Health and wellness coaching is expected to reach $3.83 billion in revenue in 2024, which is good news for anyone who enjoys helping others set and achieve their wellness goals.
But as the market booms, it’s becoming more difficult for those wanting to learn more about the field to discern the best way to gain the skills they need to succeed. luck We’ve tried to make this a little easier by putting together a list of the best health coach certifications: The program that received the “Best for Integrative Medicine” rating was the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
With over 30 years of history, the company was founded in a kitchen and has grown to become one of the biggest names in health and wellbeing education. It now offers courses on everything from yoga and meditation to gut health and mindful eating, but IIN’s flagship course, the Health Coach Training Programme, has helped thousands of individuals become professionally trained experts in nutrition and lifestyle coaching. Here’s what you need to know:
Program Overview of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s flagship course prides itself on teaching “the key components to achieving total health” and how to turn coaching into a career.
The program costs $3,995 and is split into about 40 modules. If you choose the 12-month course, you’ll have one module per week. If you choose the short course, you’ll have two modules per week, but students can work around their schedule.
The program is offered in English or Spanish with set start times throughout the year.
For an additional fee of $1,995 (sometimes cheaper if purchased together), students can bundle in the coaching intensive required to sit for the NBHWC exam.
Curriculum and Instruction at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition
IIN recognizes that health is not a “one size fits all” and encourages students to “experiment and apply what you learn in the Health Coach Training Program to your own lives to see what works (and what doesn’t) – from dietary habits to lifestyle practices.”
According to IIN, through the content of about 40 modules, students will learn from more than 95 educators, including experts in medicine, research and business. The core concepts prioritized by IIN are:
- Biological individuality
- Multifaceted Health
- staple food
A list of coaching topics covered by IIN as per IIN curriculum documents.
To graduate from the program, students must:
- Pass 2 out of 4 tests
- Attend 4 out of 5 coaching circles
- Complete at least six practice coaching sessions
- Stay up to date on your tuition payments
Upon completion of this course, students can also earn credits toward more advanced degrees, such as those from the Maryland University of Integrative Health or the California University of Integrative Research.
IIN has a mobile app, but the majority of reviews in the Apple App Store only rate it one or two out of five stars, and users note that the app crashes frequently and makes PDFs inaccessible.
Transparency of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition
IIN is luck According to the article, there are multiple ways for students to contact the school, including by phone, email, WhatsApp, or virtual meetings with admissions counselors. A list of senior officials and faculty members, including their names, photos and biographies, has been posted online.
As for what this means for students, IIN’s website states that “91% of graduates from our Health Coach Training program begin or expand their careers in the health and healthcare fields.” Though it’s a self-reported number, it shows that IIN cares about student success. The organization is also accredited by the Ohio State Commission on Professional Colleges and Schools. A full list of accrediting agencies and partners is also available online.
Student Experiences and Outcomes at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition
As with any certification on the internet, ultimately, the student gets what they pay for with the experience they put in. If students take the time to properly listen to lectures, engage in reading, and participate in peer and instructor events, they are much more likely to be successful.
Health coaching is more complicated than other fields because many people run their own businesses and engage with local clients. Additionally, health coaching is not a regulated industry, so anyone can call themselves a health coach. That’s why certifications like NBHWC are important to prove what you’re saying to new and returning clients.
According to the company, thousands of people have graduated from IIN’s training, and the company now has a network of 160,000 people in 175 countries. There are countless success stories of people who have completed IIN’s flagship program and gone on to successful careers as health coaches, either in their own clinics, separate companies, or as part of a larger education. On LinkedIn alone, there are 22,000 IIN alumni, many of whom now work in health services, business development, and community and social services.
IIN also has a large following on social media, with over 820,000 likes on Facebook and 1 million followers on Instagram.
Is the Institute for Integrative Nutrition worth going to?
For those who want to take a nutrition-first approach to health coaching, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is a great choice. This program is on the longer and more expensive side of health coach training, but graduates can pursue a career as a health coach or further their education.
IIN is very forthright when it comes to health coaching and won’t promise you an immediate prosperous career upon completion of the program. They recognize that everyone’s health journey is different and believe that by studying through IIN, you will learn best practices for a healthy lifestyle from industry experts and also learn how to apply this to your business.
