Frequently Asked Questions

In a few words: Mission. Education. Instructors. Value. Support. Community. Personal transformation. Results.
We’re on a mission to change the way we do health by empowering deeply caring people to transform lives, create abundant careers, and change the world. Learn more about HCI and why students choose to train with us.

About Us

Why students train with us

The cost of training at Health Coach Institute depends on which program you enroll in. We have many different programs and payment options to work with your situation.

Training at HCI is an investment that pays off big if your goals are to 1.) further your wellness education with cutting-edge curriculum that leverages the science of habit change 2.) build or grow a successful wellness business, and 3.) become the healthiest version of you in the process!

We believe there’s no better return on investment than doing work that lights you up, aligns with your mission and values, and enables you to help others live their best lives—while living your best life too!

At HCI, we make every effort to help you afford your training. We run seasonal promos with generous tuition discounts, offer amazing bonuses with enrollment, and also offer payment plans customized to your unique financial situation.

Talk to a Clarity Coach

At HCI, we’re committed to excellence and we strive to provide the most robust and sound learning experience possible. Learn more about our recognitions, program accreditations, and approvals here.

Yes! Upon completing the Become a Health & Life Coach program you will be dually certified as an HCI Certified Health Coach (HCI-CHC) and HCI Certified Life Coach (HCI-CLC), and will be awarded two certificates to display proudly. Students who graduate from Pathway will be certified as an HCI Certified Empowered Well-Being Coach (HCI-CHWC). We also offer graduates a path to obtain further certification as a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) via our NBHWC-approved Pathway Coach Training Program.

Pathway Program

We are proud to maintain a rating of “Excellent” on Trustpilot. You can also see more feedback from our students on our Reviews page. Or check us out on YouTube for video testimonials from our grads!

Read Reviews

HCI was founded in March of 2015, and has seen over 35,000 students from over 100 countries pass through its virtual doors in that time. Learn more about HCI’s exciting history and milestones.

About Us

We offer a range of training programs to support you in becoming your healthiest and building the health and wellness business of your dreams. From Health and Life Coaching and business building programs we offer a variety of offerings to suit your needs. We offer go-at-your-own pace programs to learn from anywhere in the world, with elements of live training and partner Skills Labs depending on the course. Visit our Programs page to see our full list of current offerings.

Our Programs

Our program instructors include some of the most respected names in the health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and coaching industries.

Meet the team

Visit our Accreditation page for more information on the types of certificates you can earn by successfully completing our various trainings.

HCI Accreditation

You must complete all coursework requirements and relevant quizzes within the given program timeframe and be in good financial standing to obtain your certificate from HCI.

A health background is not required to take any of our programs and there are no prerequisites. The only “requirements” are a passion for health and wellness, a desire to make a difference, and a commitment to learning!

Yes! We are pleased to offer convenient and flexible payment options for all of our programs. To learn more, visit our Programs page and download the course catalog for the program you’re interested in.

Our Programs

We want you to be 100% satisfied with your educational experience. Please download the course catalog for the program you’re interested in for refund policy information. Return policies depend on the length of the program and the content of the course.

Our Programs

There are quizzes sprinkled throughout our programs to ensure that you are integrating and retaining the teachings. In some of our programs you will also receive one-on-one feedback from an instructor, as well as partner with another student for practice Skills Labs. Our NBHWC-approved Pathway program does require the purchase of an additional textbook and suggests two more as optional reading. Some additional fees may apply to other programs.

Our Programs

More about the Pathway Program

Yes! We are committed to our students’ continued growth and success, and frequently host live classes and events. Depending on the program you choose, some of the content may be provided in a live virtual setting. We also offer weekly “live” online events for interested new students. Check out our Events page for a list of upcoming events.

Our Events

We define a Health Coach at HCI as: a trained professional who is passionate about healthy living in all areas of life and who wants to empower others to make that commitment to healthy living too. How Health Coaches choose to work with their clients varies depending on the services they choose to provide and what they choose to specialize in. But generally speaking, Health Coaches help their clients set goals to improve their health and wellness, create a plan to achieve their goals, address any negative habits or patterns that might prevent them from following through with their plan, and cultivate healthy habits that will help them thrive in life. At HCI, our students learn to help clients create positive change in their lives across five key areas: Health, Career, Love/Relationships, Money, and That Which is Greater.

