NBHWC Continuing Education Requirements: Complete 2025 Guide for Health & Wellness Coaches

Last Updated: November 2025 | Reading Time: 12 minutes

Maintaining your National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) credential requires ongoing professional development through continuing education. This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about NBHWC CE requirements, from the number of credits needed to where you can find approved courses that count toward recertification.

Whether you earned your NBC-HWC credential last month or several years ago, understanding the continuing education landscape will help you stay current, maintain your certification, and deliver the highest quality coaching to your clients.

Quick Summary: NBHWC CE Requirements at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here are the essential facts every NBC-HWC needs to know about continuing education requirements[1]:

Requirement	Details
Total CE Credits	36 credits every 3 years
Recertification Cycle	Every 3 years from initial certification date
Annual Maintenance Fee	$75 per year
Course Approval	Must be NBHWC-approved courses
Submission Deadline	Before credential expiration date
Failure to Recertify	Credential becomes inactive; must reapply

Understanding the 36 CE Credit Requirement

The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) requires all NBC-HWC credential holders to complete 36 continuing education credits every three years to maintain their certification[1]. This requirement ensures that health and wellness coaches stay current with evidence-based practices, emerging research, and evolving coaching methodologies.

Why 36 Credits?

The 36-credit requirement is designed to strike a balance between professional development and practical workload. Breaking it down, this means you need approximately 12 CE credits per year, or about one credit per month. This manageable pace allows you to integrate learning into your regular practice without overwhelming your schedule.

What Counts as One CE Credit?

One continuing education credit typically equals one contact hour of instruction. For example, a two-hour webinar would provide two CE credits, while a full-day workshop might offer six to eight credits depending on the length and breaks.

The Three-Year Recertification Cycle Explained

Your recertification cycle begins on the date you initially passed the NBC-HWC exam and received your certification. Understanding your personal timeline is crucial for planning your continuing education strategy.

How to Track Your Recertification Date

Your certification expiration date is exactly three years from your initial certification date. For example, if you became certified on March 15, 2023, your first recertification deadline would be March 15, 2026. You can find your exact expiration date by logging into your NBHWC member portal.

Planning Your CE Over Three Years

Rather than scrambling to complete all 36 credits in the final months before expiration, successful coaches spread their learning throughout the three-year cycle. Here's a strategic approach to planning your continuing education:

Year 1 (Credits 1-12): Focus on foundational topics that directly support your current client base. This might include courses on behavior change, motivational interviewing, or specific health conditions you frequently encounter in your practice.

Year 2 (Credits 13-24): Expand your expertise into new areas that align with your professional goals. Consider specialized topics like stress management, nutrition coaching, or corporate wellness that could open new revenue streams.

Year 3 (Credits 25-36): Round out your education with advanced topics and emerging trends in health and wellness coaching. This is also a good time to revisit core competencies and ensure you're maintaining best practices.

What Courses Qualify for NBHWC CE Credits?

Not all continuing education courses count toward your NBHWC recertification. To qualify, courses must be specifically approved by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching[2]. The NBHWC maintains a directory of approved continuing education providers and courses that meet their standards.

NBHWC Approval Standards

For a course to receive NBHWC approval, it must align with the board's published standards for continuing education, including relevance to the Scope of Practice and Core Competencies for health and wellness coaching[2]. This ensures that the education you receive directly supports your ability to coach clients effectively and ethically.

Approved courses typically cover topics such as:

Core Coaching Competencies: Advanced motivational interviewing techniques, behavior change theories, goal-setting frameworks, and coaching presence development.

Health & Wellness Content: Evidence-based nutrition, exercise science, stress management, sleep optimization, chronic disease prevention, and mental health awareness.

Professional Development: Ethics in coaching, cultural competency, business development for coaches, and legal considerations in wellness coaching.

Specialized Topics: Women's health, men's health, pediatric wellness, corporate wellness, integrative medicine approaches, and mind-body practices.

Where to Find NBHWC-Approved Courses

The NBHWC maintains an official Continuing Education Directory on their website where you can search for approved courses by topic, provider, format (online vs. in-person), and credit hours[2]. This searchable database is your most reliable resource for finding courses that will count toward your recertification.

Popular NBHWC-approved CE providers include:

Wellcoaches School of Coaching: Offers a variety of continuing education courses specifically designed for NBC-HWCs, with topics ranging from habit formation to mindful eating[3].

Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN): Provides NBHWC-approved courses including their Mindful Eating Course, which offers 30 CE credits[4].

American Council on Exercise (ACE): Many ACE continuing education courses are cross-approved for NBHWC credits, particularly those focused on behavior change and coaching[5].

FitologyCE: Specializes in practical, evidence-based continuing education for health coaches and wellness practitioners, with all courses approved by NBHWC and designed for real-world application.

University-Based Programs: Several universities offer NBHWC-approved continuing education through their health coaching or wellness programs, including Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota[6].

Cost of Maintaining Your NBC-HWC Credential

Beyond the time investment in continuing education, there are financial considerations for maintaining your certification.

