Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly taking over many aspects of our lives, and coaching is no different. Understanding how to harness this relatively new technology will free up your time and increase the productivity of your coaching business. 

Whether you're a personal trainer, a fitness coach, or a health expert, AI-enabled coaching tools have the potential to:

• Improve client engagement
• Track client progress
• Deliver personalized development plans to maximize their success.

In this post, we’ll explore how AI for coaches is reshaping the health and fitness industry. We'll also share seven ways AI can boost your productivity.

AI for Coaches: 7 Ways to Boost Productivity Using AI-Powered Tools

The integration of machine learning and AI-powered tools is set to revolutionize the coaching industry. By incorporating AI-enabled coaching techniques coaches can:

• Provide more personalized development plans.
• Improve client outcomes.
• Boost the overall coaching experience.

Here are our top seven ways to boost your productivity using AI:

1. Deliver Personalized Development Plans for Every Client

AI-powered coaching has the potential to create personalized development plans for each client. This is achieved by analyzing your client’s data including: 

• Performance
• Workout history
• Goals
• Preferences

AI can use this information to generate a tailor-made development plan. This approach is far more effective than the one-size-fits-all training programs often used in traditional coaching.

For instance, an AI-enabled coaching platform can be used by a fitness coach to track several key performance metrics such as, strength, endurance, and recovery. With machine learning, AI can offer real-time feedback. The AI platform can then modify the development plan to align with their client's evolving fitness goals.

There’s a growing number of AI-powered coaching tools on the market. Here are three coaching tools that harness AI-technology to provide personalization to your clients’ plans:

• Trainerize is AI-powered personal training software that personalizes workout plans and nutrition guidance based on your clients goals and lifestyle.
• MyFitnessPal uses AI to provide personalized nutrition recommendations based on your clients’ goals, dietary preferences and health conditions. Its large database of food allows for effortless daily calorie tracking. 
• Fitbod uses AI to create customized workout programming based on your clients’ goals, available equipment and their fitness level.

2. Streamlining Coaching With AI Virtual Assistants

If you run your own health and fitness business, you're sure to be spending a lot of your time on: 

• Scheduling appointments
• Answering client inquiries
• Managing follow-ups

AI-powered virtual assistants can automate these tasks, allowing coaches to focus more on delivering quality coaching.

AI-driven personal assistants can handle tasks like:

• Scheduling training sessions
• Sending reminders
• Providing instant responses to client queries

This aspect of AI for coaches frees up time so you can focus more on meaningful interactions, thus improving client satisfaction.  

An AI virtual assistant can send clients reminders about upcoming sessions, or provide instant feedback afterwards. This makes the coaching process more efficient, while maintaining a high level of personalized support.

Two virtual assistants that have the potential to streamline your coaching practice are:

• Heights AI appears as a chat, and you can ask it questions about creating courses or marketing. 
• Fireflies uses AI to instantly record, transcribe and summarize meetings. This includes live meetings and audio files. 

3. Data-Driven Insights to Enhance Client Success

AI tools can collect and analyze vast amounts of client data including:

• Workout stats
• Progress pictures
• Nutrition habits
• Mental well-being indicators

This data can provide valuable insights into how clients are progressing toward their fitness goals. Using data science and analytics, AI can offer personalized insights. This can help to identify areas where they may need to focus more effort or change their habits to ensure progress.

For example, if a client is struggling with consistency, AI tools can be used to identify trends in their behavior. Whether it be missed workouts or poor recovery patterns, AI can provide tailored guidance. Coaches can then use these insights to adjust their coaching techniques, to ensure their client stays on track.

4. Mini Course Generators for Coaches

AI-powered Mini Course Generators can be used by coaches to create bite-sized learning modules on topics like:

• Nutrition
• Mindset
• Stress management

Easy-to-digest mini-courses can provide ongoing support to clients and enrich their coaching services. This is particularly useful for coaches who want to give clients access to educational content that complements their fitness routines or mental wellness practices.

5. Generative AI for Content Creation and Client Engagement

One of the most effective ways to expand your coaching business is to produce quality content. But this can take time if you do it yourself, and it can become costly if you outsource to a freelancer. Reach a larger audience by using generative AI to produce content based on current trends and client engagement. AI can be used to produce:

• Social media posts
• Blog content
• Marketing materials

Whether it’s creating educational materials on proper form during exercise or offering motivational quotes to keep clients inspired. AI can help coaches keep their content fresh and relevant.

