Validated standards for health coach training and proficiency are not widely used. As a result, health coaches are often challenged to engage at risk individuals and deliver optimal lifestyle management, adherence or disease self-care outcomes. The Registered Health Coach program "raises the bar" on health coaching practice by providing health coaches a career ladder and national recognition program based on these standards.

Benefits of the Registered Health Coach Program & Health Coach Registry?

Benefits for Consumers & Purchasers

Consumers and purchasers can expect better results from professionals who have been trained in accordance with evidence-based, consensus standards, and tested proficient in approaches, such as motivational interviewing (MI). MI health coaching is a brief, highly effective approach that has been validated in over 300 clinical trials as superior for engaging individuals and facilitating health behavior change.

Benefits for Health Care Provider or Health Management Organizations

As more government and employer purchasers move to payments based on qualty and results, the Registered Health Coach will play an integral role given that 85% of avoidable health care costs are due to behaviors. According to NIH-funded research by HealthSciences Institute faculty, professionals proficient in evidence-based health coaching routinely demonstrate engagement or enrollment rates up to four-fold greater than health coaches who are not.

Benefits for Current or Future Health Coaches

The Registered Health Coach Program recognizes excellence and provides a pathway for building health coaching knowledge and proficiency. Registered Health Coaches will be included in a PartnersinImprovement^TM national online Health Coach Registry^TM. The registry will be searchable by consumers, employers and purchasers. Organizations who require Registered Health Coaches will also be recognized for quality. The "RHC" credential may be added following CCP and other credentials, e.g., Mary Smith, RN, CCP, RHC-I. or simply, Mary Smith, RN, CCP, RHC. It is available to any clinical or nonclinical professional.

Registered Health Coach: Pillars of Knowledge & Proficiency

1. Demonstrate Knowledge of Chronic Care & Health Coaching

A Registered Health Coach must complete a core curriculum in evidence-based population health management, chronic care and self-care support, lifestyle management, behavior improvement, and brief, motivational interviewing (MI)-based health coaching. This requirement is based on the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine, peer reviewed studies on the implementation of the Chronic Care Model (CCM), and nearly ten years of quantitave and qualitative evaluation data on the use of the Chronic Care Professional (CCP) training program, for all members of the interdiscplinary care team, including health coaches.

2. Demonstrate Proficiency in Effective Health Coaching Practice

Registered Health Coaches must also demonstrate proficiency in MI. Proficiency means more than simply knowing about MI concepts, terms or techniques. According to clinical studies, MI proficiency requires the following training activities:  1.) Two-day MI immersion training, 2.) Follow-up skill-building to support learning transfer and application on the job, 3.) Assessment of MI health coaching proficiency using a standarized, validated tool, 4.) Personal skills feedback and coaching. Registered Health Coaches are required to demonstrate proficiency via a tool specifically validated by an external health care services evaluation firm: The Health Coaching Performance Assessment (HCPA). We encourage you to learn more about the HCPA.

Registered Health Coach: Training & Proficiency Requirements by Level

Can Training Requirements be Waived?

As the core curriculum for health care professionals in the prevention, care and self-care support of chronic conditions, CCP training and certification is required for all. CCP also provides access to ongoing live/archived noncommerical webinar updates and materials essential for keeping up to date in this evolving field. For individuals who have completed MINT training, AND can document experience or training in health coaching, the MI two-day skill-building workshop and the MI webinar training series may be waived on a case-by-case basis. Assessment of MI health coaching proficiency via the HCPA is, however, required for all.

Do I Need to Complete Training Requirements in An Specific Order or Timeframe?

You may complete the training requirements for the level you are pursuing in any order. While it is helpful, for example, to complete the CCP program prior to the MI Health Coaching Skill-Building Workshop (as the Workshop builds on content from the CCP program and you will benefit more from the workshop by having this foundation) it is not required. You are also welcome to complete the requirements according to your time and budget.

Registered Health Coach Training Opportunities

Please follow the links below to register or learn more about each of the training offerings:

• Register for the CCP Program >
   
• Attend a two-day MI Health Coaching Workshop at your organization or national conference.
   
• Register for the MI Skill-Building Webinars >
   
• Submit a health coaching sample(s), receive a personal HCPA report and receive a 30 minute skill-building feedback and coaching session with a MINT health care specialist. >

Final Registered Health Coach (RHC I-III) Proficiency Determination

Upon completion of the training requirements for the level you are pursuing, and participating in any additional self-study or practice as needed, we invite you to submit a health coaching audio sample for assessment, report and MINT feedback and coaching. If, at that time, you meet the minimum level of proficiency for that level, and have fulfilled all training requirements, you will be provided your Registered Health Coach (RHC) certificate and will be listed in the National Health Coach Registry. If you do not meet the minimum level of proficiency, your coach will provide you recommendations for targeting areas in need of improvement. You'll then submit another sample, and receive another report and MINT feedback session.