So, what is coaching certification all about?
The field of life, health, and wellness coaching is fairly young and in terms of who can call themselves a coach, it is unregulated.
As such, it is a bit of a 'buyer beware' situation as quality, integrity, and what is offered can vary greatly.
So, once I knew that I wanted to powerfully support others as a holistic coach, the path forward for me was to be:
- Professionally trained through an excellent, value-aligned, accredited coaching academy - the amazing Wisdom of the Whole Coaching Academy
- Certified through a credentialling organization for professional coaches
Following more research, I found that there are actually several credentialling bodies world-wide, so my first idea was to join them all…why not, right?
Well, I realized that this would be a bit redundant and that not all certifications hold equal merit.
I have since selected the two leading organizations in the field - the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC) and the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
For the purposes of this post, I will focus on the National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) credential that I earned in 2022, after sitting for their 4.5 hour exam – gasp!
What makes the NBC-HWC credential meaningful?
The NBC-HWC credential enables individuals and organizations I partner with to know that I have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to qualify for and pass the rigorous standards of the NBHWC. Additionally: - It establishes that professional ethics are upheld.
- It ensures on-going professional development training requirements are met.
- It supports the professionalism of the industry, helping to set standards of expectation and elevate awareness.
- It provides a community of resources focused on effectively supporting people, evidence-based coaching techniques, and a referral network.
So, what is the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC)?
As an organization, the NBHWC mission (as stated on their website) is “to lead the advancement of health and wellness coaching by establishing professional standards and collaborative partnerships.” Formed in 2012, they partnered with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to create the exam (4.5 hours, did I mention that yet?!) for those trained, educated, and experienced coaches who qualify to sit for it.
More recently, NBHWC began the process of approval with the American Medical Association to enable insurance providers to recognize health and wellness coaching for potential coverage.
Beyond the value of credentials, I want to also share the importance of selecting a practitioner with whom we have rapport. It has only been in the last 4 or so years that I began making this a priority in selecting my own practitioners. Prior to this, I based my choices on location, reputation, and price. And while these can still factor in, I now only partner with doctors, dentists, coaches, and practitioners of any sort with whom I respect and feel aligned with. For me, this means really listening to my intuition – that inner knowing.
It is for this reason that I offer a connection or discovery call to prospective clients - a conversation which enables us to see if we are a good match for a coaching partnership.
So, go ahead and reach out whenever you are ready to explore coaching!
I look forward to meeting you!
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