By harnessing AI's ability to analyze what content resonates most with target audiences, coaches can fine-tune their coaching programs and increase engagement with existing clients and potential clients.

Here are three handy AI tools to help with your content creation:

• Jasper–is your go-to platform for AI-generated social media posts and marketing.
• Semrush is a super helpful SEO tool that will help you select keywords and content to boost your online visibility.  
• ChatGBT–can be used to generate well-written content, as long as you provide the correct input.

6. Real-Time Feedback for Continuous Improvement

AI-powered tools are perfectly positioned to provide real-time feedback on client performance. 

AI tools can instantly analyze personalized data on nutrition, fitness goals or mental well-being, and offer actionable insights to help adjust a client’s behavior.

For example, if a client logs a workout in an AI-powered app, the system can immediately evaluate their performance. The AI can then provide feedback, suggest modifications, and track progress over time. This instant response allows coaches to stay connected with their clients even when they’re not physically present. This immediate feedback can help clients stay on track with their personal growth journey. 

If you're interested in incorporating AI-powered real-time feedback into your coaching practice, one such platform for you to consider is:

• Coachvox AI–a chatbot that has been trained to match your coaching style and content. This virtual assistant learns to mimic your responses to create a skillset and knowledge bank that matches your own. It’s like having an AI version of yourself to interact with your clients. 

7. Harnessing AI to Scale Your Coaching Business

As you strive to grow your coaching business, AI can provide a scalable solution to meet the demands of your expanding client base.

AI tools can automate administrative tasks, generate marketing content, and even create personalized coaching plans for clients. This allows coaches to expand their reach, serve more clients, and maintain the quality of their coaching services.

Additionally, AI’s ability to track client engagement and outcomes helps coaches measure the effectiveness of their coaching programs. Coaches can use this information to continuously improve their offerings, ensuring the overall coaching experience remains exceptional.

AI for Coaches: How to Get Started

Are you ready to free up time and implement the most effective coaching methods using the latest AI for coaches? Follow these steps to help you get started:

• Explore AI Coaching Platforms: Look for AI-powered coaching tools tailored to health and fitness. Many platforms offer features like personalized development plans, real-time feedback, and client analytics.
• Start Small: Begin by automating administrative tasks or using AI for content creation. As you grow comfortable, expand your use of AI tools to track client progress and optimize coaching programs.
• Leverage AI for Marketing: Use generative AI to create engaging blog posts, social media posts, and other marketing materials that resonate with your target audience.
• Embrace Data-Driven Decisions: Use AI’s insights to guide your coaching strategies. Whether it’s tracking progress, identifying patterns, or refining coaching techniques, AI can offer valuable insights to enhance client outcomes.
• Stay Human-Centered: While AI is a powerful tool, always remember that human connection is crucial in coaching. Use AI to enhance your coaching practice, not replace the personal touch that clients value.

Conclusion: The Future of AI for Coaches

AI for coaches is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a powerful tool available today to enhance your coaching practice and improve client outcomes. Whether through personalized development plans, real-time feedback, or data-driven insights, AI-powered tools offer health and fitness coaches the ability to deliver more effective, efficient, and engaging coaching experiences. By harnessing AI, coaches can take their practice to new heights.

As a health and fitness coach myself, I’ve been gradually integrating AI into my own work. For this blog post I used the following AI-tools: 

• Semrush–for SEO and market research
• Content Aced–for SEO and content creation
• ChatGBT–for research and content creation

In conclusion, AI is still in its infancy, and we don’t know its full potential yet. Whilst you can leverage AI in your coaching practice by saving time on menial tasks, AI shouldn’t replace human connection. Allow your personality to shine through your content, and watch your coaching business thrive!

Are you ready to leverage AI to enhance your coaching experience and drive client success?

