What Exactly Is A Health Coach & What Makes A Good One?

Health coaches can often be mistaken for nutritionists or fitness instructors. While these professions all focus on helping people get healthier, health coaches have a more holistic and all-encompassing approach to exercise, food, and beyond.

Health and well-being coaches empower clients to improve their health—be it by eating healthier or getting more sleep. These trained wellness professionals help clients identify and clarify their goals and take the proper steps to achieving them using evidence-based approaches and frameworks. Health coaching has proven effective in clinical trials1.

Unlike doctors, health coaches do not prescribe medication, make diagnoses, or interpret lab results. Instead, they offer support, motivation, and positive psychology to help clients make behavioral change.

"Health coaches help you to discover and implement practices that can sustain long-lasting improvement to your overall health and well-being," meditation instructor and certified health coach Pilin Anice, tells mindbodygreen.

Programs that are accredited by the The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) (like mindbodygreen's Health Coach Certification program!) set you up to take the NBHWC board exam and become a certified health coach. Not all practicing health coaches are certified. However, the NBHWC certification enhances a coach's credibility and sets them up to take on more clients.

The NBHWC is a trusted governing body that sets the international standard for the quality and qualifications of health coaching. Reputable companies like Parsley Health, Hinge Health, and more now specifically require NBHWC certification as a qualification for working as an in-house health coach. These types of jobs are expected to become more and more common, especially as the movement grows to get health coaching sessions approved for reimbursement by insurance.

To become NBHWC certified, health coaches must pass a rigorous final examination following their training program. Once you pass your exam, you can either apply for a job as a certified health coach or launch your own practice.

Health coach salaries vary depending on location, certification and qualifications, and level of experience. However, the average base-level salary for a certified health coach ranges from $62,000 to $102,000 a year according to Glassdoor data. As you progress in your career and take on more clients, you can expect to earn significantly more. The most lucrative U.S. cities for health coaching include San Francisco, New York, and Boston, per Salary.com data.

While health coaches can specialize in nutrition, they have different roles and credentials than registered dietitians (RDs).

RDs are licensed and regulated by state licensing boards, for example, while certified health coaches operate under a different national board certification by the NBHWC. RDs can prescribe dietary interventions and recommend supplements, while health coaches cannot.

Both health coaches and nutritionists use action plans and motivations to achieve results, Pilin adds, but they differ in their education and overall approach. "For starters, a nutritionist is someone who typically has studied nutrition through a four-year degree program and offers advice specifically around nutrition," she explains. "On the other hand, a certified health coach is more holistic and offers a much wider range of support." 

A health coach looks at the whole person (body, mind, spirit) and shows up as a partner, whereas RDs may take more of an expert role. Though food does play a role, health coaches also consider lifestyle factors, such as movement and stress management. Ultimately, they help clients make small, sustainable shifts in their daily routines that both achieve the desired result and help them feel their best, Pilin says.

Good health coaches keep the individual needs of a client in mind. "They understand there's no 'one-size-fit-all' and can encourage accountability and motivation through their depth of knowledge," Pilin says.  

They also never stop learning. "It's important that a health coach continues to educate themselves and stay on top of the science in their field," registered dietitian Jess Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN previously told mindbbodygreen. In order to extend helpful advice and energy to their clients, Cording says health coaches should continue prioritizing their own health and self-care as well. 

"To determine whether health coaching is a good fit for you, think about what you really want to do and how well that training can prepare you for that," she recommends. Consider which aspects of the job appeal to you and which don't. Write down your responses, and weigh the various pros and cons.