HealthIntegrative Health Coach
School of Health & Performance

Become an Integrative
Health Coach

This immersive program trains veterans to develop the communication, behavior-change, and coaching skills to help people build healthier, more sustainable lives.

Program at a Glance

  • 19 days on UHP’s Northwest Arkansas campus
  • Train alongside other veterans
  • Complete an NBHWC-approved education program
  • Practice real coaching conversations
  • Prepare for national board certification
  • Housing and meals provided
What you learn

Build the skills the work requires

The program combines coaching theory with repeated practice, instructor feedback, and real client-centered conversations.

01

Coaching Presence and Communication

Create a grounded coaching environment through active listening, empathy, clear communication, and thoughtful inquiry.

02

Motivational Interviewing

Use client-centered dialogue to help people identify their own motivations, strengths, and reasons for change.

03

Goal-Setting and Accountability

Help clients establish realistic goals, build practical action plans, and maintain progress over time.

04

Behavior Change and Habit Formation

Understand how habits form and apply evidence-based strategies that support sustainable behavior change.

05

Health and Lifestyle Foundations

Explore how movement, nutrition, recovery, stress, environment, and daily choices influence overall well-being.

06

Ethics and Professional Practice

Learn coaching boundaries, session structure, ethical decision-making, and the professional standards expected of health coaches.

What you earn

Credentials & certifications

Complete the program with an approved education pathway, practical coaching experience, and preparation for the next step toward national board certification.

Earn During the Program
  • UHP Integrative Health Coach Certificate
  • Completion of an NBHWC-approved education program
Train With
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Client-centered coaching conversations
  • Goal-setting and accountability
  • Behavior-change strategies
  • Seven recorded coaching sessions
  • Instructor feedback and peer coaching
Leave Prepared For
  • The next steps in the NBHWC board-certification process
  • One-on-one health coaching
  • Group coaching and wellness programs
  • Coaching within fitness, healthcare, leadership, or human performance roles
  • Independent coaching and client-based services

Successful completion of the UHP Integrative Health Coach program satisfies the approved education component of the NBHWC pathway and prepares graduates to begin working in health-coaching roles. Board certification is awarded by NBHWC only after the candidate completes all current eligibility requirements and passes the national board examination.

Train, live, and learn on campus

The full program takes place on UHP’s Northwest Arkansas campus, with training, housing, meals, and daily support provided in one immersive environment.

See the student experience
Career applications

Where this training can take you

Integrative health coaching can support client work, wellness programs, healthcare collaboration, leadership, community health, and independent coaching.

Work Directly With Clients

Help individuals define goals, strengthen healthy habits, navigate barriers, and maintain accountability.

Support Health and Wellness Programs

Contribute to corporate wellness, community health, employee well-being, and population-health initiatives.

Complement an Existing Profession

Add coaching skills to work in fitness, nutrition, healthcare, military support, leadership, or human performance.

Build a Coaching Practice

Develop independent coaching services, group programs, workshops, or an education-based wellness business.

Career paths depend on experience, board-certification status, employer requirements, professional scope, and location. Health coaches do not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe treatment, or replace licensed healthcare professionals.

Program timeline

Your 19-day path

UHP’s Integrative Health Coach program gives veterans an immersive 19-day path toward behavior-change coaching, practical client experience, and professional direction in health and wellness.

Week 01

Foundations & Communication

Build a foundation in health coaching principles, client communication, and motivational interviewing.

Week 02

Behavior Change & Wellness

Learn habit formation, goal-setting, lifestyle factors, and whole-person wellness strategies.

Week 03

Coaching & Career Application

Practice real coaching conversations while developing the business, career, and client-management skills needed to work professionally.

Build on your IHC training

Continue building your skill set

IHC can stand alone, but students who want to expand into fitness or culinary nutrition may return to UHP for a separate CPT or CNC program. Each develops a different skill set across coaching, behavior change, fitness, and nutrition.

Explore Health & Performance Programs
Frequently asked questions

IHC questions, answered

No, previous coaching, wellness, or healthcare experience is not required. Students should arrive ready to practice, receive feedback, and participate fully in coaching conversations.
An integrative health coach helps clients clarify goals, identify strengths, navigate barriers, and build sustainable habits across areas such as movement, nutrition, recovery, stress, and daily lifestyle. The coach supports the client’s decision-making rather than diagnosing conditions or prescribing medical treatment.
Yes. UHP’s Integrative Health Coach program is an NBHWC-approved education program. Successful completion fulfills the approved education component required to continue toward national board certification.
Not automatically. Graduates earn the UHP Integrative Health Coach Certificate and complete the approved education portion of the NBHWC pathway. Board certification requires candidates to satisfy all current NBHWC eligibility requirements, submit the required application materials, and pass the national board exam.
Students practice active listening, motivational interviewing, goal-setting, behavior-change strategies, session structure, client-centered communication, group facilitation, and ethical coaching.
No. The training may also support professionals working in fitness, nutrition, healthcare, wellness, military support, leadership, human resources, community health, or other client-facing roles.
Yes, housing, meals, laundry service, and daily campus support are provided during the 19-day program.
Funding varies by student and current program approval. Eligible students may be able to use GI Bill®, VR&E, scholarships, or self-pay. Admissions will confirm which funding options may apply to the student and current cohort.
Yes, students who want to earn additional credentials through CPT or CNC may return to UHP for a separate 19-day program. Each program develops a different skill set across health coaching, fitness, behavior change, and nutrition.

Help people turn intention into action

Build the practical coaching skills to guide behavior change, support healthier habits, and create meaningful progress with clients.