Episode Overview:

• 0:07 Major Pep Talk
• 3:52 Embracing Technology
• 6:21 Launching a 21-Day Challenge
• 7:51 The Work Behind the Challenge
• 12:22 Overcoming Personal Challenges
• 16:29 Steps to Success
• 18:18 Motivation and Action Steps

Connect with Erin at:

• Submit your questions to help@primalhealthcoach.com
• Website: primalhealthcoach.com
• Instagram: @primalhealthcoach

Listen via the player below, or subscribe in iTunes or your preferred podcast streaming service.

Health Coach Radio is a podcast that dives deep into the world of health and fitness coaching, brought to you by Primal Health Coach Institute, founded by the renowned Mark Sisson. Join your host Erin Power, a proud graduate of Primal Health Coach Institute, as she shares inspiring stories and expert insights on elevating your coaching practice.

If you're curious about transforming your life through the power of health and/or fitness coaching, visit primalhealthcoach.com/hcr/. Discover the transformative journey of Primal living and explore how Primal Health Coach Institute can empower you to make a real impact on people's lives.

Creating a solid legal foundation is essential and allows you to confidently move forward with building your business without stress!

BUT, you also don’t want to do this with generic legal agreements that aren’t specific to health coaches. That’s why we partnered with Law Is Fun. Their legal agreements are written specifically for Health Coaches and speak to the nuances of our industry, so you can be confident you’re covered for all risks!

Law Is Fun have 3 health coaching-specific legal packages to choose from:

1. New Health Coaching Package: This includes all the essentials a new health coach needs to protect their business, AND, 4 bonus agreements to help you take on the online world. 
2. Complete Online Health Coaching Package: All the essentials and bonuses that are included in the New Health Coaching Package, with an added Community Membership Agreement. For those looking to create an online community to move beyond 1-on-1 coaching!
3. Health Coach Online Course Package: Everything that’s included in the Complete Online Health Coaching Package, PLUS, an Online Course Agreement. For those going all out in the online world who plan on creating and selling online courses.

Law Is Fun also have many individual agreements to fill gaps in your legal coverage. You can find them all here. Use code PRIMAL for 10% off anything in their store.

How To Legally Protect Yourself as a Health Coach With These 4 Legal Agreements

All of the agreements below are included in the three health coaching packages mentioned above.

1. Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions

Your coaching journey involves handling personal information. The Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions establish clear guidelines for data protection, forming trust between you and your clients. It ensures you're compliant with privacy laws while demonstrating your commitment to professionalism. Every website in the world requires these agreements.

If you're based in the USA or Canada you can download the Law is Fun's Health Coach Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions packages here:

• Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions USA
• Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions Canada 

2. Waiver of Liability

In the world of health coaching, unexpected twists can arise. The Waiver of Liability acts as your legal armor, protecting you from potential claims stemming from client injuries or dissatisfaction. It's your safety net, allowing you to focus on guiding clients toward wellness without worrying about them suing you because of the advice you gave them.

3. Disclaimer

Communication is key in coaching. The Disclaimer document lays out the scope of your services, ensuring clients understand what you can – and can't provide. It sets the stage for a smooth coaching relationship, where both parties are on the same page.

4. Service Agreement

The Service Agreement solidifies your professional commitments. It outlines the specifics of your services, fees, and other critical details, ensuring a mutual understanding and a seamless working relationship.

These are four absolute essentials if you’re just getting started…but most of you are ALSO going to be diving into social media, affiliate marketing, and sharing testimonials. The below agreements are BONUSES that are included in all three above packages.

Affiliate Disclaimer

If you're engaged in affiliate marketing, the Affiliate Disclaimer adds an extra layer of transparency. It discloses any potential financial relationships, cementing your credibility and trustworthiness. It’s legally required if you’re going to be making a commission off of recommendations you make of other companies' products.

Social Media Disclaimer

Your online presence matters. The Social Media Disclaimer clarifies your role, preventing misconceptions about your content's purpose. This ensures that if someone follows the “advice” or education you put out on social media, you aren’t going to get in trouble.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Trust is the cornerstone of coaching. The Non-Disclosure Agreement ensures confidential discussions remain just that – confidential. It establishes a safe space, but is also used if you work with contractors or employees and want to keep your business workings private!

Media Release:

One of the most powerful ways to build new business and get coaching clients is to share testimonials. It’s a core part of most marketing plans! But if you haven’t had a Media Release signed, you won’t legally be able to use or post their testimonial! Make sure to have this signed so you can promote away!

