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The resources below will help you learn how to navigate laws and regulations of this growing field, whether you’re an experienced holistic health coach or you’re interested in becoming one.
Download this FREE guide to learn more about the legal rules & regulations for alternative services.
There are many paths and philosophies within the health and wellness coaching field. New approaches, hybrids, and modalities are continuously emerging and evolving. One thing they all have in common is that they are collaborative, client-centered, and dedicated to helping people move towards greater health and well-being.
Although there is a great diversity among different types of health coaches, they can generally be categorized into three main groups.
Below is a general overview of each type of health coach. Click here for a more complete breakdown of the different types of coaching.
A health coach, sometimes called a “nutrition coach,” enters into a partnership with a client to help them identify and reach health goals. The aim of their collaboration is to modify behavior to achieve sustainable lifestyle improvement and health. A health coach does this by helping the client make lasting changes, giving them tools to consciously choose new habits and patterns.
Health coaching is often goal-oriented, with a specific and even measurable goal such as weight loss, dealing with a chronic disease, quitting smoking, or improving gut health. This approach uses evidence-based interventions, motivational interviewing, and positive psychology to guide clients towards better health, including those who may have chronic health issues or be at risk of acquiring them.
The foundation of the holistic approach is the interconnection and unity of body, mind, and spirit. This approach seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease and ill health, rather than applying a “band-aid” solution or only addressing symptoms.
A holistic health coach looks at the whole person and their life, beyond just food and diet, to assist clients with interrelated issues. After listening to a client’s needs and challenges, they may offer strategies to relieve stress, ease anxiety, and even manage time and responsibilities in a more balanced way.
A wellness coach is less goal-oriented than a health coach. They assist clients in moving towards balance and wellbeing in all aspects of their lives, including social, emotional, occupational, spiritual, and physical dimensions. Many wellness coaching clients are simply looking to optimize their health and prevent issues later in life, rather than working on a specific goal such as weight loss or sleep problems.
To understand if health coaching is for you, it is essential to understand what being a health or wellness coach means.
A health coach or wellness coach can make a big difference in a person’s life. With the right certification, license, and motivation, a health coach can help people navigate their choices in a complex and sometimes confusing medical system. They can empower people in a lifestyle shift towards optimal health and disease prevention. A health or wellness coach can help people take control of their health, often for the first time in their lives.
At the end of the day, health and wellness coaches are dedicated to being of service to people who want to get well and be well through taking control of their own health.
Determining if becoming a health coach is right for you requires a clear understanding of what a health coach does and doesn't do.
An excellent health or wellness coach:
A health or wellness coach is NOT legally allowed to:
When looking at which type of health coaching path is right for you, there are several factors to take into account, such as proper certification, trusted licensure, leveraging your background and more.
The first question you should ask yourself if you want to become a health or wellness coach is why. If your primary goal is to help other people live healthier, fuller lives, then you’re off to a good start.
Research programs and make sure that you select a well-regarded program to obtain your certification. You’ll want to select a program that includes rigorous coursework, the opportunity for mentorship, and has earned a good reputation.
Seek out partnerships with health professionals in your community and ways to make a positive impact.
Determine how you’d like to offer your coaching services. Health and wellness coaches may provide their services in person or through virtual sessions, both one-on-one, and for groups.
Before you start offering your health coaching services to clients, make sure that you are offering your services legally and not putting yourself at risk of losing your health coaching business and reputation. A license such as that of the PWA can help you protect yourself from legal and financial dangers and give you peace of mind as you start your health coaching career.
It is fundamental to know that a health coach is not a nutritionist or a dietician. State regulatory boards across the country are on the lookout for health and wellness coaches who are offering services that infringe upon the different laws and regulations relating to licensed nutritionists and registered dietitians.
In most states, a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Dietician Nutritionist (RDN) must complete the following requirements:
Becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) requires having a master’s or doctoral degree, and at least 1000 hours of supervision in the field.
A Licensed Nutritionist (LN) must prove that they have earned their credentials from a nationally recognized licensing body. They are regulated by the state in which they practice, as well as by their certification board. Depending on the state, a Licensed Nutritionist may or may not be able to provide nutrition counseling and advice.
Another aspect that further blurs the lines is that regulations and definitions are constantly changing and vary state by state.
If you are a nutrition coach offering your services to clients, but you don’t have a license, you could be setting yourself up for disaster. More than ever, state regulatory boards are cracking down on unlicensed holistic health providers. Nutrition coaches in particular are in the crosshairs of this growing trend.
As a health coach, your best defense is to be prepared, informed, and protected with a defendable legal basis. The PWA License Program includes a detailed licensing course and a professional background review. This means that by becoming a PWA licensed holistic health provider, you’ll be up-to-date on state regulations and best practices to safeguard your clients.
Many clients who are seeking holistic health services are also interested in nutrition and herbal remedies either in addition to, or as an alternative, to conventional treatments. Adding an offering in an area such as integrative nutrition, functional nutrition, or herbal medicine can be a great way to serve your clients and provide an even more valuable and well-rounded experience for them.
However, it’s not as simple as just getting a new certification and placing it on the menu of modalities for your clients. There are important considerations and responsibilities including certification, legality, licensure, and safety.
Research programs and make sure that you select a well-regarded program to obtain your certification. You’ll want to select a program that includes rigorous coursework, the opportunity for mentorship, and has earned a good reputation.
A good place to start is by getting to know the different nutritional and herbal approaches and how they can complement your existing practice.
Consider which of the following approaches will most benefit your clients on their path towards health and wellness:
Training & Certification: Research training programs and coaching certifications that are specific to your coaching approach. It is important to choose a program that has a mentoring component and highly qualified instructors.
Defendable Legal Basis: The Professional Wellness Alliance can help you protect your services, even for offerings like health coaching that fall beyond the scope of your state license. One of the many benefits of the PWA License Program is that it helps you get educated and be informed about what you can and cannot do legally with your additional certifications.
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Joining the PWA Community as a licensed team member can help you offer health coaching services in your existing practice, safely and legally. You’ll also be a part of the bigger movement to protect and preserve the future of holistic health.
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Learn more about what a defendable legal basis is and why it's important to holistic health practitioners.