Annual Maintenance Fee

The NBHWC charges an annual maintenance fee of $75 to keep your credential active[1]. This fee covers administrative costs, access to the member portal, and the ability to use the NBC-HWC designation in your professional practice.

CE Course Costs

The cost of continuing education courses varies widely depending on the provider, format, and depth of content. Here's what you can typically expect:

Budget-Friendly Options ($0-$50 per credit): Many professional associations offer free or low-cost webinars to their members. Some providers offer introductory courses at reduced rates, and recorded webinars are often more affordable than live sessions.

Mid-Range Courses ($50-$100 per credit): Most NBHWC-approved online courses fall into this category, offering comprehensive content with certificates of completion. These courses typically include downloadable resources, case studies, and practical applications.

Premium Programs ($100+ per credit): In-depth certification programs, multi-day workshops, and specialized training often command higher prices but provide extensive education and networking opportunities.

Budgeting for Three Years of CE

If you budget approximately $1,500 to $3,000 for the entire three-year cycle (plus the $225 in annual fees), you'll have flexibility to choose high-quality courses that genuinely advance your practice. This works out to about $500 to $1,000 per year, or roughly $40 to $85 per month—a reasonable investment in your professional development.

How to Submit Your CE Credits for Recertification

As you complete NBHWC-approved courses, you'll need to track and submit your credits through the official recertification process.

Tracking Your CE Credits

Keep detailed records of every course you complete, including:

Course Name and Provider: The official title and the organization that offered the course.

Completion Date: When you finished the course and received your certificate.

Number of CE Credits: How many credits the course was worth.

Certificate of Completion: A PDF or physical copy of your certificate showing you completed the course.

Most NBHWC-approved providers will automatically report your completed courses to the NBHWC, but it's wise to maintain your own records as a backup.

The Recertification Application Process

Approximately three to six months before your certification expires, you should begin the recertification process through the NBHWC member portal. The process typically involves:

Logging into Your Account: Access your NBHWC member portal using your credentials.

Reviewing Your CE Credits: Verify that all your completed courses appear in your transcript. If any are missing, you can manually upload certificates of completion.

Submitting Your Application: Once you've confirmed you have at least 36 credits, submit your recertification application.

Paying the Fee: Pay any outstanding annual maintenance fees to complete the process.

Receiving Confirmation: You'll receive confirmation that your credential has been renewed for another three years.

Consequences of Not Maintaining Your Certification

Failing to complete the required continuing education and recertification process has significant professional implications.

Credential Becomes Inactive

If you don't submit your recertification application and required CE credits before your expiration date, your NBC-HWC credential becomes inactive. This means you can no longer legally represent yourself as a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach or use the NBC-HWC designation in your marketing materials, business cards, or professional communications.

Impact on Your Practice

Many employers, insurance companies, and clients specifically require coaches to hold an active NBC-HWC credential. Letting your certification lapse could result in:

Loss of Employment: Some healthcare organizations and corporate wellness programs require active certification as a condition of employment.

Inability to Bill Insurance: If you work with clients whose coaching is covered by insurance, an inactive credential may prevent you from billing for services.

Reduced Credibility: Clients increasingly seek out board-certified coaches, and an inactive credential may cause them to choose a competitor.

Reactivating a Lapsed Credential

If your credential does lapse, you may be able to reactivate it by completing the missing CE credits and paying any outstanding fees, but this process can be more complicated than simply maintaining your certification on schedule. In some cases, you may need to retake the NBC-HWC exam.

Maximizing the Value of Your Continuing Education

While meeting the 36-credit requirement is essential, the real value of continuing education lies in how it enhances your coaching practice and client outcomes.

Choose Courses Strategically

Rather than simply accumulating credits, select courses that align with your professional development goals and the needs of your client population. Ask yourself:

What challenges do my clients face most frequently? If many of your clients struggle with stress management, prioritize courses on anxiety reduction, mindfulness, or work-life balance.

Where do I want to grow my practice? If you're interested in expanding into corporate wellness, seek out courses on workplace health promotion and organizational behavior change.

What gaps exist in my knowledge? Be honest about areas where you feel less confident, whether that's nutrition science, exercise physiology, or specific coaching techniques.

Apply What You Learn Immediately

The most effective continuing education happens when you can immediately apply new knowledge to your coaching practice. After completing a course, identify at least three specific ways you can use what you learned with current or future clients. This might mean introducing a new assessment tool, trying a different coaching question framework, or sharing evidence-based resources on a particular health topic.

Network with Other Coaches

Many continuing education opportunities, especially live workshops and conferences, provide valuable networking with fellow health and wellness coaches. These connections can lead to referral partnerships, collaborative projects, and ongoing peer support that extends far beyond the CE credits earned.

Frequently Asked Questions About NBHWC CE Requirements

Can I earn CE credits before I'm certified?

No, continuing education credits only count toward recertification once you've passed the NBC-HWC exam and received your initial certification. However, completing NBHWC-approved courses before certification can certainly prepare you for the exam and your future practice.

Do CE credits from other certifications count toward NBHWC recertification?