Conclusion

The best way to avoid legal woes is to use health coaching-specific legal agreements. This will ensure your legal protection, so that you can pursue your dream career and build your coaching business stress-free. 

Save time with Law Is Fun's legal packages, so you can dedicate your energy to your true calling – guiding clients to their best, healthiest selves.

Give yourself the legal foundation you need to thrive and make a lasting impact in the world of wellness.

Learn more about Law Is Fun packages below, and save 10% with code PRIMAL:

• New Health Coaching Package 
• Complete Online Health Coaching Package
• Health Coach Online Course Package

OR, if you already have your essentials, check out Law Is Fun's Legal Store. It has a full suite of individual legal documents to help you fill gaps in your coverage!

Hiring contractors? You’ll need this.

Hiring employees? You’ll need this.

Running giveaways? Don’t launch without this.

Law is Fun agreements are affordable and written by a 5-star lawyer who has worked with over 1,000 wellness entrepreneurs in our industry. Their legal packages cover most of your health coaching legal requirements. But when you purchase their agreements, you are not getting personalized legal support. If you’re looking for tailored guidance on specific legal aspects of your business, we recommend Cory from Conscious Counsel. Check out Cory's Health Coach Radio episode here.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides general insights and should not be taken as legal advice. For tailored guidance, consult a qualified legal professional.  

In this article we'll explore these four key topics:

1. Dietary supplements - what are they?
2. Health coaching - what is it?
3. What is the scope of practice of a health coach?
4. Can health coaches recommend supplements?

Dietary Supplements - What Are They?

Dietary supplements (also known as nutrition supplements or food supplements) are products that provide nutrients that may be missing from your diet. Supplements come in a variety of forms, but the most common are tablets, powders or capsules.

Dietary or nutritional supplements can include but are not limited to:

• Vitamins and minerals (vitamin C, iron, calcium)
• Oil supplements (fish oil capsules)
• Electrolytes (sodium, magnesium and potassium)
• Protein powders
• Collagen

Why Supplement?

Supplements fill any nutrient gaps you may have in your diet. In a perfect world, we would consume all our nutrients from food alone. But modern living, including farming practices and even your geographic location, make it hard to achieve this.

Sometimes supplements can be taken temporarily, for example:

• Taking multivitamins during pregnancy
• Vitamin D supplementation throughout the winter months

Other times supplements can be taken for longer periods. Examples include:

• Long-term supplementation for someone with a chronic health condition
• Someone who doesn't eat meat may take iron tablets long-term

Health Coaching - What Is It?

Health coaches are the ultimate cheerleaders and behavioral change experts. The coaching relationship is built on mutual trust and respect between both coach and client. Health coaches collaborate with their clients to help them integrate new lifestyle habits as they strive towards optimal health and positive health outcomes. Health coaches use a variety of strategies as part of their coaching process, including:

• Goal setting
• Motivational interviewing
• Encouraging regular physical activity
• Promoting a healthy daily routine
• Creating healthy habits
• Implementing self-management strategies
• Applying accountability strategies
• Coaching health education
• Implementing positive psychology processes
• Promoting self-care

There's currently no educational standard for health coaches, but many health coaches hold a health coaching credential such as those offered by PHCI. There is a growing number of coaches becoming NBHWC-board certified, which is required if you are looking to bill insurance in the future.

You can find health coaches working in:

• Private practice either online or face-to-face, on a large scale (webinar), in small groups, or 1:1 (tailoring programs to the specific needs of individual clients)
• Medical practices working alongside other healthcare professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, personal trainers or mental health professionals
• A corporate setting developing wellness programs
• Wellness retreats promoting healthy living in exotic locations
• Content creation for a health, wellness or fitness blog, vlog or social media account (TikTok or instagram)
• Gyms or health clubs running nutrition and lifestyle coaching and helping clients make healthy choices

Many coaches specialize in a specific health, fitness or wellness niche such as:

• Stress management
• Weight loss and improved health
• Blood sugar control through lifestyle changes
• Mental health coaching

Now that we've established what supplements are and what health coaches do, let's circle back to the original question...

Can Health Coaches Recommend Supplements?

