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Certified Wellness Coaches must recertify every two years.
Right now, nearly half of California’s youth are struggling with their mental health and well-being. There’s never been a better time to be a California Certified Wellness Coach. A strong and diverse workforce means a healthier California.
Learn MoreRight now, nearly half of California’s youth are struggling with their mental health and well-being. There’s never been a better time to be a California Certified Wellness Coach. A strong and diverse workforce means a healthier California.
Your Role in Transforming the Behavioral
Health Landscape
There is an urgent need to support the mental health needs of California’s children and youth. Certified Wellness Coaches (Coaches) provide care to young people through prevention and early intervention services. These services support overall physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
About Becoming A Certified
Today’s mental health crisis is negatively impacting children and youth in California. Certified Wellness Coaches create real change. Coaches make a positive difference in schools, health care programs, and community organizations because they can help the young people they serve have better, happier lives.
For Employers
Becoming an HCAI-Designated Education Program opens doors to actively shape California's behavioral health care available to young people. Educating Certified Wellness Coaches helps spread wellness for a healthier California.
Become an Education Program
The goal of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is to ensure that children and youth have access to support for their mental health and well-being. This multibillion-dollar investment is part of California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health.
With the funding from CYBHI, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is responsible for training more people to work in behavioral health. This includes training professionals, such as Certified Wellness Coaches, to support children and youth from diverse backgrounds. At participating schools and school-linked sites, Certified Wellness Coach services are eligible for reimbursement through the CYBHI Fee Schedule program, making it easier for students and families to get support when, where, and how they need it.
Currently, HCAI is engaging with various groups to support these efforts. These groups include children, families, community members, school experts, government officials, and partners from other agencies.
Recertification is more than a checkbox—it’s how Certified Wellness Coaches stay current, credible, and connected to the communities they serve.
Every two years, CWCs renew their certification by completing 20 hours of continuing education (CE). This process reinforces ethical practice, professional growth, and the delivery of safe, effective, and culturally responsive care for children and youth across California.
What is the difference between a Wellness Coach and other community health roles?
Who could benefit from the services of a Wellness Coach? Who could benefit from hiring a Wellness Coach?
What is the goal/purpose of the Wellness Coach program?
Who is behind the program?
What is the cost of education to become a Wellness Coach?
When can I enroll in an HCAI-Designated Education Program?
What are my career opportunities as a Wellness Coach?
What is the average salary for a Certified Wellness Coach?
What is the difference between the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway?
What is the difference between a Certified Wellness Coach I and Certified Wellness Coach II?
Why should I hire a Certified Wellness Coach?
What kinds of organizations should hire Certified Wellness Coaches?
What if my employees want to become Certified Wellness Coaches?
Besides California Community Colleges and Cal State Universities, can other organizations apply to become HCAI-Designated Education Programs?
How can my college or university become an HCAI-Designated Education Program?
What's in the curriculum?
Who can become a Wellness Coach?
How much does the certificate cost?
How can I verify a potential employee is a Certified Wellness Coach?
What is a Wellness Coach? What do they do?
What is the salary range for Certified Wellness Coaches?
Does my certification expire?
How can I fund or offset the cost of Certified Wellness Coaches?
An associate degree is required to become a Wellness Coach I and a bachelor degree is required to become a Wellness Coach II. The cost of the education is dependent on the program. You can learn more about the requirements by clicking here.
The Wellness Coach role is part of a broader initiative called the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The Department of Health Care Access and Information is responsible for developing the Wellness Coach role and will be the certifying entity.
The Wellness Coach role is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that has the training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work.
Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support youth behavioral health and well-being, such as wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.
Certified Wellness Coaches can help young people aged 0-25 and their families who are looking for support with their mental well-being.
Schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations can also benefit greatly by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. Coaches help support their students, patients, and members.
A Certified Wellness Coach focuses on promoting behavioral health and wellness for children and youth aged 0-25. They offer non-clinical support through wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. There are two certification levels, Certified Wellness Coach I, and Certified Wellness Coach II, which require an associate's or bachelor's degree, respectively. While they can operate in a wide variety of settings, they will work primarily in school-based and school-linked settings.
On the other hand, other community health roles deal with broader health issues and generalized support. This includes chronic diseases and social factors. They do this through advocacy, education, and connections to services. They can be found in places like health care, social services, and communities. These roles also have different certification and training paths.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach I education program is for those with little or no experience in behavioral health or related fields. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their associate degree in a qualifying subject and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals is wellness education, life skills, linkage to care, and supporting universal mental well-being for children and youth.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach II education program is for those who already have an associate degree in a related field or are completing a bachelor's degree at a California university. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their bachelor's degree in a qualifying subject with specified competencies and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals builds on the Wellness Coach I scope, including supporting individuals and small groups in goal setting, life skills, and coping skills.
