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Completing the Health Coaching Pathway at Iowa
Step 1: Pass the Health Coaching Course (HHP:4020)
- Must finish with a grade of 77% or higher
- Must complete one coaching session recording 20-minutes in duration with 20-minutes of structured feedback from instructor
Step 2: Pass the Lifestyle Medicine Course (HHP:3030)
- Must finish with a grade of 77% or higher
- Must complete one coaching session recording 20-minutes in duration with 20-minutes of structured feedback from instructor
STEPS 1 AND 2 CAN BE COMPLETED IN ANY ORDER
Step 3: Pass a Practical Skills Assessment (PSA)
- $125 fee paid to the Community Health Collaborative
- Must turn in a recorded 20-minute coaching session to Kelli Saginak or Lauren Steinke (Can be done with a family member or friend but must follow a health coaching structure)
- Kelli or Lauren reviews session using PSA rubric
- Meet with Kelli or Lauren to receive at least 20-minutes of structured feedback
- Once passed, you will receive a certificate saying you completed our Approved Health Coaching Training Program
Becoming a board-certified Health and Wellness Coach
Step 1: Complete an approved training program
- See previous slide with steps on completing the Health Coach Pathway at Iowa
- Keep track of certificate after passing PSA to turn in
Step 2: Complete 50 coaching sessions
- Must be at least 20-minutes duration, follow a coaching structure (not just health education), and done via telephone, Zoom/Skype, or in-person (Can only be tracked AFTER completion of PSA)
- Track these sessions using template from National Board for Health and Wellness
Step 3: Document completion of an Associate's degree or higher
- Simply sign and date the document on the NBHWC website
Step 4: Have materials (listed above) complete prior to applying to sit for exam
- Application window will close ~2 months prior to the designated exam window
Step 5: Take the Board Exam
- Exam is 150-questions, 2 sections each 1 hour and 52 minutes in duration (fee associated with exam)
- Exam is taken online at a local testing center (closest one to Iowa City is in Hiawatha)
Enrolling in the Health Coaching internship
If you have taken lifestyle medicine and the health coaching course…
- You are eligible for the internship!
- Email Kelli and Lauren to set up an interview.
However...
- You may not count your health coaching sessions toward the required 50 sessions for board certification.
- Talk to your advisor about enrolling in lifestyle medicine if you are not already.
If you have taken the health coaching course, lifestyle medicine, and passed the PSA…
- You are eligible for the internship!
- Email Kelli and Lauren to set up an interview.
AND…
- You may count your health coaching sessions toward the 50 required sessions for board certification.
- Email Lauren to complete PSA prior to meeting with ‘real clients’ in the internship, if you have not already.
Note: the internship is repeatable for multiple semesters.
Important resources
Co-Directors of Health Coach pathway
Kelli Saginak
Title/Position
Professor of Instruction
Co-Director, Health Coaching Pathway
Lauren Steinke
Title/Position
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Co-Director, Health Coaching Pathway
National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching
Visit the NBHWC website for additional information on health and wellness coaching certification.