How to become a wellness coach

Learning how to become a wellness coach can allow you to pursue a fulfilling new career helping clients meet their personalised goals. To assist with this process, you can follow this outline:

Earning a Level 4 Nutrition coach can help you launch your career as a wellness coach. Through this qualification, you will learn how to offer nutritional advice to individual clients.

You can also download our FREE course prospectus to learn more about OriGym’s qualifications.

Learn How to Become a Wellness Coach With Qualifications

How to Become a Wellness Coach With Qualifications

Through learning how to become a health and wellness coach you can help clients to identify and reflect on their health-related behavioural habits.

Wellness coaches are not medical professionals, instead, their occupation is more similar to life coaches. This is because they offer tailored guidance and general advice to their clients.

This advice can vary from one individual to another depending on their personal goals. For example, when becoming a wellness coach you may work with clients who want to:

  • Manage/lower their stress levels
  • Improve their physical fitness
  • Gain motivation to pursue a specific fitness-related goal – e.g. run a marathon, gain muscle mass, etc.

Learn How to Become a Wellness Coach With Qualifications

Please note – This job title is unregulated, meaning that you technically don’t need any qualifications to learn how to become a wellness coach. But this does not mean you should rush into the role without any certifications!

Instead, you should take time to pursue qualifications that deepen your understanding of health and fitness, to ensure you provide your clients with the best possible support. For this reason, this section will cover a variety of courses you can enrol in to improve your chances of knowledge:

#1 –  A Personal Training Diploma Can Help You Become a Wellness Coach

Become a wellness coach with a PT

A personal training diploma is a hybrid qualification, combining both:

Earning this qualification will ensure that you’re well educated on matters relating to the principles of health and wellbeing. For example, when enrolled on this course you will learn how to create bespoke training programmes, tailored to suit the needs of individual clients.

Similarly, you will also study the importance of nutrition, and again learn how to apply bespoke advice to clients from a variety of populations.

Essentially, once you have earned this ideal qualification, you will be able to offer various tailored guidance and advice to help clients with their specific needs.

Many employers looking to hire wellness coaches will even stress their preference for applicants with these qualifications. This can be seen in the following job advertisement below:

How to become a wellness coach certified

The length of this course will vary depending on how you choose to study:

  • Full-Time Course – This runs from Monday to Friday, 9 am-5:30 pm and is conducted from one of OriGym’s private training centres. The full-time course combines both practical training sessions with classroom-led theory teaching and is typically completed in 4 weeks.
  • Part-Time Course – Combines in-person practical workshops with learning from OriGym’s online learning platform. Students on this course typically take 8 weeks to complete the course.
  • Online Course – With no deadlines, you can work on the qualification at your own pace using our online training platform!

Ultimately, the personal training diploma is an ideal option for those looking to become a wellness coach in the UK. You can work at whatever pace you feel comfortable with, gaining knowledge and skills that will inform your future career.

#2 – Vocational Training Can Teach You How to Become a Certified Wellness Coach

How to become a personal wellness coach

When researching how to become a certified wellness coach, you will undoubtedly come across vocational training courses such as the Advanced Diploma in Wellness Coaching from Wellness Professionals at Work.

Be aware that to enrol on this course you will already need to be a qualified healthcare professional. This includes the likes of:

  • Personal trainers
  • Yoga instructors
  • Nutritionists
  • Nurses

Wellness Professionals at Work will ask for proof of your qualification before your enrolment – e.g. a copy of your personal training diploma.

Become a wellness coach online

Once successfully enrolled on the course, you will develop the necessary skills required to become wellness coach, through studying modules such as:

  • Facilitating coaching sessions
  • Cognitive behavioural coaching
  • Motivational-focused coaching
  • Wellness coaching for lifestyle changes
  • Methods of delivering wellness coaching

For reference, this qualification will cost £2599.00 and can be completed over 2 years. Successful graduates will finish the course with the equivalent educational level of a QCF Level 5.

