ACE Health Coach Professional Certificate
Build a meaningful career in health coaching and help people achieve goals and improve their health through exercise, nutrition, and behavior change in this beginner-level 6-course professional certificate from the American Council on Exercise.
What you'll learn
- Build a meaningful career in health coaching focused on whole-person wellness
- Guide clients using exercise, nutrition, and behavior-change science
- Earn an employer-recognized professional certificate from the American Council on Exercise
- Complete a 6-course series with applied, real-world coaching projects and exam preparation
Skills you'll gain
- Apply behavior-change science to help clients build motivation, set meaningful goals, and create sustainable lifestyle habits
- Conduct effective assessments to understand each client’s health, readiness, and unique needs for personalized coaching plans
- Coach with professionalism and care by maintaining ethical standards, fostering trust, and empowering clients
- Explain the role of the health coach and people-centered, multidisciplinary care
- Apply core coaching competencies and communication skills to build effective client relationships
- Use behavior change theories, motivational interviewing, CBT principles, and SMART goals to support lasting lifestyle change
- Conduct initial coaching sessions using agreements, assessments, and interview skills to build rapport
- Explain how stress, sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and substance use affect health and chronic disease risk
- Apply evidence-based guidelines within scope to support nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management
- Explain causes, diagnostic criteria, and lifestyle-based management of obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes
- Address social determinants of health while fostering inclusive, ethical, and professional coaching relationships
- Apply documentation, privacy, boundary-setting, and risk-management practices in health coaching
- Evaluate coaching career opportunities and apply sound business, legal, and marketing practices
- Apply effective study strategies and practice exams to prepare for the ACE health coach certification exam and assess readiness
Prerequisites
- • No prerequisites to begin the program
- • To sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification Exam: be at least 18 years old
- • To sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification Exam: have a high school diploma or equivalent
- • To sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification Exam: hold a current CPR and AED certification with a live skills check (CPR only outside US/Canada)
- • To sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification Exam: present a current government-issued photo ID with signature
Who this course is for
- → Anyone passionate about health, fitness, and wellness who wants to help others
- → Health and wellness enthusiasts who want a recognized credential to coach friends, family, or clients
- → Career changers seeking a pathway into the health coaching field with an accredited certification
- → Fitness professionals looking to expand their services beyond exercise guidance
- → Aspiring and current professionals ready to help others live healthier lives
Provider
Coursera
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