Approval & Certification

The Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training & Certification Program is an approved training program through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. Successfully completing our training program prepares you for eligibility to sit for the Nationally Board Certified- Health & Wellness Coach exam. In addition, you have the option to become a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach.

Why is approval important?

National & International Support

Approved programs are held accountable to teach the tasks, knowledge, and skills as defined by the Health and Wellness Job Task Analysis published by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC, 2014).

Education and experience requirements for approved program faculty are monitored.

Approved programs are reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts.

Benefits

Approval is a key source of external validity for this program and your training.
Expert reviewers agree that this program meets stringent standards.
Assurance of quality control makes your attendance at an accredited institution attractive to employers and enhances your marketability

Advantages of becoming a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach

Acknowledgement of having a recognized, comprehensive skillset from Mayo Clinic

Competitive advantage over non-certified individuals

Eligible to take the national Wellness Coach certification examination

Improved employability and career advancement opportunities

Contribution to and elevation of the field of health and wellness coaching

Guidelines for becoming a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach

Step

1

Successfully complete the Wellness Coach Training Program

Our flexible 12-week program provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice key coaching skills in a safe and supportive environment. During the program, you will be completing online assignments, attending a 4-day *virtual* workshop, completing peer-to-peer coaching calls, receiving mentored coaching feedback and participating in live webinars. All this will be done with a group of like-minded students from around the country and world.

Step

2

Complete 50 hours of coaching within 2 years after finishing the training program:

Client interactions should emphasize coaching skills and strategies taught in the Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training Program. These skills include, but are not limited to, discussing roles, expectations, and logistics of meetings, and can also include:

Enhancing motivation for health behavior change
Assessing strengths, barriers, coping skills
Establishing a wellness vision
Applying coaching skills such as curious inquiry, empathy, reflective listening, or experimental goal setting
Client Interaction Guidelines are provided within the training course.

Directions for the Comprehensive Coaching Case Form

Certification Application

Volunteer Clients

Volunteer clients are eligible for practice hour submission. However, time coaching significant others (for example, a spouse or partner) and first-degree relatives — a parent, sibling or child — will not be considered for practice hours. You may not coach your peers from class. All clients considered for practice hours must be 18 years or older.

Certification Time Period

Participants who meet the practice hour requirement will be certified for a three-year period beginning on the first day of the month following the completion of all paperwork by Mayo Clinic staff. The initial Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Certification fee is included in your training registration.

Certification Renewal Requirements

During the three-year period that participants are certified, documentation in the form of a certificates of attendance will be required showing 30 hours of continuing education.

At least 15 of the 30 hours must be from continuing education courses. Facilitating a course does not count. The additional 15 hours may be coaching hours with a client. Continuing education hours include completed coursework and workshops relating to counseling, psychology, coaching or health behavior change. Education that is specific to a “specialty” area, such as sleep, nutrition, weight management or diabetes, also is acceptable. When submitting, students must include a certificate of completion that includes the number of credits earned, student name, the course title, instructor and date. Mayo Clinic goes by the hours/credits that are earned based on that certificate.

We do not accept syllabus, course agendas, or estimated hours per week as proof of credit earned in lieu of the certificate of completion. Coursework on topics unrelated to coaching or health, such as animal sciences, engineering, math, statistics or chemistry, are not accepted.

Participants may be asked to provide goals, objectives, and information about the facilitator or speaker for any educational event submitted. Questions about whether a course will be accepted can be directed to the Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training Program by emailing MCWCTP@mayo.edu or calling 507-422-5140. There is a fee of $100 for recertification.

Re-certification Application