The short answer to this questions is no, health coaches should not recommend supplements to their clients. And there are two major reasons for this:

1.  Most jurisdictions and certifying bodies, do not allow the recommendation of supplements as it does not fall into the scope of practice of a health coach (more on this later). This means you are not legally allowed to provide supplement recommendations. If you do, you may find yourself in legal trouble. Some states and certifying bodies do have specific guidelines that allow health coaches to recommend supplements, but you must check with a lawyer to make sure you're covered. It's important to note that only a licensed professional such as a medical doctor can prescribe supplements.
2. There's an inherent health risk to taking dietary supplements that many people don't consider. Our bodies function best when we consume the right amount of vitamins and nutrients (not too little or too much). Consuming too much of a particular vitamin or nutrient can be dangerous. For example, large doses of vitamin A, C or E while pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Also, some supplements interact in a harmful way with certain medications.

It's safest for both you and your clients if you avoid recommending any supplements to your clients. But this doesn't mean that the topic of supplements is off limits, you just need to stay within your scope of practice as a health coach.

Scope of Practice of a Health Coach

We've established that it's best practice to avoid the recommendation of supplements to your health coaching clients, as it's not within your scope of practice. But what does this mean?

Scope of practice describes the actions, processes and procedures that a healthcare provider is legally permitted to perform based on their professional licence. This includes medical doctors, nurses, registered dietitians and health coaches.

As a health coach, your scope of practice doesn't just apply to your work with clients. It also includes any content you may post on social media or to a vlog or blog. Why is this so important? Because staying within your professional scope of practice will protect you from any liabilities or lawsuits down the track.

The health coaching scope of practice varies depending on where you live in the world. The information provided in this article is for general information purposes only. It's a good idea to seek legal advice from a lawyer in order understand what your health coaching certification covers you for in the state or country you live in.

As a general rule, a health coach is not licensed to diagnose, treat or prescribe any supplements, diet plans, lab tests or treatments.

This doesn't mean that talking about supplements is off limits with your clients - far from it. Once you're clear on what you can and can't say under your scope of practice as a health coach, you can confidently discuss dietary supplements with your clients.

Let's take a deeper dive into what this could look like.

How to Safely Discuss Supplements With Your Health Coaching Clients

Once you understand your scope of practice, the dos and don'ts of discussing supplements with your clients becomes clearer.

If a client asks you about a particular supplement...

You can:

• Share information from an official source published in a peer-reviewed journal, or from a government website
• Discuss facts that you know about the supplement - what it's used for, or whether there are any known side effects

You can't:

• Recommend or prescribe a supplement to your client

Even though, a health coach does not diagnose, treat or prescribe any supplements, food plans, blood testing or treatments, this doesn't mean you're not able to guide and educate your clients along their health journey. Understanding your scope of practice will give you confidence to coach effectively and discuss topics such as supplements safely with your clients.

Summary

Can health coaches recommend supplements? No, health coaches should not recommend supplements, and there are two major reasons for this:

1. Health coaches are not licensed to recommend supplements as it doesn't fall under their scope of practice
2. There's an inherent health risk to taking dietary supplements that many people don't consider

But this doesn't mean that health coaches can't discuss supplements. Health coaches can:

1. Share information about supplements from official sources
2. Discuss facts about supplements with their clients

Lastly, the information discussed here is general in nature. To make sure you understand what you're licensed to say and do as a health coach in your part of the world, it's best to consult with a legal professional.

The Importance of Precision Health

Gone are the days of sickness-driven medicine. Unlike traditional healthcare, precision health strives to identify illness before it strikes. It does so by taking into account an individual's unique health status. This preventative strategy brings together several areas of health and medicine, including:

• Family history of chronic metabolic disease such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.
• Personal devices such as smart phones and smart wearables that can keep track of health data including an individual's heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, all in real-time.
• Medical options to prevent illness in individuals with inherited conditions. For example women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancer and may consider proactive medical interventions to reduce their risk of developing cancer.
• Biomarker analysis provides insight into an individual's risk of developing chronic metabolic disease. Direct-access testing bypasses the need for a doctor's visit to get this done. We'll discuss how this works in more detail next.

Direct-Access Testing

Direct-access testing, also referred to as direct-to-consumer lab testing, is a relatively new concept. It allows the consumer to access health testing without the need for a doctor's visit.

