Health Coaching has been defined as, “…the practice of health education and health promotion within a coaching context, to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and to facilitate the achievement of their healthrelated goals†(Palmer et al., 2003). Health coaches help clients identify their goals, develop an action plan, and help put the plan into action while giving support and helping to motivate clients toward success. The Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky proposes a new 15-credit graduate certificate in health coaching designed to meet the supplemental education needs of current health promotion professionals and those training to become health promotion professionals. The graduate certificate would be open to any students who are already are or will be enrolled in a degree 7 program, or those who simply apply for postbaccalaureate (non-degree) status in order to complete the certificate, are eligible to apply for admission.

The Health Coaching at University of Kentucky is a Graduate Certificate program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the university's main campus in Lexington, United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 1 year to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 21, 2027.
About Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching at University of Kentucky
Entry Requirements
- Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a baccalaureate degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by the appropriate regional agency (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern or Western Association of Colleges and Schools). A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation's Ministry of Education or similar authority as a postsecondary, academic degree-granting institution.
- An overall grade point average of 2.75 on undergraduate work and 3.00 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School. Individual departments may require higher grade point averages.
- Submission of scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless their chosen program indicates otherwise. The Graduate School has no minimum GRE score requirement; individual programs may set specific score requirements and in some cases may require the advanced portion of the GRE.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. The University of Kentucky requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based). For IELTS, a minimum mean band score of 6.5 is required. Students may also use the Duolingo English Test (only tests taken after July 15, 2019 will be accepted. The minimum score will be 115, and students recommended for admission may also be interviewed by a CESL evaluator. TOEFL essentials may also be used and the minimum overall score is 9.
- Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens or resident aliens) must pay a $65 application fee; international applicants must pay a $75 fee. The application fee is non-refundable.
English Requirements
- IELTSMin 6.5
- TOEFLMin 79
Career Opportunities after Completing Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching
Students may complete the certificate as a complement to a graduate disciplinary degree program or as a stand-alone curriculum. Students who are currently enrolled as a graduate student in a department at the University of Kentucky are encouraged to apply for the Health Coaching Graduate Certificate program early in their graduate studies.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and are considered on a rolling admission basis.
Note for current M.S. Health Promotion students: Students who are enrolled in the M.S. in Health Promotion program are eligible to count up to 9 credit hours from their program, requiring them to take six additional credit hours (on top of their M.S. curriculum) to complete the graduate certificate.
Tuition and Fee Information for Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching at University of Kentucky
How to Apply for Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching at University of Kentucky
1. Complete UK Graduate Application
2. $75 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
- TOEFL: 79 iBT
- IELTS: 6.5
- Duolingo: 115
Deadline to Apply
- April 15 for Fall semester
- August 22 for Spring semester
- Some programs have earlier deadlines

United States of America, Lexington