Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching (RSPH)

This RSPH-accredited qualification offers expert-led training in behaviour change models, motivational techniques, and personalised care consultations.  You will acquire the skills to deliver personalised care as part of a health coaching programme, in order to promote the health and wellbeing of individuals, groups, and communities.

You will learn how to:

• carry out a personalised care consultation in order to support your clients to identify their health and wellbeing priorities
• assist clients in recognising the factors that might be affecting their health and wellbeing, and identify any barriers that are holding them back from achieving their goal
• develop and implement an achievable action plan to achieve their goals and overcome any barriers. 

Underpinning knowledge includes behaviour change models, principles of behaviour change, and related tools and techniques.

Qualifying as a health coach will allow you to make a real difference to a client's life by helping them improve their choices in relation to health and wellbeing.

Health coaching is a stand-alone career but it also sits perfectly alongside professions such as personal training. It will allow you to offer a fully comprehensive and more in-depth support to your clients to aid their progress. 

This course is blended and has a combination of online self-study and face-to-face teaching on campus.

Dates and times

This is a part-time blended course running once a week between:

• Saturday 2 May 2026 to Saturday 30 January 2027.

While the final class is Saturday 30 January 2027 the final deadline for submission of work is Friday 5 March 2027.

Theory – modules one to five

Modules one to five will run:

•  Saturday 2 May 2026 to Saturday 30 January 2027.

These modules will be delivered by a four and a half hours of pre-recorded online sessions to view. There will be two sessions delivered in-person on campus between 9am-5pm on Saturday 23 January 2027 and 30 January 2027. Following the final session, you will work independently to complete four case studies for assessment.

 A more detailed timetable of timings is available on request by emailing Short Courses.  

• All Saturdays in July and August 
• Saturday 21 November 2026
• Saturday 28 November 2026
• Saturday 5 December 2026
• Saturday 12 December 2026
• Saturday 19 December 2026
• Saturday 25 December 2026
• Saturday 2 January 2027.

Practice and reflection – module six

Throughout January 2027 there will be four and a half hours of pre-recorded online sessions to view.

There will be two sessions delivered in person on campus on:

• Saturday 23 January 2027 between 9am-5pm
• Saturday 30 January 2027, between 9am-5pm.

Following the final session on 30 January 2027, you will work independently to complete four case studies for assessment.

The final submission date is Friday 5 March 2027.

Study hours

• Total live lectures: 50-60 hours
• Total coaching practice hours: 32- 45 hours
• Total pre-recorded lectures: 45 hours
• Total guided study: 127 - 150 hours
• Total self- directed: 570 hours (recommended approx.15 hours of study per week)

Location 

The course will be delivered through a combination of pre-recorded online lectures and online live lectures, plus in person sessions at our main campus in Twickenham. 

Online live lectures will be recorded. Nevertheless, to fully benefit from the course we expect you to attend as many live online lectures as possible to be able to participate in case study analysis, workshops and discussions that will enrich your training as health coach.  

Price

The full cost is £1,350. The deposit cost is £50. 

St Mary's University staff and students can book with a 10% discount via the discounted short courses page (St Mary's login required).

Content

During the practical sessions, you will coach, be coached, observe coaching in action, and you will be required to build a portfolio of evidence.

You will be taught using a variety of teaching materials including:

• slides
• quizzes
• lectures from leading experts
• video content
• practical sessions.

Whilst enrolled upon the health coach course you will study the following four mandatory units:

• The Principles and Concepts of Health Coaching
• The Wider Determinants of Health and Health Inequality
• Theories of Behaviour Change, Principles of Motivational Techniques and their application to personalised care
• Conduct a Personalised Care Consultation.

You will be taught the theoretical elements throughout modules one to five, and the practice in module six.

The modules will cover a wide range of topics and themes to include:

• Foundations of Health and Wellbeing for Health Coaches (module one)
• Foundations of Public Health Promotion and Nutrition for Health Coaches (module two)
• Foundations of Benefits of Movement for Health Coaches (module three)
• Foundations of Health Coaching and Personalised Care (module four)
• Foundations of Entrepreneurship and Business for Health Coaches (module five)
• Foundations of Coaching Practice (module six).

Assessment

This course is assessed via written assignments, observations, and case studies. 

Requirements

It is recommended that learners should have achieved a level of education equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*-C prior to commencing the RSPH Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching, however exemptions may be made for adult returners with experience of the workplace.

Award

Upon successful completion of this course candidates will be awarded a Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching from The Royal Society for Public Health. You will be able to practice as a health coach and will be eligible to join the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) which entitles you to use MRSPH after your name.

You will also be able to apply to become an affiliate member of the UK and International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA). The course is also approved by the UKIHCA for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Book your place now

For more information about this course please contact the Short Courses Team:

• Telephone: 020 8240 4321
• Email: shortcourses@stmarys.ac.uk.