There are a growing number of companies offering this straight-to-consumer service. These services allow consumers and healthcare practitioners (that aren't medical doctors) such as health coaches, to gain access to lab testing directly. Here's a 7-step summary of how the process works:

1. The direct-access testing service connects a consumer with a nearby lab testing facility.
2. Sample collection takes place at the lab testing facility. This can be a nasal or mouth swab, a urine or stool sample, or a blood sample.
3. Lab testing is performed at the lab testing facility. This can include analysis for disease biomarkers or specific genetic or biological conditions.
4. The lab testing facility sends the medical results to the direct-access testing service.
5. Medical doctors employed by the direct-access testing service interpret the lab results and prepare a report based on the lab results.
6. The results and report are sent to the consumer and their coach, usually through a secure online portal.
7. The coach references the doctor's recommendations in the report and helps their client implement the suggested lifestyle changes for improved health outcomes.

The general population can access labs without a healthcare professional, through direct-access testing. Knowledge is powerful, but it can come with a dark side. For some people, gaining access to their medical data without guidance from a healthcare provider can lead to misinterpretation of their lab results. In some instances, this can result in unnecessary interventions and further health complications can ensue.

But, what if there was a healthcare professional knowledgeable and willing to guide their clients through their lab reports? This is where health coaches come into the picture.

Next, we'll dive into the role of the health coach and how they can help their clients with their lab data.

What Does a Health Coach Do?

Health coaches are in the business of helping people live healthier lives. They are the ultimate cheerleaders, motivators and accountability experts. Health coaching is a relatively young profession, and there are a variety of different career paths that can be taken.

Traditional health coaching can be performed 1:1 or in groups, either face-to-face or online. Health coaches can run their own private practice, or work in a corporate setting for a wellness company, or an insurance company.

Health coaches take a holistic approach with their clients. They use a variety of proven strategies to improve the health outcomes of their patients and guide them through their healing journey. Some of the behavior change strategies health coaches use include:

• Goal setting
• Healthy habit formation
• Implementing accountability strategies
• Health education
• Motivational interviewing
• Positive psychology processes

In most instances a health coach will specialize in a specific coaching niche. Most successful coaches will work within their niche and target one or two specific health concerns or health issues including:

• Hormonal imbalances
• Stress management
• Promoting physical activity
• Reach specific health goals
• Guidance with healthy eating

Can Health Coaches Order Labs?

Health coaches play a crucial role in fighting against chronic metabolic disease.

If we circle back to the original question, "Can health coaches order labs?" Technically medical doctors are the only licensed healthcare professional legally able to order or interpret labs. But, direct-access testing has enabled health coaches to use this information to guide their clients in a more personalized tailored manner.

If you're a health coach, or an aspiring health coach, it's important that you understand the role health coaching plays in our healthcare system, and how we can use lab testing, while staying in our scope of practice.

Health Coaching Scope of Practice

Scope of practice describes the procedures, actions and processes that a healthcare professional is legally permitted to perform based on their professional license. If you're working as a health coach, and this includes vlogging, blogging or creating content for your TikTok account, it's important to understand your general scope of practice, as this will protect you from future liabilities and lawsuits.

Because health coaching is a relatively new field, the general scope of practice for health coaching varies depending on where you live and work. The information found here is for general information purposes only. It's important to check what you're covered for as a health coach in your state or country.

As a blanket rule, health coaches are not licensed to diagnose, treat or prescribe any treatments, diet plans or blood tests.

Instead health coaches provide clients with support and guidance implementing a food plan, or introducing nutrition supplements prescribed by a doctor, physician or registered dietitian. A health coach can educate their clients on how to shop for groceries, or read the nutrition labels on packaged foods, suggest healthy recipes, introduce a fitness plan, or discuss the results outlined in a lab test report as part of their disease management strategy advised by their licensed provider.

How to Use Labs as a Health Coach

Health coaches can use lab testing with their clients, through a direct-access testing service such as Precision Health Reports.

In this scenario, a health coach is within their scope of practice as the analysis and interpretation of the lab results are performed by a medical doctor employed by the direct-access testing service. The health coach can then guide their clients through the process of implementing the necessary nutrition and lifestyle changes based on their personalized biomarker analysis report.