While the job title is unregulated, many employers (such as the example below) will still ask for relevant qualifications and experience when applying to become a wellness coach in the UK:

How do you become a wellness coach job description

Earning a vocational training qualification such as this example will act as proof that you have relevant practical experience and theoretical knowledge, ensuring that you will thrive in the role of a wellness coach.

From this, we can say that whilst advanced vocational training isn’t necessary, it can help you to stand out from other applicants who may lack this experience.

#3 – Becoming a Wellness Coach Through a University Degree

Becoming a Wellness Coach Through a University Degree

Alternatively, you could become a certified health and wellness coach by pursuing a degree in higher education. For example, establishments such as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) offer a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health & Wellbeing Coaching.

This higher education qualification seeks to prepare you for a future career in wellness coaching by:

  • Developing your understanding of contemporary issues related to wellbeing coaching
  • Allowing you to undertake a professional placement in your third year
  • Provide a professional coaching portfolio, containing documents relating to your qualifications and placement
  • Offering lectures delivered by industry experts who are passionate about supporting your professional development

Once graduated, you will be able to become a wellness coach in establishments such as London’s King College, who prioritise the higher-education degree in their ‘desirable criteria’ section:

How to become a health wellness coach

Note – Out of all the qualifications to appear in this section, employers are least likely to specifically ask for a Bachelor’s qualification. That doesn’t mean they are entirely pointless, as you can still use the course to gain relevant practical experience and theoretical knowledge.

More information relating to the specific enrolment requirements and financial process will be available on your chosen university’s website.

Become a Wellness Coach in a Contracted Position

Become a Wellness Coach in a Contracted Position

According to market research, the health and wellness coaching industry is projected to grow 5.4% every year, and is currently estimated to be worth $8.87 billion by 2025.

With expected industry growth on the horizon, there is no better time to become a wellness coach. One way to pursue this role is through contracted employment in locations such as:

  • Gyms or fitness centre
  • Yoga Studios
  • Spas
  • Schools and Universities
  • Doctors Offices and Hospitals
  • Specialist Wellness Shops and Clinics

To become a wellness coach in a contracted position, you should look at employment sites and search relevant terms to pull vacancies within your local area. This can include:

How to become a nutrition and wellness coach

When pursuing contracted employment, the decision on what location you work at will be influenced by your special interest.

For example, if you want to provide advice and guidance relating to a client’s physical fitness, then the best option will be to work at a gym or fitness centre.

As evident from the previous section, the qualifications that are required to become a wellness coach will also differ from one location to another. For example, should you decide to pursue the aforementioned position at a gym, you will likely need a personal training diploma.

How to become a wellness coach certified

Note, where you work will also influence the responsibilities that you are expected to complete. 

This is apparent in the same job description, where it’s clearly stated that a wellness coach would be expected to fulfil the duties of a fitness instructor and/or personal trainer.

Become a certified health and wellness coach

Be aware that when under contract your client base will be made up of your employer’s customers – e.g. gym goers, yoga studio students, etc.

Other locations will differ from this process, which is why you should always read each job description diligently.

Another thing to consider when pursuing contracted employment is whether the position will offer insurance. These policies can protect you in the event the advice or teachings you provide are brought into question by a client.

Become a certified health and wellness coach at a gym

For example, a client could become injured following your wellness advice, and seek financial compensation claiming that you are directly responsible. In this instance, insurance can help to cover your legal fees, and even save you from jail time in severe cases.

Whether an employer provides this insurance will be discussed as and when you sign your contract. Whilst this typically will be the case, the process of purchasing your own will be discussed later in the article.

What Salary Can You Expect When Becoming a Wellness Coach Under Contract?

What Salary Can You Expect When Becoming a Wellness Coach Under Contract

One of the primary benefits of becoming a wellness coach in a contracted position is that you will receive a regular fixed salary. This will provide you with financial stability, allowing you to budget for your personal and professional needs.