These two levels make sure that Certified Wellness Coaches can help a wide range of people in the community, from basic support to specialized assistance.
There are two ways to become a Certified Wellness Coach: the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway. The Workforce Pathway is for people who have experience providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth through age 25 in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. They will also have an associate or bachelor's degree from any accredited program within the U.S. (International degrees accepted with proper equivalency paperwork.)
The Education Pathway is for recent graduates with an associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited California college or university with a degree in human services, social work, addiction studies, or psychology within the last six years.
Salaries differ based on experience, work environment, and employment type, like agency, union, or private practice.
Being a Certified Wellness Coach can be a job all on its own. And it can also be a starting point that gives you job and training benefits if you want to move up in your career by learning more and getting further education.
A wide range of organizations serving children and youth can benefit from hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. This includes schools, health care organizations, community groups, and others.
You can help fill gaps in youth mental health services in California by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. You’ll also be giving children and youth important behavioral health and mental wellness support. This can help your organization thrive.
Hiring a Certified Wellness Coach is a great choice for your organization. It's important to know that these Coaches don't provide clinical treatment. Instead, they help fill gaps in youth services in California. They give important behavioral health support, promoting mental well-being. This can make a big difference to both your clients and your organization.
The curriculum for Certified Wellness Coaches comprises two different learning paths: Certified Wellness Coach I and Certified Wellness Coach II. Each one is designed to meet specific educational and skill development needs.
For Certified Wellness Coach I:
When you finish this program, you'll get an associate’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach I.
For Certified Wellness Coach II:
After completing this program, you'll get a bachelor’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach II.
Both paths make sure Certified Wellness Coaches are ready to help a wide range of people and communities. They can provide basic support and more specialized help too.
Beginning now, colleges and universities with social work, human services, addiction studies, or related programs can start matching their courses with HCAI training needs. To kick start the process, collaborate with HCAI consultants. Connect with our HCAI Certified Wellness Coach team for more guidance.
Private nonprofit universities with human services, social work, or addiction studies programs can also become HCAI-Designated Educational Programs by following the same process as California State Universities.
An associate degree is required to become a Wellness Coach I and a bachelor degree is required to become a Wellness Coach II. The cost of the education is dependent on the program. You can learn more about the requirements by clicking here.
The Wellness Coach role is part of a broader initiative called the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The Department of Health Care Access and Information is responsible for developing the Wellness Coach role and will be the certifying entity.
The Wellness Coach role is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that has the training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work.
Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support youth behavioral health and well-being, such as wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.
Certified Wellness Coaches can help young people aged 0-25 and their families who are looking for support with their mental well-being.
Schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations can also benefit greatly by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. Coaches help support their students, patients, and members.
A Certified Wellness Coach focuses on promoting behavioral health and wellness for children and youth aged 0-25. They offer non-clinical support through wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. There are two certification levels, Certified Wellness Coach I, and Certified Wellness Coach II, which require an associate's or bachelor's degree, respectively. While they can operate in a wide variety of settings, they will work primarily in school-based and school-linked settings.
On the other hand, other community health roles deal with broader health issues and generalized support. This includes chronic diseases and social factors. They do this through advocacy, education, and connections to services. They can be found in places like health care, social services, and communities. These roles also have different certification and training paths.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach I education program is for those with little or no experience in behavioral health or related fields. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their associate degree in a qualifying subject and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals is wellness education, life skills, linkage to care, and supporting universal mental well-being for children and youth.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach II education program is for those who already have an associate degree in a related field or are completing a bachelor's degree at a California university. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their bachelor's degree in a qualifying subject with specified competencies and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals builds on the Wellness Coach I scope, including supporting individuals and small groups in goal setting, life skills, and coping skills.
These two levels make sure that Certified Wellness Coaches can help a wide range of people in the community, from basic support to specialized assistance.
There are two ways to become a Certified Wellness Coach: the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway. The Workforce Pathway is for people who have experience providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth through age 25 in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. They will also have an associate or bachelor's degree from any accredited program within the U.S. (International degrees accepted with proper equivalency paperwork.)
The Education Pathway is for recent graduates with an associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited California college or university with a degree in human services, social work, addiction studies, or psychology within the last six years.
Salaries differ based on experience, work environment, and employment type, like agency, union, or private practice.
