The health and wellness coaching is expected to hit $3.83 billion in revenue in 2024. That’s good news for individuals who enjoy helping others set and meeting wellness goals.
However, while the market is on fire, it has become more challenging for those interested in learning more about the field to discern the best ways to gain the necessary skills to succeed. Fortune sought to make it a little easier by creating a list of the best health coach certifications. The program that came home with the designation of “best for integrative medicine” was the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
The over 30-year-old company was founded in a kitchen and has grown to become one of the biggest players in the health and wellbeing education space. While it now offers courses in everything from yoga and meditation to gut health and mindful eating, IIN’s flagship course—The Health Coach Training Program—has helped thousands of individuals become professionally-trained experts in nutrition and lifestyle coaching. Here’s what you need to know.
Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s program overview
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s flagship course prides itself on teaching the “essential elements of achieving holistic wellness” as well as ways to turn coaching into a career.
The program costs $3,995 and is divided out into roughly 40 modules. For those who choose the 12-month track, one module opens per week. For those on the accelerated track, two open per week, though students have the ability to work on their own schedule.
The program is available in English or Spanish—with start times opening throughout the year.
For an additional $1,995 (sometimes cheaper when purchased at the same time), students can bundle their coaching intensive practicum, which is required for those seeking to take NBHWC exam.
Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s curriculum and instruction
IIN notably recognizes that health is not “one size fits all,” and encourages students to “experiment with what you learn during the Health Coach Training Program, applying it to your own life and seeing what works (and what doesn’t), from eating patterns to lifestyle practices.”
During the about 40 modules of content, IIN says students will learn from over 95 different educators, including those who are experts in medicine, research, and business. The core concepts IIN priorities are:
- Bio-individuality
- Multidimensional health
- Primary food
To graduate from the program, students must:
- Pass two out of four tests
- Attend four out of five coaching circles
- Complete at least six practice coaching sessions
- Stay up-to-date on tuition payments
Completing the course also allows students to earn credits toward a larger degree such as at the Maryland University for Integrative Health or California Institute for Integrative Studies.
While IIN does have a mobile app, a majority of reviews on the Apple App Store give it only one or two stars, out of five. Users noted that the app often crashes and that PDFs are not accessible.
Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s transparency
While IIN did not coordinate with Fortune for this article, they have multiple ways for students to contact the school, including phone call, email, WhatsApp, and virtual appointments with admissions counselors. They have a list of their executives and faculty members posted online, including names, photos, and backgrounds.
In terms of what this all means for students, IIN’s website notes that “91% of Health Coach Training Program graduates find or expand their career in wellness and healthcare.” While a self-reported number, it does show that IIN values student success. The organization is also accredited by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. A full list of their accreditation and partners is also posted online.
Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s student experience and outcomes
Like any certification over the internet, students ultimately get out of an experience what they put into it. If students take the appropriate amount of time to listen to lectures, engage in reading, and participate in peer and instructor events, there is a much greater chance for success.
Health coaching is more complicated than other fields since many in the space are running their own business and engaging with local clients. Plus because health coaching is not a regulated industry, anyone can call themselves a health coach. So, accreditation, such as through the NBHWC, matters in order to prove to new and returning clients that you know what you’re talking about.
Thousands of individuals have graduated from IIN’s training over the years and resultantly now make up a network of 160,000 people in 175 countries, according to the company. It does not take long to find countless success stories of individuals who completed IIN’s flagship program and have gone on to successful careers as health coaches—either as their own practice, part of another company, or as part of a larger education journey. On LinkedIn alone, IIN has 22,000 alumni, many of which now work in healthcare services, business development, and community & social services.
IIN also has a large social following, with over 820,000 likes on Facebook and 1 million followers on Instagram.
Is the Institute for Integrative Nutrition worth it?
For those who want to take a nutrition-first approach to health coaching, then the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is the right choice. While the program is a bit on the longer and more expensive side of health coach training, those who complete it can be well on their way to a career in health coaching or furthering their education even more.
IIN is publicly very candid when it comes to health coaching, and does not make any promises of a prosperous career directly following their program. They are cognizant that everyone’s health journey is different, and that by learning through IIN, you’ll learn from industry experts on some of the best practices for a healthy lifestyle—plus how to possibly translate that into business.
