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Certified Wellness Coach Certification Specific Questions

December 2023

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 Training Pathway and Workforce Pathway. Specific details for each pathway, and each level, are outlined below:

Education Pathway:  

For individuals that are currently in school or recently graduated.

Certified Wellness Coach 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, Health and Human Services, or Addiction Studies
    • Field Experience: A minimum of 400 hours of field experience through any combination of hours from field practicum in their degree, internship hours, or work experience. 

Certified Wellness Coach 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, Health and Human Services, or Addiction Studies
    • Field Experience: A minimum of800 hours of field experience through any combination of hours from field practicum in their degree, internship hours, or work experience.

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, Health and Human Services, Addiction Studies, Child Development/Early Intervention, Psychology, or Sociology
    • Field Experience: A minimum of1,000 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, Health and Human Services, Addiction Studies, Child Development/Early Intervention, Psychology, or Sociology
    • Field Experience: A minimum of2,000 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?

Based on the data shared, attaining certification for either CWC I or II necessitates a degree. Specifically, an Associate degree is required for Coach I and a Bachelor degree for Coach II. As of now, there isn’t a pathway that allows for certification without a degree.

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

For those who 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. However, their registered designation will be listed on their certification which will inform employers that they are still completing their field experience requirements.

Once all hours have been completed, R-CWCs can enter their remaining hours in the certification portal and the registered designation will be removed from their certification.

How do I apply for certification?

HCAI will launch certification in early 2024. There will be a specific portal provided through HCAI to apply. Specific requirements will be clearly outlined so you can easily apply. Stay updated by signing up here.

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.