Summary

So, can health coaches order labs? Whilst health coaches are not licensed to order or interpret lab tests, direct-access testing services allow health coaches and their clients to access lab testing without the need to visit a doctor's office.

Here's a breakdown of the latest health coach salary stats according to Indeed (November 2024):

• Health coach salary range–$22,476 to $105,8476 per year.
• Average health coach salary–$48,752 per year.
• Average hourly rate of a health coach–$21.06.

In this post we’ll explore the factors that influence a health coach’s pay-scale, so you can boost your health coach salary, while pursuing a rewarding career that you love. 

Why Is Salary Important

An entrepreneurial mindset should be nurtured, especially when you’re in the business of helping people stick to their healthy habits in order to reach their health goals. 

Understanding your earning power will help you identify how much money you would like to earn. Whether you’re employed by a wellness company or you’re running your own online group sessions for a little extra income. It’s important to know your worth. 

What Is the National Average Health Coach Salary?

Here’s what some of the top job sites are reporting when it comes to the average base salary of a health coach in the United States as of November 2024:

• Indeed:  $22,476 to $105,8476 per year
• Glassdoor: $45,000 to $69,000 per year
• Payscale: $27,000 to $91,000 per year
• Salary.com: $53,000 to $90,846 per year

4 Factors That Influence a Health Coach Salary

Here are our top four factors that influence health coach salaries:

1. Location

There's a correlation between the cost of living and a health coach's salary. This is highlighted in the list below, that shows the six highest paying health coach cities in the United States. Further, at the end of this article you will find a table that compares the average health coach salaries in each state.

Highest Paying Health Coach Cities in United States as of November 2024 (data from Indeed):

• New York, New York: $33,819 to $172,304 per year
• San Francisco, California: $46,505 to $96,064 per year
• Franklin, Tennessee: $44,405 to $74,102 per year
• Dallas, Texas: $32,733 to $92,213 per year
• Phoenix, Arizona: $37,908 to $75,178 per year
• Naperville, Illinois: $38,476 to $86,752 per year

2. Years of Experience

Your level of experience will impact your earning potential as a health coach, with higher rates earned by more experienced coaches who are filling more senior roles.

According to Salary.com (November 2024) a health coach's yearly salary increases with experience (salaries are shown as an average per year):

• Less than one year experience–$63,433 
• Two to five years experience–$66,212
• Five to eight years experience–$69,639
• Eight or more years experience–$69,884

3. Your Credentials

Your education level will have a major impact on your earning potential as a health coach. Here’s how you can boost your health coach salary using your education:

Get NBHWC Board-certified

Many employers are looking for National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)-certification as a prerequisite. This involves graduating from an NBHWC-approved program (many of which are offered as an online course, including PHCI’s Master Coach Certification Course), before sitting the board exam.

Do You Have a Degree in a Related Field?

Holding a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in a related field will also provide further job openings and you're more likely to earn a higher rate.

Here’s a list of qualifications held by PHCI graduates:

• Personal Training
• Nursing
• Osteopathy
• Naturopathy
• Massage therapy
• Dentistry
• Marketing
• Social Work

Additional credentials will also help you define your niche and find your target audience.

For example, say you're a personal trainer AND a certified health coach. These two qualifications will allow you to offer complementary services to your future clients in the areas of fitness and health. Thus, your client avatar will be someone looking for a coach that offers these two services and you can set your price point accordingly.

4. Full-time Versus Part-time

It may seem pretty straight forward, but the number of billable hours you work will impact your earning potential as a health coach. If health coaching is your full-time gig and you have a full client roster then you’re going to earn more money from your health coaching than someone who is only putting in part-time hours. Being in high demand will earn you a higher income.

Health Coach Job Opportunities

Health coaching is a rapidly growing industry with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting a growth rate of 17 percent from 2020 to 2030 for health educators and community health workers.

In the most recent list of top 20 global fitness trends published by the American College of Sports Medicine in 2022, health and wellness coaching was ranked number 10, and has been consistently found in the top 20 since 2010.

The field of health coaching encompasses a variety of different career paths. Here are a few health coaching career opportunities for you to consider:

Private Practice

Whether you choose to do in-person coaching, online, or a mix of both, running your own health coaching business gives you the flexibility to decide your work hours. You also get to choose your clients and your coaching style.

