Throughout this month, we celebrate the season that’s defined by its theme of giving and receiving. We think about others and offer gifts from our heart. We also try to practice gracious receiving that nourishes our relationships and self-care. It’s during this season that we often begin to reflect on what we’ve experienced over the past year and what we want to do in the new year. Perhaps you’re ready to give yourself the gift of following your passion: becoming a health and wellness coach. But where do you get started in the sea of training options and how do you pick the best health and wellness certification program for you?
Get Clear About Your Needs and Wants
When you imagine your future career as a health and wellness coach, what do you daydream about? Before you even start researching programs and types of training, it’s a good idea to understand why you want to join this exciting field and what you hope to offer to your clients. Think about your life experiences and your background. Consider the ways you’d like to work as a coach and be realistic about your expectations.
Once you’ve identified your career hopes and dreams, it will be much easier to look through the training options and identify the training that fits your goals the best.
Tips for Choosing the Best Health and Wellness Certification Program
The next thing to consider and understand is the fact that not all programs are created equal. You’ll need to get good at looking for the signs of a good quality program. Many available programs are nice looking on the outside but don’t have the necessary quality on the inside. Here are some actionable tips to help you sort through the available health and wellness coaching programs to find the one that works best with your goals and will deliver a high-quality training.
1. Do thorough research on the program.
Some training programs are very well marketed, but what you get isn’t enough to train you to become an effective coach. Ask for a detailed outline of what the program entails and look at the ratio of skills taught. Is the program helping you become thoroughly educated in health and wellness skills? Or is it more focused on teaching marketing skills so you can get clients? The best program will make sure you are fully competent in health and wellness while also teaching you the skills you need to be a successful business owner.
2. Carefully assess the number of hours included in the training.
While you might be in a big rush to get your new career started, it’s best to make sure you’re choosing a program that will give you a thorough training. A 3-day training is probably not enough for a successful wellness coach. Make sure that you’ll get enough hours of instruction in all the program’s modalities and that it isn’t rushed. Avoid programs that cut corners or make big promises they can’t keep. Choose a program that prioritizes your learning and is invested in your success as a coach.
3. Seek out reviews and real-life stories from current students and graduates.
A training program usually is going to focus on its strengths and not share its weaknesses with you. The best way to find out if the program is really doing what they claim is to find out what their students and graduates are saying. Look for a reviews section on their website that show what real people have said and be sure to go a step further and connect on social media, where students and graduates will post unsolicited experiences. You might even reach out to a recent graduate to learn about their experience and what they are currently doing as a Wellness Coach. If you don’t find reviews on outside platforms such as Google and Facebook, move on to investigating another program where you can find evidence of happy customers.
4. Thoroughly understand what is included in the training.
Programs often create systems of learning that make it easier to move through the training. But if you don’t totally understand what’s included in the system, modules, or training components, you might be in for a disappointing surprise. It’s best to take the time to read through all their materials. Look through their student handbook, curriculum guides, and detailed description of the coursework. Make notes of questions you have, then connect with an admissions person to get those questions answered.
5. Understand what kind of support they offer before, during, and after the training.
Not all programs integrate you into a community of students. You might find yourself with a pile of books and workbooks, but no one to talk to. Find out how much access you will have to a mentor, teacher, or guide during the program. Will you get access to an online classroom of other students who you can talk with? When you have questions, who do you talk to and get support from? Discover what kinds of support they offer to graduates as well. It’s hard embarking on your new career journey without the support you’ll need to be successful!
Choose the Best Training for You
Only you know which style of learning works the best for you. While you’re researching your training options, think about how you’ll do with each program and how supported you might feel in their learning systems. Never let a shiny marketing package distract you from the inner core of the program. Always get your questions answered before signing up. The world needs your gifts and there are people out there who would love to be your clients. Choose the best health and wellness coaching training for you and start the new year out with a goal to achieve your dream!
