Overview of the Certified Wellness Coach Profession
The Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) profession represents a historic and transformative opportunity within California’s behavioral health landscape. Individuals with an associate or bachelor’s degree now have a pathway to enter the behavioral health field and provide non-clinical services that support the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children and youth. This career enables students to gain direct experience early on, helping them confirm their interest in the field and build a strong foundation for pursuing advanced behavioral health professions.
See how one school district integrated a CWC into its system:
Why was the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) program created?
The CWC program was developed to expand access to behavioral health careers for individuals at the undergraduate level, specifically those with an associate or bachelor’s degree who are ready to begin serving their communities. It reflects HCAI’s equity-centered approach by intentionally meeting students where they are and opening professional pathways for those who may not yet be positioned to pursue a graduate degree, but who are deeply committed to supporting children and youth.
Why is this program important for California’s behavioral health system?
The CWC program is helping to build a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable behavioral health workforce pipeline. By equipping students with early, hands-on experience, the program provides meaningful career entry points while strengthening the capacity of schools, community settings, and youth-serving systems to support children’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
To see how a Certified Wellness Coach has positively impacted a youth, watch the video below:
When did this profession get developed? Is guidance still being developed?
As part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), HCAI received funding to design, develop, and implement the CWC workforce. HCAI recognizes the many schools, community organizations, and employers that have already created Wellness Coach-like roles and laid the groundwork for this profession. The CWC program builds on that foundation by formalizing the role through a statewide certification that sets clear competencies, standards, and expectations for those who support the well-being of children and youth.
Because this is the first time the role is being standardized and implemented statewide, program development is ongoing. HCAI is committed to transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout this process. We are working closely with colleges, universities, employers, and state agencies to learn from early implementation and refine guidance as we go.
Who manages this program? Does HCAI use any partners to support the project?
Program Sponsor
HCAI is the primary sponsor and administrator of the CWC program. The HCAI team directs the policy and architecture of the program in close relationship with key program stakeholders.
Marketing, Communication, and Community Engagement
In the effort to increase CWC program awareness on campuses and throughout the community, HCAI partners with the community engagement team at Wondros. Their team has played a key role in launching the statewide awareness and outreach campaign for the Certified Wellness Coach role and supports colleges and universities by:
- Sharing digital resources to introduce students to the CWC career path
- Staffing teams during orientation or start-of-term events
- Hosting virtual informational calls for students interested in learning more
- Participating in career fairs and related events
Education Program Administration
To support the development of HCAI-Designated Education Programs, HCAI works with three third-party administrators (TPAs):
- Foundation for California Community Colleges: California Community Colleges
- California State University Office of the Chancellor: California State Universities
- RTI International: Private nonprofit universities and the University of California system
With HCAI oversight, these TPAs develop and administer grants and support colleges and universities in completing their requirements to become HCAI-Designated Education Programs. Learn more about these programs.