ISSA Health Coach Certification Review: Our Experience Taking This Course

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Many people are keen on the idea of leading a healthier lifestyle, but many aren’t sure where to start. According to a survey of 2,000 respondents, 53 percent didn’t consider their lifestyle to be healthy, and 39 percent didn’t understand what steps to take in order to lead a healthier life. This is where a health coach comes in. Health coaches are professionals who work with clients to help them map out manageable actions to take in order to lead healthier lives. This is done through a variety of different techniques, depending on the clients’ needs.

While it isn’t strictly necessary to be certified in order to work as a health coach, certification allows for a deeper understanding of what it means to work in this field, how to better connect with clients, as well as the ability to market yourself as a certified health coach. The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Health Coach Certification is an online course that teaches students how to become a health coach through a comprehensive education of the different theories, techniques and strategies to work with clients through roadblocks that prevent them from being healthier. I took the certification course for myself and found it to be highly beneficial and informative. Here’s my review, as well as all the information you’ll need to decide if this is the right course for you.

ISSA Health Coach Certification at a Glance

• Cost: $1,188–$2,148, depending on program chosen (interest-free payment plans available)
• Course Length: 10 weeks (self-paced but must complete within 6 months)
• Pass Rate: N/A
• Accreditation: N/A
• Best for: Those who want to help others lead healthier lives; those looking for an additional certification to add to their repertoire

Overview of the ISSA Health Coach Certification

The ISSA Health Coach Certification is an online course designed to help any individual become a certified health coach. The certification is available in three tiers: Health Coach, the least expensive and easiest option with two courses; Health and Transformation Coach, the middle-tier, with four courses; and Master Health and Nutrition Coach, which includes six courses and is the most expensive. Each of the certifications includes access to the Health Coach and Online Coach courses, and each certification has an open-book online exam.

What we like:

• Textbook, lectures, quizzes and exam are all online and self-paced
• Comprehensive course material that covers wide variety of topics
• Exam is open-book and can be retaken once at no additional cost

What to consider:

• Not accredited by any health coach council or organization
• Not ideal for those who struggle learning online

Content

Some of the subjects covered in the course material include:

• Fundamentals of Health Coaching: The Science of Health Behavior Change, Identifying Social Determinants of Health to Improve Client Health
• Client Coaching and Communication: The Purpose of a Coach, Effective Coaching Communication, Positive Psychology
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Scope of Practice, Cognitive Approaches to Health Coaching
• Chronic Conditions: Common Chronic Conditions, Health Coaching for Chronic Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes: Stages of Diabetes, Physiological Effects of Type 2 Diabetes, Coaching Clients with Type 2 Diabetes
• Components of Fitness: Exercise Intensity, Understanding Flexibility, Coaching Clients Through an Exercise Program
• Sleep: Stages of Sleep, Sleep Guidelines, Sleep and Chronic Disease Risk, Common Sleep Disorders
• Stress Management: Homeostasis, Stages of Stress, the Physiology of Stress, Stress and Chronic Disease Risk, the Psychology of Stress

Study Materials

Students have access to a digital version of the Health Coaching textbook on their dashboard, along with a PDF version that’s accessible in the “Downloads” portion of the menu. Along with the textbook, students will also see informations categorized as “Scenarios,” which are videos that provide an example scenario a health coach may find themselves in, as well as how to properly manage it.

There are also plenty of resources to help health coaches put their practice into reality, including the following blank forms that may be useful to use with clients: Dietary Log, Well-Being Assessment, Big Five Personality Assessment, Food Frequency Questionnaire, Health History, Medical History and a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

Level of difficulty of course material

The course material was moderately difficult but not exceptionally hard by any means. Note there are some concepts explained in the textbook that you’ll see in a different context in the quizzes to ensure you understand the concept or term, and not just the definition of it. I found this to be a helpful way of learning what some of the terms and ideas presented in the course actually meant in practice, rather than just committing the definitions of the terms to memory.

There are no prerequisites necessary to take this course, other than being 18 years of age and the recommendation to having earned a high school diploma or GED. A valid CPR/AED certification is needed before you take the exam to receive the certification, though. You will need a score of 75 percent or higher to pass, and you have a free retest attempt if you need it. While there is not a pass rate listed for this course, the average pass rate for ISSA open-book exams is around 90 percent, so it’s not likely you will need to retest as long as you’ve prepared for the exam.

Exam type

The Health Coach Certification exam is an online, open-book exam consisting of multiple choice questions, as well as a few essay questions that take some of the concepts and put them into practice with real-world scenarios. Once you start the exam, you’ll be able to save your progress, exit and return to the exam, meaning you don’t have to finish the entire test in one sitting. You’ll have your results within 24 hours of completing the exam. The exam has 100 multiple choice questions, followed by six essay questions. Each essay question requires a minimum of 250 words for the answer. I did the exam in one sitting and it took me around two hours to complete.

Benefits of the ISSA Health Coach Certification

Health coaching can be a great way to help people work toward a healthier lifestyle. Whether you’re just starting out in the health and wellness industry or you have another certification or degree and you’re looking for additional training to help you connect with your clients more, a certification can boost your knowledge.

“While seeing a doctor is necessary for receiving recommendations and prescriptions for medical conditions, a health and wellness coach can help someone improve their life and get out of a rut, even if, or especially if, they’re dealing with a chronic medical condition,” Peter Grinspoon, MD, health coach and author, says.

