After reading our previous blogs about becoming a Wellness Coach and the differences between a Personal Trainer and a Wellness Coach you may have decided to pursue this next step in your career. You might be asking, “What next? What credentials do I need?” Read on to learn more about next steps and how NETA can help you achieve your goal of becoming a Wellness Coach.
What Credentials Does a Wellness Coach Have?
Although wellness coaching and health coaching are popular and expanding fields, there are not many undergraduate degrees specific to this type of career. However, it is beneficial and sometimes required to have an educational background in the fitness and/or health field, such as exercise science, health promotion, dietetics, nursing or psychology. Beyond formal education, it is important for a Wellness Coach to have experience working with people, especially in a one-on-one setting; soft skills such as being empathetic, being able to ask powerful questions, utilizing excellent listening skills and being able to motivate clients are crucial to success in this field.
NETA’s Wellness Coach Specialty Certification
NETA’s Wellness Coach Specialty Certification was developed with fitness professionals in mind, to equip personal trainers and group exercise instructors with essential coaching skills to more effectively guide their clients and class participants through the process of behavior change.
To be eligible for NETA’s Wellness Coach Specialty Certification, candidates must hold:
- current NCCA-accredited health or fitness certification
- bachelor’s degree or higher in a health or fitness-related field
- credential/license as an allied health professional.
NETA has three options for obtaining the Wellness Coach Specialty Certification:
- Self-Study + 2-Day Live Review Workshop
- Self-Study + Computer-Based Exam
- Premier Plus Wellness Coach Study Package
To learn more about NETA’s Wellness Coach Specialty Certification, visit https://www.netafit.org/certifications/specialty/wellness-coach-certification/.
