Certified Wellness Coach Pathways
Updated Requirements!
Effective January 1, 2025
Background
HCAI is updating the requirements to become a Certified Wellness Coach (CWC), expanding the number of eligible degree programs in the education and workforce pathways, and increasing field experience requirements in the workforce pathway.
The goals of the profession remain the same: CWC roles add career opportunities for qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds with associate or bachelor’s degrees to specialize in behavioral health. Under the supervision of qualified professionals, coaches provide important support to children and youth. The CWC profession is also designed to be a steppingstone to future career opportunities, such that the coaches of today might continue their professional journey and become the clinicians and counselors of tomorrow.
What are the updates to the Wellness Coach certification requirements?
Education Pathway Revisions:
The Education Pathway for Wellness Coach certification is for individuals who recently graduated from a California college or university with an associate or bachelor’s degree in specific fields of study.
Psychology is being added as a qualifying field of study, adding to existing eligible degrees of Human Services, Social Work, or Addiction Studies.
The Wellness Coach Certification website will reflect this new policy on March 4, 2025.
Starting January 1 through March 3, 2025, individuals who urgently need their certifications processed under the new criteria can email certify@cawellnesscoach.org for individual support and manual application processing.
Please see the below graphic for complete description of revisions:
Workforce Pathway Revisions:
The Workforce Pathway is for individuals with an associate or bachelor’s degree who have experience providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth. In TK-12 settings, this may include individuals who have been serving in roles such as Family and Youth Liaison, Family Advocate, Student Support Liaison, Community Service Coordinator, Student Advocate, and Behavioral Health Specialist/Technician.
The degree requirement is expanding to any associate or bachelor’s degree, and HCAI is therefore increasing the emphasis on field experience. As a result, the required field experience hours are increasing, and the definition of allowable field experience is specific to providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth.
The Wellness Coach Certification website will reflect this new policy on March 4, 2025.
Starting January 1 through March 3, 2025, individuals who urgently need their certifications processed under the new criteria, can email certify@cawellnesscoach.org for individual support and manual application processing.
Please see the below graphic for complete description of revisions:
Why are these updates being made?
In response to input from many stakeholders (including prospective applicants, the TK-12 education community, and training partners at institutes of higher education), HCAI conducted a comprehensive review and re-analysis of the existing approach to certification. The aforementioned updates improve alignment of eligibility criteria with the goals of the profession. The approach also better acknowledges that individuals may have developed prerequisite competency in Wellness Coach-like activities through varied career journeys.
What does a Certified Wellness Coach do?
- Under the supervision of a qualified professional, a Certified Wellness Coach may offer support in the following areas:
- Wellness promotion and education, (e.g., teaching youth how to build positive relationships and prevent bullying)
- Screening that does not require a license (e.g., answering questions and coordinating screening programs)
- Care coordination (e.g., connecting individuals to behavioral health resources and communicating with other professionals)
- Individual support (e.g., providing brief check-ins and supporting care plans established by Licensed or PPS providers)
- Group support, on topics such as stress management and social and emotional skills
- Crisis referral adhering to standard protocols, such as identifying potential risks and engaging in warm hand-offs
Who supervises CWCs?
CWCs must be supervised by Pupil Personnel Services Credential holders or Licensed Clinicians.
How does HCAI validate applicants’ experience hours and competencies?
As a part of the certification application, sign-off from field instructor supervisors and/or employer supervisors is required for all reported experience hours. Supervisors must also attest that applicants have demonstrated competency in all activity areas (e.g., Wellness Education and Promotion, Universal Screening, Care Coordination and Navigation, Crisis Referral, Individual Support, Group Support, and Evidence-Based Documentation). Additionally, applicants must also agree to follow the Certified Wellness Coach Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to wellnesscoach@hcai.ca.gov and we will be happy to support in any way we can.
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