Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Nov 16, 2024

In today’s world of social media “experts,” it seems like health coaches are everywhere; however, few self-proclaimed fitness and nutrition gurus have the education required to properly coach others as they work toward becoming the healthiest version of themselves. Earning an online health and wellness graduate certificate is a fantastic option for anyone ready to move forward in the wellness industry. Community health educators, medical professionals, personal trainers, dietitians, and others who work toward helping others grow in their health and wellness can all benefit from earning a graduate certificate in health and wellness.

What Are the Online Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate Requirements?

While a background in health or fitness can be a plus on a health and wellness graduate certificate application, it’s usually not a requirement. Some schools may require applicants who possess an undergraduate degree in a non-health related field to contact the admissions director for special permission to be admitted to the program.

Requirements for admission to a health and wellness graduate certificate program may include:

Bachelor’s/master’s degree from an accredited university in a health or wellness-related field
GPA requirements, such as a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Resume or CV

What Type of Classes Are Included in the Online Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate Curriculum?

Health and wellness graduate certificate programs offer a number of different classes. Some certificate programs offer students several elective options, allowing for personalization of the curriculum.

Courses within a health and wellness graduate certificate program may include:

Coaching in interprofessional practice
Motivational interviewing
Theories of wellness coaching
Foundations of a healthy lifestyle
Applied healing strategies

What Type of Career Can I Pursue with an Online Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate?

Earning an online graduate certificate in health and wellness can either allow professionals to move forward in their current careers or to embark on a new career journey. A graduate certificate in health and wellness can open up doors to careers in health clubs, nutrition coaching facilities, hospitals, employee wellness programs within corporate organizations, and more. Some health and wellness coaches choose to go into private practice, either solely as health and wellness coaches or by offering health and wellness coaching in addition to personal training or nutrition services.

Potential careers for professionals who earn their graduate certificate in health and wellness include:

Private Health and Wellness Coach: Some professionals who earn a graduate certificate in health and wellness choose to go into private practice, taking on clients and using their knowledge and skills to help them reach their health and wellness goals.
Employee Wellness Director: Many large corporations provide employees with wellness programs to help them get motivated and stay healthy. Employee wellness directors may create programs to encourage employees to stay healthy, including interdepartmental
Fitness Coach: A fitness coach may also be certified as a personal trainer, or may work in a different capacity, motivating their clients to stay on track with their workout plans and nutritional goals. Fitness coaches may also work as group exercise instructors, or in other capacities in a health club setting.
Public Health Educator: Public health educators can work in many settings, including for public healthcare providers, private hospitals, schools, and more. Public health educators work to develop and implement public health programs, delivering education to at-risk populations, and evaluating the effectiveness of such plans.