studies.

Upon completion of studies, the exam registration process follows. The fee varies from program to program. Some institutions require candidates to apply for registration six months earlier, including those who had purchased all the requested materials in advance. There are a number of requirements that every candidate must meet as well. One common requirement is that one should already be licensed for CPR before sitting the exam.

After your exam, your career should be ready for takeoff. Your newly acquired certificate will allow you to not only get a job, but also enjoy professional discounts on insurance and equipment. You also get to have an ID that will make it easier for you to identify yourself to potential employers as a professional.

With your credentials, finding a good employer should be a walk in the park. Some of the places where you are likely to get a job include hospitals, corporate organizations, community centers, health insurance firms and learning institutions. If you do a quick salary check online, you should be able to know which of these places to settle for.

Remember to renew your certificate every time its activation duration lapses. Renewal exams are usually administered every two years after the date of issuance. This process ensures all practitioners are abreast of new skills in their line of work.




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