Health Education and Wellness Coaching Professional Pathways
Prepare to Earn Your CHES® or NBC-HWC Certification with ACHS
At American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), we offer training designed to help students and graduates prepare for two nationally recognized health and wellness credentials:
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) – Offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), this certification validates expertise in public health education and promotion.
- National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) – Offered by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), this credential validates experience in promoting health and wellness through health coaching and behavioral change strategies.
These credentials enhance career opportunities in corporate wellness, healthcare, education, and public health while helping professionals make a greater impact in community and client health.
What is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®)?
A CHES® is a professional who has:
- Met required academic preparation guidelines
- Successfully passed a competency-based examination
- Satisfied the continuing education requirement necessary to maintain the national credential.
What is an NBC-HWC?
A National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) is a credentialed professional who:
- Has completed an NBHWC-approved training program.
- Completed 50 client coaching sessions.
- Passed the NBC-HWC national certification exam.
- Satisfied the continuing education requirements necessary to maintain the national credential.
Want to learn more about professional pathways? Contact the ACHS Director of Alumni and Career Services Felicia Royce or email us at [email protected].
Pathway to Becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®)
ACHS offers graduate courses that align with the eligibility requirements for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam, helping students meet the academic preparation required by NCHEC.
The CHES® exam measures competency across the Eight Areas of Responsibility:
Eight Areas of Responsibility
- Assessment of Needs and Capacity for Health Education/Promotion
- Planning Health Education/Promotion Programs
- Implementation of Health Education/Promotion
- Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education/Promotion
- Advocacy for Health and Health Education
- Communication for Health Education
- Leadership and Management in Health Education/Promotion
- Ethics and Professionalism in Health Education
How to Qualify for the CHES® Exam
To sit for the CHES® exam, applicants must hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution and meet one of the following:
- Hold a degree in health education (e.g., Public Health Education, Community Health Education). OR
- Complete at least 25 semester hours (37 quarter hours) in coursework aligned with the Eight Areas of Responsibility.
ACHS provides courses that are aligned with the Eight Areas of Responsibility and prepare students to earn the qualifying 25 semester hours.
ACHS Graduate Courses That Support CHES® Exam Eligibility
The following graduate-level ACHS courses can help students meet the coursework requirements:
- HED 503 Stress Management and Emotional Health
- HLED 553 Foundations of Health Education
- HLED 554 Program Planning for Health Educators
- NAT 515 Wellness Coaching & Communication Skills
- BUS 522 Entrepreneurial Skills for Wellness Professionals
- RES 501 Assessment and Integration of Research
The following ACHS graduate programs include pathways to complete these courses:
How to Apply for the CHES® Exam
View the CHES® exam details including Exam Handbook, Schedule and Fees, and frequently asked questions online here.
Pathway to Becoming a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
ACHS’s Graduate Certificate in Wellness Coaching is NBHWC-approved, qualifying students to sit for the National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) exam—a nationally-recognized certification in the field of health coaching.
The NBHWC coaching exam covers five main areas of coaching competencies:
- Coaching Presence, Relationships, and Sessions
- Theories, Models, and Approaches to Behavior Change
- Skills, Tools, and Strategies
- Ethics and Professional Practice
- Health and Wellness
Learn more about the exam content online here.
How to Qualify for the NBC-HWC Exam
To sit for the exam, applicants must have completed an NBHWC-approved program such as ACHS’s Graduate Certificate in Wellness Coaching.
Applicants will have:
- Experience in conducting coaching sessions with live feedback from an NBC-HWC coach
- Training in the code of ethics and scope of practice for coaches
- A foundation in understanding approaches to behavior change and promoting health and wellness.
How to Apply for the NBHWC Exam
Once you have completed the Graduate Certificate in Wellness Coaching program with ACHS and documented 50 client coaching sessions in alignment with NBHWC requirements, you’ll be ready to apply to sit the exam.
View the NBHWC exam details including Exam Handbook, Schedule and Fees, and frequently asked questions online here.
Ready to advance your career in holistic health?
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ACHS Partnerships & Affiliations
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ACHS Partnerships & Affiliations
