You are goal-oriented and always have a detailed, organized plan of attack to reach your goals. You care about maintaining your own health, striving to eat right and exercise and encouraging others to do so as well. As an important member of the patient’s healthcare team, a health coach fulfills a vital mission: educating patients, staff and the community on living healthier lives.

A career as a health coach (also called a health educator, community health worker or wellness coach) might be right for you, if:

• You enjoy developing a plan of action
• You enjoy gathering and analyzing data
• You like to create programs that meet specific needs
• You enjoy learning about topics such as health, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle modification and community health
• You enjoy working with others one-on-one or as a member of a team
• You are a good listener
• You encourage others through mentoring or motivation
• You educate others—acting as a teacher or guide
• You are passionate about living a life of wellness

1. Internet Research: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, what is the job outlook for a health coach (educator)?

There are many different educational paths to becoming a health coach (educator), including:

• Obtaining a license as a nurse, dental hygienist, physician assistant or other healthcare professional, followed by studying and passing the National Society of Health Coaches exam.
• Obtaining a four-year degree in Health Education, followed by studying for and becoming a certified health education specialist (CHES).
• Obtaining a four-year degree in Dietetics that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), completing a six to twelve month CADE internship and passing a licensing exam. Followed by completing the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching exam and certification.
• Becoming a certified personal trainer, obtaining 2,000 hours of experience in personal training, then registering and completing the wellcoaches® School of Coaching course and exam.

1. Internet Research: Research a local college/university/school with a health education or community health degree program. Provide the following information:
   • School location
   • Length of program/degree
   
   
2. Internet Research: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, what is the current median pay of a health coach (educator)?

• Assessing the needs of the people and communities you serve
• Developing programs and events to teach people about health topics
• Teaching people how to cope with or manage existing health conditions
• Helping people find health services or information
• Providing training programs for other health professionals or community health workers
• Supervising staff who implement health education programs
• Collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the effectiveness of programs
• Advocating for improved health resources and policies that promote health
• Providing outreach and discussing healthcare concerns with community members
• Educating people about the importance and availability of healthcare services such as cancer screenings
• Collecting data and reporting findings to health educators and other health providers
• Providing informal counseling and social support
• Conducting outreach programs
• Ensuring that people have access to the healthcare services they need
• Advocating for individual and community needs

1. On Your Own: Using the list above, identify which responsibilities benefit the patient and which responsibilities benefit other members of the healthcare team.