The PHCI health coach certification program offers an in-depth business and marketing curriculum that will help get your own health coaching business off the ground. Here at PHCI, we continue to offer support to our graduates, even upon completion of your course, so you can grow your private practice into a flourishing health coaching business with confidence.

Pros:

• Choose your clients and how you coach them (one-on-one, in groups or host a virtual health summit)
• Flexible hours
• Work from home

Cons:

• Lag in cash flow as you grow your client list
• Attracting clients on your own will require clever marketing skills, are you up for the challenge?
• Proactively finding your own professional network and mentors

Corporate Health and Wellness Programs

Health and wellness initiatives have been proven to increase employee productivity and reduce illness-related absences and are now offered by many large corporations. 

Corporate health and wellness coaches are employed to provide:

• Health programs
• Nutrition coaching
• Fitness coaching
• Mental health care coaching
• Online coaching
• On-site coaching. 

Often, corporate health coach positions come with a competitive salary, and are ideal for health coaches looking for job security.

Pros:

• Job security
• Competitive salary, often with benefits
• Clear career path

Cons:

• Less control of your coaching program
• You may need additional qualifications for some positions
• Less flexibility with your work schedule

Healthcare Industry

In the healthcare setting, health coaches work alongside doctors and other allied-health professionals to combat lifestyle-related disease in patients. Health coach jobs can be found in doctor’s offices and in hospitals, and have been proven to increase patient satisfaction and reduce physician burnout and stress.

Pros:

• Job security
• Working as part of a healthcare team
• Clear career path

Cons:

• Less control of your coaching program
• You may need additional qualifications for some positions
• Less flexibility with your work schedule

Online Coaching 

Online coaching is a growing industry. Job openings are currently advertised for health insurance companies, as well as wellness centers such as Mayo Clinic and health technology companies like Noom.

Pros:

• Job security
• Competitive salary, often with benefits
• Clear career path

Cons:

• Less control of your coaching program
• You may need additional qualifications for some positions
• Less flexibility with your work schedule

Spas, Fitness Clubs and Health Clubs

Health and wellness coaches in this setting often use a holistic health approach with their clients. This includes coaching clients toward a healthy lifestyle by providing guidance on nutrition, encouraging physical activity and implementing strategies that promote behavioral change. 

Job descriptions in this field often ask for a certification in personal training in addition to holding a health coaching credential.

Pros:

• Job security
• Large client base
• Working as part of health and fitness team

Cons:

• Less control of your coaching program
• You may need additional qualifications
• Less flexibility with your work schedule

Social Media Influencer

Do you enjoy creating captivating content on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram or YouTube? Then maybe you could consider becoming a social media influencer? Influencers earn money by promoting their own products and programs, like PHCI graduate Danielle Meitiv, and/or getting paid to endorse products and programs that align with their own health and wellness ethos.

Pros:

• Be your own boss
• Flexible work hours
• Work from home

Cons:

• It may take time to build a following
• Variable income
• Social media trolls

Become an Entrepreneur

Do you see yourself as an astute entrepreneur?  Then combine your health coaching know-how with your savvy business skills and build your empire.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out PHCI graduate Helen Marshall’s business story on how she grew her business, Primal Alternative into a global success by combining her passion for food and cooking with her health knowledge and business smarts.

Turn your vision of opening a restaurant, starting a food-delivery service or selling natural skincare products online, into a profitable business to be proud of.

Pros:

• Be your own boss
• Flexible work hours
• Work on your own terms

Cons:

• It may take time to see your hard work pay off
• High risk (but potential for high reward)
• May require initial financial investment

Recap

The career outlook for health coaches is highly promising. In this post, we've discovered that a health coach salary is dependent on several factors including:  

• Location (where you live)
• Years of experience 
• Your credentials
• Full-time vs part-time

In summary, health coach job opportunities are abundant and salaries are competitive. It's time for you to start your career today!

Average Health Coach Salaries: A State-By-State Comparison

How much does a health coach earn where you live? Check out our comprehensive state-by-state comparison in the table below (data from Indeed, April 2022): 

Ready to take that leap? Sign up to become a certified Primal Health Coach today.