Overview
Stand out in today’s job market with in-demand health and wellness skills
Learn how to coach individuals and give them the knowledge, skills, tools, and confidence to take responsibility for their diet and lifestyle and reach their health goals using motivational counseling techniques and strategies.
- Gain best-practice knowledge in coaching relationships and the coaching process as it applies to health and wellness
- Study concepts of behaviour change and the effect of lifestyle choices on human wellbeing and chronic conditions
- Master the practical skills to motivate clients for lasting lifestyle changes
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Program highlights Learn More
- Learn health and wellness coaching best practices
- Convenient online courses to fit your life
- Taught by industry experts
Health and Wellness Coaching program features:
- Earn a Diploma upon completion of 8 courses
- Enhance your existing skill set
- Convenient online learning platform
- Learn from experienced instructors
- Connect with learners across various disciplines

What you'll learn Learn More
- Effective coaching and program design in the field of health and wellness
- Motivational counseling, techniques, and strategies
- Nutrition, fitness, and healthy living best practices
Through our Health and Wellness Coaching program, you’ll learn to:
- Identify key nutrients and how they work in the body and discuss nutritional needs throughout the life cycle
- Describe the role of foods and nutrients in energy balance, weight control, and physical activity
- Outline various aspects of wellness (physical, mental, social and environmental, financial, occupational)
- Explain how appropriate physical activity, fitness, and active living strategies and programming impacts the personal and community health, fitness, and well-being
- Explore the social and behavioural factors that contribute to health and wellness decisions and behaviours
- Demonstrate appropriate behaviour change approaches and strategies
- Exhibit motivating and coaching methods to promote health and wellness
- Analyze health and wellness program plans and strategies to support a healthy lifestyle
- Research, plan and design a health and wellness plan and/or program suitable to an individual or group and examine effective program evaluation methods and tools
- Tools and techniques to successfully design and facilitate coaching interventions for individuals and groups
- Establishing the position of health and wellness coaching as a professional career option
Learn more about our Health and Wellness Coaching program
- Individuals seeking to pursue a new career in the Health and Wellness industry
- New Canadians starting a new career or academic program
- Individuals without previous experience seeking to become professional Health and Wellness Coaches.
- Professionals already working in a wellness, lifestyle, or healthcare based field who are seeking to learn the art and science of motivation for behavioral change and expand their scope of work or shift to a different modality. This group of professionals includes, but is not limited to:
- Nutritionists and Dietitians
- Social Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Counsellors
- Massage Therapists, Holistic Wellness Practitioners, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioners
- Integrative and Functional Medicine practitioners
- MDs, NDs, Registered Nurses, Doctors of Osteopathy and Chiropractic Medicine
- Fitness Professionals – Personal trainers, Pilates instructors, Yoga teachers
- Mind-body medicine practitioners
- Meditation & Mindfulness Teachers, Energy Healers
Earning a Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching can put you on the path to a wide range of positions in a variety of industries, including:
- Health and Wellness Coaches
- Organizational Health Coaches
- Organizational Wellness Specialists
- Health and Wellness Consultants
- Wellness Program Coordinators
- Wellness Program Facilitators
- Health and Wellness Educators
- Health and Wellness Specialists
- Health and Wellness Program Facilitators
- Health and Wellness Program Managers
- Identify key nutrients and how they work in the body and discuss nutritional needs throughout the life cycle
- Describe the role of foods and nutrients in energy balance, weight control, and physical activity
- Outline various aspects of wellness (physical, mental, social and environmental, financial, occupational)
- Explain how appropriate physical activity, fitness, and active living strategies and programming impacts the personal and community health, fitness, and well-being
- Explore the social and behavioural factors that contribute to health and wellness decisions and behaviours
- Demonstrate appropriate behaviour change approaches and strategies
- Exhibit motivating and coaching methods to promote health and wellness
- Analyze health and wellness program plans and strategies to support a healthy lifestyle
- Research, plan and design a health and wellness plan and/or program suitable to an individual or group and examine effective program evaluation methods and tools
The following objectives will be threaded within each course:
- Demonstrate an awareness of ethical practices and professional standards applicable to standard professional roles within the health and wellness industry
- Exemplify the skills, attitudes and behaviours required to work and collaborate with people and develop personal management skills
- Employ effective communication practices
Check out our latest Program Preview webinar to learn more about the Health and Wellness Coaching program
What our recent graduates say

Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
Other programs you may be interested in
Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching
Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching
Reinvent your career in health and wellness by earning a Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching
Explore the requirements below and register today!
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Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching
Earn your Health and Wellness Coaching Diploma by successfully completing any 8 courses listed below.
Courses (complete any 8)
Health and Wellness Coaching Courses
Health and Wellness Coaching Courses
Advance your career with online Health and Wellness Coaching courses
Explore course options below and register today!
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Health and Wellness Coaching Schedule
Health and Wellness Coaching Schedule
This schedule table displays courses planned to be offered this year and is a guide to planning your courses for the academic year. Please note: Spring term registration opens mid-March and Fall/Winter term registration opens mid-July. The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information. The cost for Health and Wellness Coaching courses is $730.85 – $771.08 per course.
Learning format definitions:
- VC = Virtual Classroom learning format
- O = Online learning format
- OSS = Online Self-Study learning format
For more information about our learning formats and to choose a format that works best for you, please visit our Learning Formats page.
Course Name (Course Code) | Winter 2023 | Spring 2023 |
---|---|---|
Behaviour Change for Health and Wellness (HWC 200) | Date: Jan 9 – March 19
Format: O |
|
Motivating for Health and Wellness (HWC 201) | Date: May 1 – Jul 9
Format: O |
|
Nutrition Fundamentals (NHW 100) | Date: Jan 9 – March 19
Format: O |
Date: May 1 – Jul 9
Format: O |
Nutrition, Fitness and Health (NHW 102) | Date: May 1 – Jul 9
Format: O |
|
Business Foundations (BUS 825) | Date: Jan 16 – Apr 16
Format: O |
Date: May 8 – Aug 6
Format: O |
Wellness in the Workplace (HRM 941) | Date: Jan 30 – Apr 9
Format: O |
Date: May 8 – Jul 30
Format: O |