Become a Board-Certified Nurse Coach
For Registered Nurses who:
- Want to add Nurse Coaching credentials for their career growth.
- Want to open their own business as an RN
- Want a CE program that supports you in your life.
Our Nurse Coach Training Program is designed to empower you with the specialized knowledge and expertise needed to become a proficient nurse coach. After completing our program nurses are prepared to take the board certification exam through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC)
Join us on this transformative journey to expand your professional horizons, make a meaningful impact on the lives of your patients, and elevate your nursing career to new heights.
What does a Nurse Coach do?
A Nurse Coach is a registered nurse who practices as both a licensed nurse and as a health coach.
In addition to typical nursing practices, Nurse Coaches use structured guidance strategies from Lifestyle Health Coaching and foundational principles to improve patient health outcomes. Lifestyle Health Coaching has been shown to be clinically effective in the modification of risk factors for both healthy people and those with chronic disease 1.
Nurse Coaches have an advantage over regular health coaches because they are trained & licensed health professionals.
Who can become a Nurse Coach?
Anyone who is a registered nurse (RN) or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) can pursue a career as a nurse coach.
Nurses from various specialties and backgrounds can become nurse coaches, including:
- medical-surgical nurses
- pediatric nurses
- psychiatric nurses
- oncology nurses
- nurse practitioners
- clinical nurse specialists
- nurse educators
- nurse leaders
The key requirement is holding an active nursing license and having a passion for coaching and guiding patients toward achieving their health and wellness goals.
Wondering if becoming a Nurse Coach is right for you?
Requirements for Certification
Our program was created to meet the requirements for certification through the AHNCC, which is the certifying body which offers two board certifications for nurse coaches, NC-BC and HWNC-BC.
NC-BC® (Nurse Coach Board Certified)
and HWNC-BC® (Health & Wellness Nurse Coach Board Certified)
The HWNC-BC exam is the same exam as for NC-BC, but must also hold the AHNCC Holistic Nurse Certification. Our program prepares you to certify as either or both Holistic Nurse and Nurse Coach through the AHNCC.
- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license*
- Active practice as an RN for a minimum of 2 years full-time or 4,000 hours part-time within the past 5 years if you have a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.
- Active practice as an RN for a minimum of 4 years full-time or 8,000 hours part-time within the past 7 years if you have an Associate or Diploma Degree in Nursing.
- A degree in Nursing from an accredited academic institution (International candidates must have their Nursing degree evaluated to determine that their program is equivalent to the US Nursing degree program.)
- Completion of a minimum of 60 CNEs, accrued over the past 3 years, that include content consistent with the Nurse Coach Core Values and Nurse Coach Competencies. If using academic credit, it must be completed through an accredited higher education institution. A grade of “C” or higher or a grade of “pass” in a pass/fail system must be achieved. 1 quarter credit = 10 contact hours 1-semester credit = 15 contact hours**
- 60 hours of coaching experience that has been mentored and/or supervised by a Certified Nurse Coach Supervisor AND Validation letter from a Certified Nurse Coach.***
- Must agree to the terms contained in the Candidate’s Agreement with AHNCC and complete and sign the Application attesting to the agreement.
This is a general overview of the requirements; please refer to the AHNCC website for the most up-to-date listing of the requirements.
Our Nurse Coach Certification Program:
Healing the Whole Person
Our “Healing the Whole Person” program prepares nurses to sit for the AHNCC Board Certification exam.
To meet the requirements to sit for the Nurse Coach Board Certification, 3 courses from our program are required: C101, C102 & C103.
These 3 courses award the 60 CNEs & 60 Supervised Coaching Hours (each individual course awards 20 CNEs).
We recommend our full 4-course program as it supplies 80 CNEs which can be used for other needs and as a bonus receive our Holistic Health Coach certificate!
Benefits of Becoming a Certified Nurse Coach:
Expanded Skills and Knowledge
Obtaining a nurse coaching certification allows you to develop and expand your skills beyond traditional nursing practices. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of coaching techniques, motivational interviewing, behavior change strategies, and holistic approaches to healthcare.
Enhanced Patient-Centered Care
As a certified nurse coach, you’ll have the expertise to provide patient-centered care that focuses on the individual’s unique goals, needs, and preferences. You’ll be able to empower patients, encourage self-management, and support them in making positive changes to improve their health and well-being.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
Nurse coaching training enhances your communication and collaboration skills. You’ll develop effective listening techniques, empathy, and the ability to build strong therapeutic relationships with patients. These skills can improve interactions with colleagues and interdisciplinary teams and contribute to a collaborative healthcare environment.
Expanded Career Opportunities
Having a nurse coaching certification opens up new career opportunities in various healthcare settings. You may pursue roles such as a nurse coach, health coach, wellness consultant, or work in private practice. Additionally, nurse coaching skills can be applied in clinical practice, education, research, and leadership positions.
Personal and Professional Growth
Through the journey of becoming a certified nurse coach, you’ll experience personal and professional growth. You’ll develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection. These qualities not only benefit your patients but also contribute to your overall well-being and satisfaction as a nurse.
Evidence-Based Practice
Nurse coaching is rooted in evidence-based practice, integrating the latest research and best practices. By obtaining a nurse coaching certification, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver evidence-based coaching interventions, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of your practice.
How to get your Board Certification in Nurse Coaching
- Verify that you meet the core nursing requirements
- unrestricted current RN license
- active practice nursing history (see above)
- Enroll in an accepted Nurse Coach Training program
- like our Healing the Whole Person online course.
- You may take either the 3-course or 4-course program to meet the requirements
- Our program will provide the required CEs to qualify to sit for the exam.
- Our courses are fully online with virtual meetings and are self-paced.
- like our Healing the Whole Person online course.
- Sign up to take the certification exam through the AHNCC
- Once you pass the exam, AHNCC will award you your certificate!
The certifying organization is AHNCC. There is a Certification Examination fee (regular fee $425). Discounted fees are available for members of the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), Health Ministries Association (HMA), and Nurses Organization of Veteran Affairs (NOVA).
++As a bonus, if you complete our full 4-course program, you can also obtain our Advancing Nurse Coaching – Holistic Health Coaching Certificate.
Ready to start?
You may register on our registration page, and if you have any questions about the program, we are available through chat, or you can message and request a call.
Have questions?
We can answer them!
Enroll in our 100% online,
self-paced course anytime.
References:
- Clinical Effectiveness of Lifestyle Health Coaching
- AHNCC Nurse Coaching Core Essentials