Become a Health & Wellness Coach.
Empower clients to make lasting lifestyle changes
The Academic Integrative Medicine (AIM) Health and Wellness Coaching certification program is a five-month virtual course from the UC Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute that promotes innovation, academic rigor, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity.
The primary goal of this Health and Wellness Coaching (HWC) certification program is to train existing Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) County or County-contracted staff on strategies to provide integrative and whole-person health coaching to clients with a variety of physical and behavioral health conditions to support wellness, improve overall health and well-being, and engage in behaviors proven to improve both physical and behavioral health outcomes, such as improving linkage and coordination with primary care.
The program offers a unique focus of supporting those with behavioral health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, mood disorders, and more. Students learn to recognize these conditions, communication techniques to address them, and whole-person approaches to support clients.
This program begins July 14, 2025. The training is offered at no cost for existing Health Care Agency County and County-contracted staff. Applicants must be willing to commit to working at least 6 months in the Orange County Public Health/Behavioral Health Systems or Country-contracted services upon completion of the program. Applicants will be allowed to take training courses during work hours. Contact FIP@OCHCA.com to inquire about eligibility.
The program is an Approved Health and Wellness Coach Training & Education Program by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Upon completion, graduates of this program are eligible to apply for the HWC Certifying Examination to become National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).
Key Benefits
- Program is approved by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).
- Graduates are eligible to apply for the HWC Certifying Examination to become National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).
- Improve client engagement outcomes with supportive coaching skills.
- Learn mental and behavioral health considerations and coaching strategies to support clients in making self-directed lifestyle changes.
Eligibility
- Full-time HCA or County-contracted employee.
- Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or 4,000 hours of work experience, preferably in healthcare or behavioral health-related field.
- Interest and/or work experience in academic medicine, healthcare in underserved communities, and incorporating integrative health into a medical practice
- Applicants must not currently be on a Performance Improvement Plan or be on Probation.
- Applicants must obtain prior approval from their appropriate chain of command (see Employment Verification form).
- Applicants must be willing to commit to working at least 6 months in the Orange County Public Health/Behavioral Health Systems or County-contracted services following completion of the program.
Commitment
This program begins July 14, 2025.
It is a five-month virtual program that includes live synchronous learning (48 hours) plus asynchronous learning.
Mandatory in-person orientation and class:
Monday, July 14, 2025, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Behavioral Health Training Center
750 The City Dr. South Suite 130, Orange, CA 92868
Synchronous Learning:
Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. OR 5:00-7:00 p.m. PT
Asynchronous Learning:
About two hours or more a week, plus reading
Cost
The training is offered at no cost for existing Health Care Agency County and County-contracted staff. Applicants must be willing to commit to working at least 6 months in the Orange County Public Health/Behavioral Health Systems or Country-contracted services upon completion of the program. Applicants will be allowed to take training courses during work hours. Contact FIP@OCHCA.com to inquire about eligibility.
Application Steps
1. Applicants must first complete and submit an HCA application by June 25, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
The Behavioral Health Training Services will notify applicants of their application results by Monday, July 7, 2025, via email.
2. Once approved by the HCA, applicants must then complete and submit an application to SSIHI.
3. SSIHI will contact applicants who have been accepted into the program.
Director of Education
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior; Associate Dean, Continuing Medical Education; Director, UCI Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry (PCP) and Primary Care Training and Education in Addiction Medicine (PC-TEAM) Fellowships, UCI School of Medicine
I strongly encourage my fellow public health graduate students to consider pursuing this program. In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, where holistic approaches to health are increasingly valued, acquiring coaching skills can set individuals apart and open doors to diverse career opportunities. This certification serves as an investment in professional growth that will undoubtedly enrich your careers and the lives of those you serve.
Hemangi Mavadiya, MPH, RD, AIM-HWC alumna and UCI Public Health doctoral candidate
Read about Hemangi Mavadiya, MPH, RD, and her experience with the AIM Health and Wellness Coaching program:
Nourishing a future in research between public health and nutrition
The instructors and their real-world experiences and stories were great!
KA, AIM HWC alumna and Global Executive
I appreciated working in a small cohort and sharing our learnings along the way.
I feel more inspired professionally since taking this course. I am inspired to help people move through ambivalence and into the full expression of their most fulfilling lives.
Marcelle Hayashida, PhD
For inquiries to HCA about this program: FIP@OCHCA.com
For inquiries to SSIHI about this program: ssihieducation@hs.uci.edu