Being a Certified Wellness Coach can be a job all on its own. And it can also be a starting point that gives you job and training benefits if you want to move up in your career by learning more and getting further education.
A wide range of organizations serving children and youth can benefit from hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. This includes schools, health care organizations, community groups, and others.
You can help fill gaps in youth mental health services in California by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. You’ll also be giving children and youth important behavioral health and mental wellness support. This can help your organization thrive.
Hiring a Certified Wellness Coach is a great choice for your organization. It's important to know that these Coaches don't provide clinical treatment. Instead, they help fill gaps in youth services in California. They give important behavioral health support, promoting mental well-being. This can make a big difference to both your clients and your organization.
The curriculum for Certified Wellness Coaches comprises two different learning paths: Certified Wellness Coach I and Certified Wellness Coach II. Each one is designed to meet specific educational and skill development needs.
For Certified Wellness Coach I:
When you finish this program, you'll get an associate’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach I.
For Certified Wellness Coach II:
After completing this program, you'll get a bachelor’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach II.
Both paths make sure Certified Wellness Coaches are ready to help a wide range of people and communities. They can provide basic support and more specialized help too.
Beginning now, colleges and universities with social work, human services, addiction studies, or related programs can start matching their courses with HCAI training needs. To kick start the process, collaborate with HCAI consultants. Connect with our HCAI Certified Wellness Coach team for more guidance.
Private nonprofit universities with human services, social work, or addiction studies programs can also become HCAI-Designated Educational Programs by following the same process as California State Universities.
How can I fund or offset the cost of Certified Wellness Coaches?
How much does the certificate cost?
Who can become a Wellness Coach?
What's in the curriculum?
How can my college or university become an HCAI-Designated Education Program?
Besides California Community Colleges and Cal State Universities, can other organizations apply to become HCAI-Designated Education Programs?
What if my employees want to become Certified Wellness Coaches?
What kinds of organizations should hire Certified Wellness Coaches?
Why should I hire a Certified Wellness Coach?
What is the difference between a Certified Wellness Coach I and Certified Wellness Coach II?
What is the difference between the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway?
What is the average salary for a Certified Wellness Coach?
What are my career opportunities as a Wellness Coach?
When can I enroll in an HCAI-Designated Education Program?
Does my certification expire?
What is the cost of education to become a Wellness Coach?
Who is behind the program?
What is the goal/purpose of the Wellness Coach program?
Who could benefit from the services of a Wellness Coach? Who could benefit from hiring a Wellness Coach?
What is the difference between a Wellness Coach and other community health roles?
How can I verify a potential employee is a Certified Wellness Coach?
What is a Wellness Coach? What do they do?
What is the salary range for Certified Wellness Coaches?
An associate degree is required to become a Wellness Coach I and a bachelor degree is required to become a Wellness Coach II. The cost of the education is dependent on the program. You can learn more about the requirements by clicking here.
The Wellness Coach role is part of a broader initiative called the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The Department of Health Care Access and Information is responsible for developing the Wellness Coach role and will be the certifying entity.
The Wellness Coach role is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that has the training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work.
Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support youth behavioral health and well-being, such as wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.
Certified Wellness Coaches can help young people aged 0-25 and their families who are looking for support with their mental well-being.
Schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations can also benefit greatly by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. Coaches help support their students, patients, and members.
A Certified Wellness Coach focuses on promoting behavioral health and wellness for children and youth aged 0-25. They offer non-clinical support through wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. There are two certification levels, Certified Wellness Coach I, and Certified Wellness Coach II, which require an associate's or bachelor's degree, respectively. While they can operate in a wide variety of settings, they will work primarily in school-based and school-linked settings.
On the other hand, other community health roles deal with broader health issues and generalized support. This includes chronic diseases and social factors. They do this through advocacy, education, and connections to services. They can be found in places like health care, social services, and communities. These roles also have different certification and training paths.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach I education program is for those with little or no experience in behavioral health or related fields. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their associate degree in a qualifying subject and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals is wellness education, life skills, linkage to care, and supporting universal mental well-being for children and youth.
Entry into the Certified Wellness Coach II education program is for those who already have an associate degree in a related field or are completing a bachelor's degree at a California university. Candidates are eligible to apply for certification upon completion of their bachelor's degree in a qualifying subject with specified competencies and completing the minimum hours of field experience. The primary scope of practice for these individuals builds on the Wellness Coach I scope, including supporting individuals and small groups in goal setting, life skills, and coping skills.