According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a wellness coach is estimated to be anywhere between £25k-£38k every year:

How to become a health wellness coach Salary

This salary is supported by existing job advertisements such as the example displayed below, for a wellness coach that specialises in physical fitness. Here you can see how the average salary estimated by Glassdoor falls within the parameters of this specific position:

How to become a personal wellness coach with a salary

With that being said, if you’re interested in learning how to become a wellness coach in the UK, you should take figures on sites such as Glassdoor with a grain of salt.

This is because the stats presented are merely an average generated from data collected by the site’s user base, and are therefore not reflective of an entire industry.

In addition to this, numerous factors could influence the annual salary you receive. For example, employers will typically pay a higher wage to applicants with more experience, compared to those who have just become wellness coach.

This isn’t to say that your salary will be fixed for the duration of your contract. As you gain more experience this income could potentially increase over time, but that decision will ultimately be up to your employer.

If you’d like more control over your earning potential, you could move away from contracted employment and instead pursue freelance work under your own business.

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If you’re interested in learning how to become a wellness coach these other OriGym articles will be of interest to you:

How to Become a Wellness Coach By Starting Your Own Business

How do you become a wellness coach starting your own

If you’re questioning ‘how do you become a wellness coach on a self-employed basis?’ use this section as a step-by-step process for running your own business.

Keep in mind that as a freelancer you are responsible for every aspect of your business. Consequently, you will have to complete multiple responsibilities that are typically completed by employers or a management team, such as:

  • Attracting and retaining a dedicated client base
  • Creating your own pricing packages
  • Marketing and branding your services across different platforms – e.g. in-person and on social media
  • Managing your own schedule
  • Keeping track of your finances
  • Securing your own insurance

In addition to this, unlike contracted employment, there aren’t technically any set ‘requirements’ to work as a wellness coach on a freelance basis either.

With that being said, obtaining prior qualifications and experience can prove to be beneficial when it comes to advertising your business. In doing so, you market yourself as an expert who can offer clients beneficial guidance.

#1 – When Becoming a Wellness Coach Register Your Business With UK.Gov

When Becoming a Wellness Coach Register Your Business With UK.Gov

A direct answer to the question ‘how do I become a wellness coach?’ is to register your freelance business on the UK.Gov website. After completing this process you will be legally recognised as self-employed, and can begin working on building your brand.

This registration is entirely FREE and is necessary for tax purposes, meaning it cannot be skipped!

#2 –  Choose a Specialism Based on Your Desired Clientele

When Becoming a Wellness Coach get clients

When learning how to become a personal wellness coach, you should consider who you want to work with and what services you wish to offer. In doing so, you can develop a niche, creating programmes that will be most effective for that specific demographic of clients.

To choose a demographic you should consider aspects such as:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Income
  • Why they would require your services – e.g. are they stressed out, looking to improve physical fitness, etc.

Once a demographic has been determined, you should then decide what services you want to offer to resolve these issues.

For example, Yohanna Mannelqvist specialises in reducing stress levels among women through a combination of one-to-one wellness coaching and mindful yoga sessions:

How to become a wellness coach UK Yohanna

When discussing how she operates as a wellness coach, Yohanna states:

‘ I guide ambitious women from stressed, confused and overwhelmed to balanced and meaningful lives through yoga, one-to-one coaching, retreats and workshops’

The services you offer should be informed by your prior experience/qualifications. For example, if you were a qualified PT you could sell fitness programmes that help to facilitate the client’s wellness coaching.

#3 – Purchase Insurance Before Becoming a Wellness Coach

Become a wellness coach with insurance

As a self-employed wellness coach you will be responsible for purchasing insurance for your business.

Hiscox is the leading provider of insurance for coaches, teachers, and educational providers in the UK. This is the ideal option for your business, as when purchased these packages will offer coverage in the following areas:

How do I become a wellness coach with insurance

To receive your personalised insurance quote, head over to the Hiscox website and provide them with information such as:

  • The name of your business
  • The date it was registered with UK.Gov
  • Your estimated turnover for your first year of business
  • Where you carry out your business

Note – Hiscox insurance will only cover your wellness coaching services! Should your business also have a practical speciality, you will need to purchase appropriate coverage with another provider.

