Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative

Certified Wellness Coach Certification Specific Questions

June 2024

What are the requirements to become a CWC?

There are two levels of Certified Wellness Coach – I and II. There are also two pathways to certification for both levels, depending on the amount of experience one has in the behavioral health field. Those pathways are the Education Pathway and Workforce Pathway. Specific details for each pathway, and each level, are outlined below:

Education Pathway:  

For individuals that are recently graduated. 

Certified Wellness Coach I (CWC I)

  • The following requirements need to be met in order to qualify for certification:
    • Degree: Associate’s degree or higher from a California Community College 
    • Fields of study: Social Work, Human Services, or Addiction Studies 
    • Field/Work Experience: A minimum of 150 hours of field experience through any combination of hours from field practicum in their degree, internship hours, or work experience. *

Certified Wellness Coach II (CWC II)

  • The following requirements need to be met in order to qualify for certification:
    • Degree: Bachelor’s degree or higher from a California college of university 
    • Fields of study: Social Work, Human Services, or Addiction Studies 
    • Field/Work Experience: A minimum of 300 hours of field experience through any combination of hours from field practicum in their degree, internship hours, or work experience. **

*Individuals with 150 – 399 hours of experience will receive a “registered” designation associated with their certification (R-CWC I) until they complete the full 400 hours required for this pathway.

**Individuals with 300 – 799 hours of experience will receive a “registered” designation associated with their certification (R-CWC II) until they complete the full 800 hours required for this pathway.

Workforce Pathway:  

For individuals that are already in the workforce and are working in a related field.

Certified Wellness Coach I

  • The following requirements need to be met in order to qualify for certification:
    • Degree: Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. community college 
    • Fields of study: Social Work, Human Services, Addiction Studies, Child Development/Early Intervention, Psychology, or Sociology 
    • Field Experience: A minimum of 1,000 hours of field experience within the last two years in child welfare, social work, substance use, and/or mental health. 

Certified Wellness Coach II  

  • The following requirements need to be met in order to qualify for certification:
    • Degree: Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university. 
    • Fields of study: Social Work, Human Services, Addiction Studies, Child Development/Early Intervention, Psychology, or Sociology 
    • Field Experience: A minimum of 2,000 hours of field experience within the last two years in child welfare, social work, substance use, and/or mental health.

Is there a way to become a CWC without a degree?

As of now, a degree is required for certification. Specifically, an associate degree or higher is required for the Wellness Coach I certification and a bachelor’s degree or higher for the Wellness Coach II certification.

What if I have an eligible degree but don’t have enough field experience?

If you have a qualifying degree in the Education Pathway and do not have enough field experience, you are still able to apply for certification if you have at least 150 hours of field experience for Certified Wellness Coach I or 300 hours for Certified Wellness Coach II. You will get a “Registered” designation added to your certification and become either a Registered Certified Wellness Coach I (R-CWC I) or Registered Certified Wellness Coach II (R-CWC II) as long as you meet all other requirements. 

An R-CWC I or II can perform all the same functions as a CWC I or II, respectively. However, their registered designation will be listed on their certification which will inform employers that they are still completing their field experience requirements. 

R-CWCs are required to complete the full hour requirements (400 or 800 hours) within one (1) year of receiving their certification. Once all hours have been completed, R-CWCs must submit their remaining hours and the registered designation will be removed from their certification. 

How do I apply for certification?

Individuals can apply for certification by clicking the “Get Certified” button on our website. You can learn more about the specific requirements to become a Certified Wellness Coach by clicking here. If you have any questions after reviewing the information, you can reach out to our support team at certify@cawellnesscoach.org.

Does the State provide Wellness Coach training?

The State of California does not provide Wellness Coach training. In order to qualify for certification, individuals will need to complete the degree and field experience requirements for either the Certified Wellness Coach I or II profession. Once they complete those requirements, they are qualified to apply for certification through the HCAI certification portal.