These two levels make sure that Certified Wellness Coaches can help a wide range of people in the community, from basic support to specialized assistance.
There are two ways to become a Certified Wellness Coach: the Workforce Pathway and the Education Pathway. The Workforce Pathway is for people who have experience providing direct pre-clinical behavioral health services to children and youth through age 25 in school-linked/school-based organizations, non-profits, community organizations, and/or health centers/clinics within the last six years. They will also have an associate or bachelor's degree from any accredited program within the U.S. (International degrees accepted with proper equivalency paperwork.)
The Education Pathway is for recent graduates with an associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited California college or university with a degree in human services, social work, addiction studies, or psychology within the last six years.
Salaries differ based on experience, work environment, and employment type, like agency, union, or private practice.
Being a Certified Wellness Coach can be a job all on its own. And it can also be a starting point that gives you job and training benefits if you want to move up in your career by learning more and getting further education.
Contratar a un Instructor de Bienestar Certificado es una excelente opción para tu organización. Es importante saber que estos Instructores no proporcionan tratamiento clínico. Sino que ayudan a llenar los vacíos en servicios de salud para los jóvenes de California. Proporcionan un importante apoyo a la salud conductual, promoviendo el bienestar mental. Esto puede hacer una gran diferencia en tus clientes y en tu organización.
A wide range of organizations serving children and youth can benefit from hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. This includes schools, health care organizations, community groups, and others.
You can help fill gaps in youth mental health services in California by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. You’ll also be giving children and youth important behavioral health and mental wellness support. This can help your organization thrive.
Hiring a Certified Wellness Coach is a great choice for your organization. It's important to know that these Coaches don't provide clinical treatment. Instead, they help fill gaps in youth services in California. They give important behavioral health support, promoting mental well-being. This can make a big difference to both your clients and your organization.
The curriculum for Certified Wellness Coaches comprises two different learning paths: Certified Wellness Coach I and Certified Wellness Coach II. Each one is designed to meet specific educational and skill development needs.
For Certified Wellness Coach I:
When you finish this program, you'll get an associate’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach I.
For Certified Wellness Coach II:
After completing this program, you'll get a bachelor’s degree and be a Certified Wellness Coach II.
Both paths make sure Certified Wellness Coaches are ready to help a wide range of people and communities. They can provide basic support and more specialized help too.
Beginning now, colleges and universities with social work, human services, addiction studies, or related programs can start matching their courses with HCAI training needs. To kick start the process, collaborate with HCAI consultants. Connect with our HCAI Certified Wellness Coach team for more guidance.
Private nonprofit universities with human services, social work, or addiction studies programs can also become HCAI-Designated Educational Programs by following the same process as California State Universities.
An associate degree is required to become a Wellness Coach I and a bachelor degree is required to become a Wellness Coach II. The cost of the education is dependent on the program. You can learn more about the requirements by clicking here.
The Wellness Coach role is part of a broader initiative called the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The Department of Health Care Access and Information is responsible for developing the Wellness Coach role and will be the certifying entity.
The Wellness Coach role is a new, certified position to increase our state’s overall capacity to support the growing behavioral health needs of our youth. It is designed to help build a larger and more diverse and representative behavioral health workforce in California that has the training and supervision needed to engage directly with young people where they live, study and work.
Wellness Coaches will offer non-clinical services that support youth behavioral health and well-being, such as wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. The model will supplement and support existing behavioral health roles, fill gaps in the current behavioral health workforce, and create a larger and more diverse workforce with whom youth can connect.
Certified Wellness Coaches can help young people aged 0-25 and their families who are looking for support with their mental well-being.
Schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations can also benefit greatly by hiring a Certified Wellness Coach. Coaches help support their students, patients, and members.
A Certified Wellness Coach focuses on promoting behavioral health and wellness for children and youth aged 0-25. They offer non-clinical support through wellness promotion and education, screening, care coordination, individual and group support, and crisis referral. There are two certification levels, Certified Wellness Coach I, and Certified Wellness Coach II, which require an associate's or bachelor's degree, respectively. While they can operate in a wide variety of settings, they will work primarily in school-based and school-linked settings.
On the other hand, other community health roles deal with broader health issues and generalized support. This includes chronic diseases and social factors. They do this through advocacy, education, and connections to services. They can be found in places like health care, social services, and communities. These roles also have different certification and training paths.
HCAI partners with California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and private nonprofit universities whose curricula meet all the requirements for a student to apply for a Wellness Coach certification upon graduation.
Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.
Stay up to date with the latest details about the program, timelines, and grant opportunities.
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