For example, if you offered personal training sessions to facilitate the advice and guidance you provided as a wellness coach, then you’d need to purchase personal training insurance.

#4 – Market Your Wellness Coaching Business

How do I become a wellness coach with insurance How do I become a wellness coach online

If you’re questioning ‘how do you become a wellness coach?’, a large part of this professional process will be attracting a base of clients through marketing campaigns.

Whilst there are many ways for you to market your wellness coach business, one easy method is to create social media accounts that promote your services. For example, the primary platforms you should be using to achieve this include:

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

This may sound simple, but research has found that 54% of people use social media with the specific intent of looking for and purchasing a product. With this in mind, let’s discuss what kind of material you could post as a wellness coach to attract clients:

  • Client progress photos – With captions discussing how they reached their desired goals
  • User-generated content – Material that your clients have made and has been reposted to your profile/story
  • Competitions – This is a great way to generate a buzz and engagement with your brand. You can offer a prize such as a free month of wellness coaching, in exchange for clients liking, following and resharing your page.

An example of what these posts may look like can be found below, where wellness coach JLR Fitness posts about her client’s progress on Instagram:

How do I become a wellness coach with Insta

Without marketing material, potential clients won’t have any way to interact with the services you offer. By simply creating posts such as the example above, you can capture leads and generate an interest in your wellness coaching business.

The use of social media is just one example, there are still more ways to advertise your wellness coach business. To help with this process check out our in-depth look at personal training marketing strategies – Whilst this is written for PTs you can still use the guidance presented in this article and tailor it to suit your needs.

#5 – Design Pricing Packages For Your Wellness Coach Business

how do you become a wellness coach stable income

Should you decide to become a wellness coach on a self-employed basis, you will need to create your own pricing packages in order to sell your services.

For reference, there are no fixed ‘average rates’ that freelance wellness coaches adhere to, and what you decide to charge will be subjective to your business.

To gain insight on what you should be charging for your services, you should conduct competitor research. This will help you to determine where your business fits within the wider industry, and allow you to price the packages accordingly.

For example, virtual wellness coach Alsion Harris charges £340 for a standard wellness package, which includes 4 virtual 1 hour sessions, in addition to the following services:

Become a certified health and wellness coach example

In contrast, Emma Buyers charges a slightly higher price £595 for 6 hours of coaching, during which her customers will receive the following support:

Emma Buyers How to become a wellness coach UK

When conducting competitor research you should be comparing the services they offer to your own. If you feel that your packages offer clients more beneficial support, then you could justify charging a higher price.

For example, if you offer additional services such as personal training then you could arguably charge more than your competitors because you can provide clients with a service that they lack!

Becoming a Wellness Coach Offering Additional Services

Becoming a Wellness Coach Offering Additional Services

If you’re interested in learning how to become a wellness coach in the UK, just offering your clients general advice and guidance can be somewhat limiting, and may prevent you from standing out from competitors.

Instead, you should incorporate additional services that help to facilitate your client’s desired goals – Remember, to perform these additional roles you will need to ensure you hold the appropriate qualifications.

To support claims made within this section, real examples of wellness coaches who use additional services will be incorporated throughout:

#1 – How to Become a Certified Wellness Coach Offering Personal Training

How to Become a Certified Wellness Coach Offering Personal Training

A wellness coach who offers personal training sessions can create bespoke workout programmes that facilitate a client’s health and fitness-related goals. This can help to attract a new demographic of clients and boost your overall earning potential.

For example, take Fiona Coppard whose approach to wellness coaching has helped her carve out a niche demographic of clients. For £400 a month, women who are suffering from menopause can receive the following support:

How to Become a Certified Wellness Coach Offering Personal Training

To offer this additional service you will need to ensure you have a personal training diploma. Obtaining this qualification will ensure you know how to plan and deliver bespoke workout programmes that help clients achieve their goals.

Once you begin to offer a combination of wellness coaching and personal training, you will find that the client base expands. This is because you now offer a service that interests an entirely new demographic.

For example, clients to complete a marathon may have previously passed over your business when it was just holistic advice and emotional support.