Grinspoon mentions that health coaches can be hired for a multitude of reasons, including improving diet and exercise, reducing stress, managing chronic conditions and more.

“I recommend a health coach to people who want to make a lifestyle change—it’s a great way to make healthy and sustainable changes. It’s entirely driven by the person being coached—they’re making the path, the goals, the steps, and the coach serves to help guide them along the way and keep them on track,” Grinspoon says.

The market for health coaches is only increasing; it was estimated at $15.44 billion in 2022, and is predicted to grow to $29.12 billion by 2032, according to Precedence Research. If you’re passionate about helping people lead healthier lives, becoming a certified health coach can be a great career path, or an excellent certification to add to your repertoire.

Our Experience with the ISSA Health Coach Certification

I found the ISSA Health Coach Certification to be incredibly thorough in the information presented. The course materials covered a wide variety of subjects, which I feel are intended to help health coaches work with an array of clients from different backgrounds and prepares coaches to work with myriad issues and illnesses that may prevent clients from living a healthy lifestyle.

I did a combination of the online lectures and physical textbook readings, roughly following the study guide provided by ISSA, which breaks down the chapters, lectures and quizzes into a 10-week plan. Each week consisted of a few chapters to read, followed by up to three lectures (each of these was a short video, no more than 10 minutes long) with a quiz at the end to put your new knowledge to the test. The quizzes were multiple choice, 10 questions each and showed you which questions you answered correctly/incorrectly at the end.

Support and customer service

Though I didn’t personally need much of the support or assistance provided by ISSA during my course, multiple reviewers have commented on the quality of help that ISSA gives its students. ISSA has a student help phone number that students can call, or there’s also an email address for support. I had a few queries about how long I’d have to take the exam, and I received an email response within 10 minutes of submitting my question. The support team is available to help you with questions or issues between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. MST, Mondays through Fridays.

Renewing Your ISSA Health Coach Certification

All ISSA certifications require renewal after two years. The renewal process for the Health Coach Certification consists of three parts: Attaining 20 continuing education units (CEUs), renewing your CPR certification and ensuring your past balances are all paid off.

Earning your 20 CEUs can be done by taking one ISSA specialization course, (such as a Strength and Conditioning Coach or Corrective Exercise Specialist) or can be completed via several smaller courses, such as a Kickboxing Instructor or Speed, Agility and Strength Training, worth anywhere from one to six CEUs. You can renew your CPR certification through ISSA or through a third-party provider.

If you're interested in kickboxing, check out our ISSA Kickboxing Certification review. 

How Much Does the ISSA Health Coach Certification Cost?

The cost of the ISSA Health Coach Certification varies depending on which level of certification you opt for. There are three levels: Health Coach ($99 per month, $1,188 total), Health and Transformation Coach ($119 per month, $1,428 total), or Master Health and Nutrition Coach ($179 per month, $2,148 total). You can pay for the entire course up front, or take advantage of ISSA’s 12-month, interest-free payment plan option. There is additional tax on these payments, but no additional cost for accessing the online textbooks or taking the exam the first two tries.

What Customers Say About the ISSA Health Coach Certification

On TrustPilot, ISSA courses have a 4.6 out of 5 star rating. Many of the reviews mention the knowledge they learned during the course, along with the help and assistance they received from the ISSA customer service and student support teams. Some of the reviews also praise the layout and design of the ISSA courses, writing that they enjoyed how the chapters and quizzes were presented and that the coursework was both useful and informative.

Who the ISSA Health Coach Certification Is Best For

The ISSA Health Coach Certification would be a good fit for anyone who’s interested in helping others lead healthier lives, whether that’s through developing healthier habits, increasing positive thinking, or making better choices when it comes to diet and exercise. Anyone who is passionate about the benefits of healthier lifestyles and enjoys working with and helping others would be a good fit for the ISSA Health Coach Certification.

This would also be a useful additional certification for anyone with an existing certification in the health and wellness space. For example, certified nutritionists, certified strength and conditioning coaches or certified personal trainers who might be interested in adding another level to the service they provide others with may consider getting a health coach certification to help others on their health journeys.

Interested in a more fitness-focused certification? Check out our review of the ISSA Personal Training Certification to learn more.

ISSA Health Coach Certification FAQs

Is an ISSA certification legitimate?

Yes, ISSA certifications are legitimate and some (such as the certified personal trainer course) are NCCA-accredited, depending on which exam you take.

Is becoming a certified health coach worth it?

If you’re interested in becoming a health coach or want to add the certification to your qualifications, then receiving the certification is definitely worth it.

Is the ISSA exam hard?

Since the exam is open-book, it should not be a difficult exam to take. The most difficult part will likely be the essay questions, which ask for more in-depth answers, such as an explanation of how to treat clients in specific scenarios.

The Takeaway: Is the ISSA Health Coach Certification Right for You?

Whether you have an existing degree or certification in the health and wellness field or are interested in helping people improve their health, the ISSA Health Coach Certification is a great course to take. This certification helps students learn how to work with clients with chronic conditions and other health issues to create a plan for a lifestyle change. I recommend this certification for anyone who is passionate about helping others, and has an interest in a healthy lifestyle. 

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