• 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

Health Coach Alliance

The Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching is pre-approved by the Health Coach Alliance for the Registered Health Coach designation. To qualify, you must earn the diploma and pass (80%) a Final Test administered through McMaster Continuing Education. For details on the RHC designation, contact the Health Coach Alliance. To write the Final Test, contact us.

Please note: Students seeking the RHC designation with the Health Coach Alliance must take the following selection of courses, as well as pass (80%) a Final Test administered by McMaster Continuing Education:

NHW 100, NHW 102, HWC 200, HWC 201, HWC 202, HWC 203, HWC 204, and either HRM 941 or BUS 825.

The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists

This educational offering has been approved for the following continuing education credit/professional development credit by the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists. McMaster University Continuing Education maintains all responsibility for this offering and its content.

NHW 100: Nutrition Fundamentals (39 credits)
NHW 102: Nutrition, Fitness and Healthy Living (39 credits)
HWC 200: Behaviour Change for Health and Wellness (39 credits)
HWC 201: Motivating for Health and Wellness (39 credits)
HWC 202: Health and Wellness Coaching – Principles and Practice (39 credits)
HWC 203: Program Design, Delivery and Evaluation (39 credits)
HWC 204: Coaching Clients with Chronic Conditions (39 credits)
BUS 825: Business Foundations (39 credits)
HRM 941: Wellness in the Workplace (39 credits)