National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching

What National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching does

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional credentialing organization established in 2012 that operates as the sole U.S. national board certification body for health and wellness coaches. Predecessor work began in 2010; the organization is headquartered (PO Box 5091) in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is governed by a 15+ member board including representation from Mayo Clinic (Board Chair Moain Abu Dabrh), the University of Houston (Vice Chair Bettina M. Beech), and the National Board of Medical Examiners. NBHWC accredits training programs, approves continuing education courses, and certifies individual practitioners through its NBC-HWC credential; as of 2026, the organization has certified more than 14,000 NBC-HWCs serving across private practice, healthcare systems, digital health, and corporate wellness in the United States and internationally.

Name

National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching

Legal name

National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching

Website

https://nbhwc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), a 501(c)(6) nonprofit established in 2012, is the sole U.S. national credentialing body for health and wellness coaches. Over 14,000 practitioners have earned the NBC-HWC credential via NBME-developed examinations and approved training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Certification Examination Fees: Revenue from administering the National Board Certification Exam for health and wellness coaches. Candidates pay exam application fees as part of the board certification process.
2. Training Program Approval Fees: Application fee of $899 plus annual provider fee of $700/year and administrative fee of $200/year for approved training programs seeking NBHWC approval status.
3. Continuing Education Approval: Fees for CE course approval process, charged annually per course based on CE value. Fees are due upon approval and must be paid prior to advertising approval.
4. Recertification and Maintenance: Ongoing recertification requirements for NBC-HWCs including continuing education participation and periodic renewal processes.
5. Apparel and Merchandise: Sale of NBHWC branded apparel and merchandise through online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NBHWC is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that sets national standards for the health and wellness coaching profession. It administers the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination (HWCCE) developed with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), grants the NBC-HWC credential, approves training programs and continuing education courses, and maintains the profession's Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice. Revenue is generated through exam application fees, training program approval fees, annual provider/administrative fees, continuing education approval fees, recertification, and branded apparel.

Product overview

NBHWC operates as a certification and standards organization rather than a traditional product company, offering a portfolio of certification, training approval, and professional development services. The core offering is the NBC-HWC credential (National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach), which requires completing an NBHWC Approved Training Program, documenting 50 coaching sessions via the Coaching Log, meeting education requirements, and passing the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Exam (HWCCE). Supporting products include the Practice Exam for board exam preparation, the Career Center job board for employment connections, and the NBHWC Approved Continuing Education system for ongoing professional development. Additional offerings include handbooks (Program Approval Handbook, Continuing Education Handbook, Recertification Handbook), the Annual Survey Report, and the pilot Ambassador Program. The organization is structured as a 501(c)(6) professional membership body with approximately 1,800+ Board Certified Health Coaches across 40+ Approved Training Programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NBC-HWC Certification (National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach) The primary credential offered by NBHWC representing nationally recognized standards for health and wellness coaching competence, ethics, and professional practice. Candidates complete an NBHWC Approved Training Program, document 50 coaching sessions, meet education/experience requirements, and pass the national board exam.
• Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Exam (HWCCE) The national board certification examination testing foundational knowledge, skills, tasks, and abilities essential to health and wellness coaching practice. Developed and administered through NBME.
• NBHWC Approved Training Program A formal approval designation granted to training programs that meet NBHWC's educational standards (including 75 instructional hours, practical skills development, and faculty qualifications). Graduates of approved programs qualify to apply for the NBC-HWC certification exam.
• NBHWC Approved Continuing Education Approval designation for continuing education courses aligned with NBHWC's scope of practice, core competencies, and ethical guidelines, supporting ongoing professional development and recertification requirements for NBC-HWCs.
• Practice Exam Online practice examination tool offering 50-question practice tests for candidates preparing for the National Board Exam, hosted on Thinkific.
• NBHWC Career Center A job board platform connecting NBC-HWCs with employers seeking board-certified coaches. Offers resume support, interview coaching, and employer engagement features; job posts aligned with the HWC Scope of Practice.
• Group Coaching Certificate Program (GCCP) Specialized training program developed in partnership with the CDC for National DPP Lifestyle Coaches, integrating evidence-based practices in group health and wellness coaching.
• NBHWC Ambassador Program Pilot program bringing together diverse NBC-HWCs to share the impact of board certification, support peers, and advance the profession through educational campaigns and community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ board-certified coaches across the United States and globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership established in 2016 for the development and administration of the Health & Wellness Coach Certifying Examination (HWCCE). NBME brings psychometric expertise, exam development infrastructure, and medical credibility to the certification process. The partnership enhances NBHWC's commitment to maintaining highest standards in health and wellness coaching through rigorous examination practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Coach Federation (ICF): Global credentialing body for professional coaches (ACC, PCC, MCC). Most direct peer to NBHWC in coaching certification, with overlapping health coaching specialty and broader scope.
• Wellcoaches School of Coaching: Well-established health and wellness coaching training and credentialing organization. Direct competitor in HWC certification, with overlapping curriculum standards and coach training programs.
• American Council on Exercise (ACE): Major fitness and health coach credentialing body (CPT, HFS, CES, HC). Overlap with NBHWC on health coach credentialing and training program approval.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM): Large-scale fitness and wellness coaching/personal training certification organization with adjacent Health Coach and Wellness Coach credentials comparable to NBHWC offerings.

Broad incumbents

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): Broader incumbent exercise science and clinical certification organization (EP-C, C-EP, EIM). Wider portfolio but overlapping scope on exercise and wellness credentialing.

Emerging players

• International Association for Health Coaching (IAHC): Smaller credentialing body focused on clinical health coaching, often serving nursing-adjacent populations. Emerges as partial substitute for NBC-HWC in certain healthcare employer contexts.

Others

• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Adjacent professional credentialing organization for counselors and behavioral health providers. Useful structural comparator on nonprofit certification body operations and AMA/CMS engagement.
• Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE): Industry association for the credentialing industry (formerly NOCA). Trade-body peer; NBHWC participates in ICE Exchange conferences and follows ICE accreditation frameworks.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Major healthcare professional credentialing body (nursing specialty certifications). Useful peer for understanding scale, governance, and regulatory engagement models relevant to NBHWC's trajectory.
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): Single-credential healthcare certification body with national scope. Scaled structural comparator on training program approval, recertification, and exam administration partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nbhwc
• Facebookfacebook.com/nbhwc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbhwc
• Instagraminstagram.com/nbhwc
• Xx.com/nbchwc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching