If you’re exploring health coaching certifications, you’ve probably stumbled across Harvard’s program and wondered if the prestigious name is worth the investment.
The truth is, Harvard’s program offers some unique advantages, but it’s not necessarily the right fit for every coach.
In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Harvard health coach certification so you can decide if it’s the right investment for your coaching business.
What is the Harvard Health Coach Certification?
The Harvard Health and Wellness certificate program is a six-week online course called “Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching” offered through Harvard Medical School Executive Education.
Despite the association with Harvard Medical School, this program doesn’t grant academic credit or professional certifications from Harvard Medical School itself.
About the Harvard Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching Certification
The program is structured around six weekly modules that cover evidence-based approaches to behavior changes needed to adopt and sustain healthy habits. Each module requires about 4-6 hours of study time.
The curriculum focuses heavily on lifestyle medicine and the “Foundational Lifestyle Pyramid,” an exclusive framework developed by Dr. Beth Frates MD, a pioneer in lifestyle medicine and associate professor at Harvard Medical School.
The program runs entirely online with some live virtual components and costs $2,900 (though early registration discounts are available). Participants who complete all requirements receive a digital Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School Executive Education.
What Makes the Harvard Health and Wellness Certificate Program Different?
What sets the Harvard Health and Wellness certificate program apart from other health coaching certifications is its foundation in scientific research and lifestyle medicine to sustain healthy behaviors and maintain healthy living patterns.
The curriculum covers the six pillars of lifestyle medicine:
- Nutrition and diet
- Exercise and physical activity
- Sleep
- Stress management
- Social connections
- Substance avoidance
The program includes practical elements like developing a “Lifestyle Coaching Journal,” where you’ll create a comprehensive plan for wellness, designing a sustainable approach to behavior changes, and disease management.
You’ll also build your own personalized lifestyle pyramid and learn techniques to help clients or patients create theirs as they develop new lifestyle choices.
Pros and Cons of Getting the Harvard Health Coach Certification
Before investing in any certification program, you should weigh the benefits against the limitations and consider how your own personal situation factors into it. Here’s what you need to know about the Harvard program as a health and wellness coach.
Benefits of the Harvard Health Coach Certification
The most obvious advantage is the credibility that comes with the Harvard Medical School Faculty name. In a crowded coaching market, having Harvard Medical School Executive Education on your credentials can help you stand out and command higher rates.
Many clients see the Harvard brand as a guarantee of quality and expertise.
Unlike many other coaching certification programs that focus on general life coaching techniques, this program dives deep into the science behind health and wellness. You’ll learn evidence-based strategies rooted in medical research instead of anecdotal approaches to support your clients in their learning journey towards a healthy lifestyle.
The program also provides excellent networking opportunities. You’ll connect with healthcare professionals, experienced coaches, and wellness experts from around the world.
These connections can lead to referrals, partnerships, or mentorship opportunities that extend far beyond the six-week program.
When compared to other, lower-cost health coaching certification programs, the Harvard program stands out for its focus on lifestyle medicine specifically.
Some broader coaching certification programs might cover general coaching skills, but this program zeroes in on the medical aspects of wellness coaching and patient care.
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Limitations of the Harvard Health Coach Certification For Wellness Coaching
The cost is probably the biggest barrier for most coaches. At $2,900, this program represents a significant investment.
That’s especially important to consider for newer coaches who haven’t built a sustainable income from their business just yet.
The time commitment will be manageable for some coaches at 4-6 hours per week. But it does require consistent dedication over six weeks.
If you’re already running a busy coaching practice, finding the time to fully engage with the material could be difficult.
This program also has a very specialized focus on lifestyle medicine and health coaching. If you’re interested in broader coaching skills like life coaching certification or wellness coach certification that covers multiple coaching niches, this might be too narrow.
Finally, while the Harvard name carries weight, this particular certificate isn’t widely recognized as a standard credential in the coaching industry.
Unlike certifications from the International Coach Federation (ICF) or National Society of Health Coaches (NSHCOA), this program won’t necessarily open doors to coaching opportunities that require specific accreditations. Harvard even specifies in their FAQ section:
“This program does not grant academic credits, CEUs, PEUs, or professional certificate from Harvard Medical School.”
Is the Harvard Health Coach Certification Worth It?
The value of this certification depends entirely on your specific situation and goals.
This program is ideal for coaches who:
- Already have some experience in health or wellness coaching and want to deepen their expertise in lifestyle medicine
- Work with clients dealing with chronic health conditions or diet issues and want to incorporate this approach into their framework
- Want to position themselves as a nutrition wellness coach to help clients achieve a healthy lifestyle
The certification is also valuable for healthcare professionals who want to add coaching to their existing practice. For instance, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals will appreciate the scientific rigor and can leverage the Harvard connection with their existing patient base.
However, if you’re brand new to coaching, this might not be the best starting point. You’ll get more value from a comprehensive life coaching certification program that covers fundamental coaching skills before specializing in health and wellness.
From an ROI perspective, you’ll need to charge premium rates to justify the investment.
If you can increase your coaching rates by $50-100 per session due to the Harvard credential, you could recover the program cost within your first few clients.
But if you’re struggling to fill your calendar or charge market rates, focus on building your coaching skills and client base first.
FAQs About the Harvard Health Coach Certification
Are there live classes or just recordings?
The program includes both recorded video lectures and live virtual components. Most content is delivered through on-demand videos, but there are scheduled webinars and office hours where you can interact with faculty and other participants in real-time.
Is Harvard Health trustworthy?
Yes, this program is offered through Harvard Medical School Executive Education, which is a legitimate extension of Harvard Medical School. However, it’s important to note that completing this program doesn’t grant academic credit or professional certification from Harvard Medical School itself.
What is the nutrition coach course at Harvard?
This program covers nutrition as part of lifestyle medicine, but it’s not specifically a nutrition course. The Nutrition and Wellness coaching program is an additional certificate you can take at the same time to get better at designing a sustainable nutrition plan and save on tuition.
How does this compare to other health coaching programs?
This program is more specialized than most health coaching certifications. It focuses on lifestyle medicine to lead healthier lives and fight chronic diseases, not broad coaching. The Harvard name provides prestige, but other programs may offer deeper training and recognized accreditation.
Launch Your Health Coaching Practice with the Right Evidence-Based Foundation
For the right coach, the Harvard Health Coach Certification can be a valuable investment. But it’s far from a magic bullet to grow a coaching business.
No matter which certification path you pick, you’ll make it much easier for yourself to succeed if you have the right tools on hand.
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