However, when this is combined with a physical training programme that will help complete said marathon, they will be more likely to invest in your business, thus increasing your number of clients and average income.For more advice on how you can increase your income while in this role, check out our article on how to price personal training.

#2 – How to Become a Wellness Coach Certified in Nutrition

How to Become a Wellness Coach Certified in Nutrition

Alternatively, you may decide to become a nutritional coach and incorporate services such as meal planning into your wellness business.

In this instance, you could attract clients who are looking to complete goals such as:

  • Losing weight/gaining Muscle
  • Improving their eating habits – e.g. reduce snacking
  • Psychological mending their relationship with food

One such example of a wellness coach who offers this service is Kathleen Farran, whose weight loss package can be found below:

How to Become a Wellness Coach Certified in Nutrition

While the job title of nutritionist is also unregulated, gaining experience through a Level 4 sports nutritionist qualification can prove to be significantly beneficial. Through completing this course you will learn about the process of meal prepping and how to create plans for specialist populations.

With this knowledge and experience, you will be able to successfully attract whatever demographic of client you desire, through marketing material that demonstrates how your nutritional service can benefit them.

#3 – Become a Wellness Coach Who Offers Sports Massage Therapy

Become a Wellness Coach Who Offers Sports Massage Therapy 1

You may also decide to pursue a Sports Massage Therapy qualification, which would allow you to incorporate treatment programmes into your business. During this course, you will learn functional stretching techniques that can aid in injury management and rehabilitation.

Should you choose to become a wellness coach that incorporates SMT into their practice, you will likely be working with clients whose primary aim is to recover from injury.

When in this position you can offer both practical SMT treatment, in addition to wellness advice that clients can implement on their own accord to improve their condition.

Emily Reese is an example of someone who offers these hybrid services, describing her approach to wellness coaching within her LinkedIn bio:

Become a Wellness Coach Who Offers Sports Massage Therapy

That’s not to say that these services are strictly limited to clients who are injured either. You can also provide SMT to healthy athletes, as these techniques are also known to improve flexibility and the improvement of muscles in physical activity.

#4 – Become a Certified Health and Wellness Coach That Teaches Yoga

Become a Certified Health and Wellness Coach That Teaches Yoga

You can also choose to become a yoga instructor, and lead guided sessions in addition to your wellness coach services.

This role would operate in a similar fashion to personal trainers, allowing you to teach group and private yoga classes that help to facilitate your client’s wellness goals. For example, you could specifically lead sessions that help to reduce stress levels, offering both practical and theoretical guidance.

In order to become a wellness coach certified in yoga, you will need to first earn a Level 3 yoga instructor qualification. This course is vital, as without the proper certification you will be regarded as unqualified and won’t even be considered by employers.

To understand how yoga teachings can be integrated into your business take another look at Yohanna Mannelqvist’s website. In the screenshot below you can see how her combination of yoga and coaching benefits her clients:

How to become a wellness coach certified in yoga

Ultimately, as a qualified yoga instructor, you will be able to offer a variety of techniques and variations for your clients. You could even specifically focus on a variation that is known to help their goal, for example, yin yoga is known to reduce stress.

Before You Go!

Now that you know how to become a wellness coach you will be able to successfully pursue this position, incorporating whatever additional services that you deem fit.

When working as a wellness coach obtaining a Level 4 Nutrition qualification can shape how you work with clients on a one-to-one basis. Through completing this course you will learn how to offer bespoke advice and guidance for individual clients.

OriGym’s course prospectus is also available to download for FREE!

Enquire Now

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About the Author: James Bickerstaff

james bickerstaff origym authour
James holds a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and Film Studies and has recently gained a MA degree in Film, both of which he attained from Liverpool John Moores University. After taking up the couch to 5K challenge on a whim, James found a new passion for running, which he combines with his love for healthy cooking and writing. All of this led him to becoming a copywriter for OriGym.   When he is not writing content for the site, James can be found researching new recipes, writing music reviews, reading and watching latest film releases.  

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