Learn more about being a health coach

Health Coaches work in collaborative partnerships with their clients to help them follow through with their health goals, providing support, guidance, accountability, and encouragement along the way. Health Coaches don’t tell their clients what to do; they believe their clients already know the answers to their challenges. Their skill lies in knowing the right questions to ask to uncover unhealthy habits and thought patterns that are keeping their clients stuck. Health Coaches meet with their clients virtually, by phone, or in person, for a set time over a period of several months, acting as unbiased observers and identifying any limiting beliefs that could be hampering their client’s growth. They then work with their clients to master healthy habits by using transformational coaching skills and techniques.

Learn more about being a health coach

This is a popular question we get asked A LOT. Health Coaches and therapists both provide counsel; but therapists help their clients work through and resolve past issues and traumas, whereas coaches work with clients on current obstacles and challenges. A coach’s main job is to help clients take results-oriented action to move from stuck in their lives to empowered and liberated. Another main difference is that coaches do not analyze, diagnose, or prescribe treatment, while therapists do.

Health Coaching jobs are everywhere, and really, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your career possibilities. As a Health Coach, you can choose to go into business for yourself (as many of our grads do), or you can choose from a number of exciting and lucrative career paths, working in: traditional medicine, corporate wellness, Functional Medicine practices, weight loss centers, fitness clubs, spas, chiropractic offices, community centers…the list goes on and on.

Health Coach Jobs

The beauty of a Health Coaching career is that you have the freedom and flexibility to design your ideal career. So whether you’re looking to leave your corporate career behind to pursue something more meaningful full-time or you’re a stay-at-home parent looking to make some income in between school drop-offs and naptime, or you’re a military spouse in search of a flexible job you can do from anywhere in the world, or you’re a retiree looking to start a new chapter, or you’re looking to supplement your day job with a side hustle that leverages your passion for health and helping others—a Health Coaching career can work for you.

Types of Health Coach careers

We offer training for every step of your professional coaching journey. To learn more about our courses, visit our Programs page.

HCI Coach Training Programs

At Health Coach Institute, we break our Life Coach definition into three parts. A Life Coach is someone who:

1. Challenges you to question how you approach every aspect of your life.
2. Unlocks potential so you are empowered to create anything you desire.
3. Inspires you to change the way you live day-to-day to be more aligned with who you want to be

In summary, Life Coaches help clients hone in on what they want and work with them to set achievable goals to live the life they desire.

Life Coaches (or Lifestyle Coaches, as they’re sometimes referred to) help people step into the boldest, most empowered version of themselves by working with clients across three domains of well-being: physical, cognitive, and emotional. They may offer guidance for their clients in a number of areas, including but not limited to:

• Finding work/life balance
• Career transition
• Stress management
• Improving health
• Increasing confidence
• Setting financial goals
• Buying a home
• Pursuing an education
• Improving relationships
• Launching a business
• Improving communication skills

Ultimately, Life Coaches help their clients get clear on what they want out of life, identify obstacles that are preventing them from achieving their goals, and create an action plan for success.

More about Life Coaching

There’s no shortage of career options for Life Coaches. As a Lifestyle Coach, you can work one-on-one with clients, lead group programs, book speaking engagements, author books, sell products and courses, lead seminars and retreats, run your own podcast, work in a university or corporate setting…the sky’s the limit!

More about Life Coaching

Life Coaching jobs are everywhere! Everyone is hiring Life Coaches—from individuals and corporations to actors and entrepreneurs—and even past presidents. If you choose to start your own Life Coaching business, the internet makes it easier than ever to find potential clients using methods like paid advertising, social media, organic search, and content marketing. If you are more interested in finding a position with an employer, there are many listings for Life Coaches on online job sites and LinkedIn. You can also find opportunities via staffing firms and networking with professional organizations.

We believe that Health Coaching and Life Coaching go hand in hand—and that is precisely why we teach them together in our dual Health & Life Coach Certificate Program. In this powerful six-month training, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge to work with clients holistically on a much deeper level where you can support them in improving their health across five key areas of life: Health, Career, Love/Relationships, Money, and That Which is Greater. HCI is one of the only schools to offer these two symbiotic coaching niches together.

Become a Health Coach Program