Only courses specifically approved by the NBHWC count toward your NBC-HWC recertification. However, many courses are cross-approved by multiple organizations. For example, some ACE continuing education courses are also NBHWC-approved, allowing you to maintain multiple credentials with the same courses[5].

Can I carry over extra CE credits to my next recertification cycle?

No, the NBHWC does not allow you to carry over credits beyond the required 36. If you complete 40 credits in one cycle, the extra four credits do not roll over to your next three-year period. However, ongoing learning is always valuable for your professional development, even if it doesn't count toward future requirements.

What happens if I complete my 36 credits early?

You can complete all your required CE credits at any point during your three-year cycle. Many coaches prefer to finish early to avoid last-minute stress. Once you've completed 36 credits, you can submit your recertification application up to six months before your expiration date.

Are there any exemptions to the CE requirement?

The NBHWC does not typically grant exemptions to the continuing education requirement. All NBC-HWCs must complete 36 credits every three years to maintain their credential, regardless of years of experience or other qualifications.

Tips for Staying on Track with Your CE Requirements

Maintaining your NBC-HWC credential doesn't have to be stressful if you approach it strategically.

Set Calendar Reminders

Add your recertification deadline to your calendar with reminders at the three-year mark, two-year mark, one-year mark, and six months before expiration. These regular check-ins will help you assess your progress and adjust your CE plan if needed.

Create an Annual CE Budget

Include continuing education in your annual business budget. Setting aside a specific amount each year makes it easier to invest in high-quality courses without financial stress.

Join Professional Associations

Many health and wellness coaching associations offer free or discounted CE opportunities to members. Organizations like the National Society of Health Coaches, the International Consortium for Health & Wellness Coaching, and specialty groups often provide valuable educational content.

Subscribe to CE Provider Newsletters

Stay informed about new course offerings by subscribing to newsletters from NBHWC-approved providers. Many offer early-bird discounts or special promotions that can help you save money on continuing education.

Form a Study Group

Consider forming a CE study group with fellow NBC-HWCs in your area or online. You can share information about valuable courses, discuss what you're learning, and hold each other accountable for staying on track with your CE requirements.

The Future of NBHWC Continuing Education

As the field of health and wellness coaching continues to evolve, so too will the continuing education landscape.

Emerging Topics in Health Coaching CE

Recent years have seen increased demand for continuing education in areas such as:

Digital Health and Telehealth Coaching: As more coaching moves online, courses on virtual coaching best practices, technology tools, and digital engagement strategies are becoming essential.

Health Equity and Cultural Competency: There's growing recognition of the need for coaches to understand and address health disparities, systemic barriers to wellness, and culturally responsive coaching approaches.

Mental Health Integration: With the increasing overlap between physical health, mental health, and wellness, courses that help coaches recognize when to refer clients to mental health professionals and how to support clients with mental health challenges are in high demand.

Precision Nutrition and Personalized Wellness: Advances in nutrigenomics, microbiome research, and wearable technology are creating new opportunities for personalized coaching approaches.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

The most successful health and wellness coaches don't just meet the minimum CE requirements—they embrace lifelong learning as a core value of their practice. By staying curious, seeking out cutting-edge education, and continuously refining your coaching skills, you'll not only maintain your NBC-HWC credential but also provide exceptional value to every client you serve.

Conclusion: Invest in Your Professional Growth

The NBHWC's requirement of 36 continuing education credits every three years isn't just a bureaucratic hurdle—it's an investment in your professional growth and your clients' success. By approaching continuing education strategically, choosing courses that align with your practice goals, and applying what you learn immediately, you'll find that meeting this requirement becomes an enjoyable and rewarding part of your coaching career.

Remember, your NBC-HWC credential represents a commitment to excellence in health and wellness coaching. Maintaining that credential through ongoing education demonstrates to your clients, colleagues, and employers that you take your professional development seriously and are dedicated to providing the highest quality coaching possible.

Ready to start earning CE credits toward your next recertification? Explore NBHWC-approved courses at FitologyCE [blocked] and discover practical, evidence-based continuing education designed specifically for health coaches like you.

References

[1] National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. "Frequently Asked Questions - Recertification." NBHWC.org. https://nbhwc.org/faq/

[2] National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching. "Find A Continuing Education Course." NBHWC.org. https://nbhwc.org/find-a-ce-course/

[3] Wellcoaches School of Coaching. "NBHWC Approved Continuing Education Provider." Wellcoaches. https://www.wellcoachesschool.com/post/nbhwc-continuing-education

[4] Institute for Integrative Nutrition. "The Many Ways to Get NBHWC CEUs with IIN Courses." IIN Blog, September 2024. https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/how-to-get-nbhwc-ceus-at-iin

[5] American Council on Exercise. "Continuing Education Courses Approved by NBHWC." ACE Fitness. https://www.acefitness.org/continuing-education/approved-by/nbhwc/

[6] University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing. "Continuing Education for Health Coaches." CSH.UMN.edu. https://csh.umn.edu/for-community/continuing-education/continuing-education-for-health-coaches

This guide was last updated in November 2025. While we strive to provide accurate and current information, continuing education requirements may change. Always verify the most current requirements directly with the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching at NBHWC.org.