Become a Board Certified Nurse Coach (NC-BC)
NSHC is a leader in Health Coaching Certification for Nurses by Nurses
Elevate Your Nursing Career: Become a Board-Certified Nurse Coach with our Exclusive RN to NC-BC Program
Self-Paced
Affordable
Interactive
What Is the Nurse Coach Board Certification (NC-BC)?
The Nurse Coach Board Certification (NC-BC) is the highest credential available in clinical health coaching for registered nurses. It is awarded by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC), an independent national credentialing body and the only board certification in health coaching designed exclusively for nurses.
The National Society of Health Coaches is an AHNCC-approved training provider. That means our health coach certification program meets the education and supervised experience requirements nurses need to sit for the NC-BC exam. Nurses who successfully complete both programs earn two credentials:
- Certified Health Coach (CHC)
- Nurse Coach Board Certification (NC-BC)
As a board-certified nurse coach, you will use structured, evidence-based coaching frameworks to engage patients in modern behavior change conversations that can significantly improve health outcomes. The NC-BC signals to patients, employers, and colleagues that your skills and commitment to care meet an elevated professional standard.
Why Become a Board-Certified Nurse Coach?
Advance Your Clinical Skills
• The NC-BC is the only board certification in health coaching designed exclusively for nurses, setting you apart from clinicians who hold general coaching credentials. • It is recognized by ANCC Magnet, giving your health coaching skills formal standing in the hospitals and health systems where that designation matters most. • For nurses in or pursuing leadership roles, the NC-BC adds a recognized advanced credential to a clinical profile that NSHC's health coaching certification already strengthens.
Deepen Your Patient Interactions
● The NC-BC builds on the NSHC Evidence-Based Health Coaching (EBHC® ) model, adding holistic nursing theory and supervised practice to take your patient engagement skills to the next level. • Supervised coaching hours put those skills to work with real patients in a structured setting, giving you the practical experience the credential requires and your patients benefit from.
Expand Your Nursing Career Options
• NSHC's health coaching certification opens the door to coaching across hospitals, primary care, home health, chronic disease programs, outpatient centers, occupational health, and community health settings. The NC-BC widens it. • For nurses looking to build an independent practice, the NC-BC establishes the professional credibility that clients and payers recognize.
Earn CNE Credits You Need Anyway
• The full NSHC pathway earns 60 Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits toward your RN license renewal: 42 through NSHC’s health coaching certification program and 18 through the NC-BC prep course.
"I have already recommended CHC to my colleagues. It is important to empower clients to pursue their health goals and support them with evidence-based knowledge. This program is designed for clinicians and the materials and resources are high quality and evidence-based."
Board-Certified Nurse Coach Program: Options and Pricing
CHC + NC-BC Bundle
$3,395.00
What’s Included in the Bundle:
- 18-month membership to the NSHC
- Online interactive e-manuals
- An NC-BC Board Certified health coach to conduct your 60 hours of supervised training
- Access to Live Practice Webinars
- 60 CEUs upon passing both programs
- One free test attempt per program when tests are completed within 18 months of purchase
- Online Skills Practice
- Best practice clinical interventions for CHF, HTN, CAD, COPD, Diabetes, Depression, Pain, Pressure Ulce
NC-BC Prep Course Only
$2,595.00
What’s Included with the Nurse Health Coach Board Certification Prep Course:
- 6-month NSHC Membership
- Online interactive e-manual
- An NC-BC Board Certified health coach to conduct your 60 hours of supervised training
- Access to Live Practice Webinars
- 18 CEUs upon passing
- One free test attempt when test is completed within 6 months of purchase
What Our Nurse Coaching Programs Include
Both enrollment options include multiple learning modules so that skills translate directly into clinical practice:
- Self-paced online coursework with no mandatory class times or onsite requirements
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills practice: structured online exercises that build conversational fluency in one of the most research-supported approaches to patient behavior change
- Over 80 concept applications connecting coaching theory to real clinical scenarios
- Live Practice Webinars for additional interactive practice and real-time feedback
- 60 hours of supervised coaching with an NC-BC Certified Nurse Coach Supervisor, provided by NSHC
- Test preparation resources for both the health coaching certification exam and the AHNCC NC-BC exam
How to Become a Board-Certified Nurse Coach
Go from RN to a Board-Certified Nurse Health Coach in only 4 Steps!
Complete the Program
Complete the Certified Health Coach program through the NSHC, pass the CHC exam, and earn 42 CEUs
Pass the Prep Course
Pass the Nurse Health Coach Board Certification Prep Course and earn 18 CEUs
Complete Your Practice
Complete 60 hours of supervised health coaching practice with your NSHC-Provided Nurse Coach Supervisor
Pass the Exam
Sit and pass the AHNCC NC-BC Exam
Who Is Eligible for the NC-BC?
The NC-BC is open to any registered nurse with an active, unrestricted RN license and at least 2 years of nursing experience. The AHNCC sets the following eligibility criteria to sit for the exam:
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Active, unrestricted RN license
International candidates may submit a license from their country of practice.
RNs with a bachelor's degree in Nursing
Must have at least 2 years of full-time practice, or 4,000 part-time hours, within the past 5 years
RNs with an associate degree or diploma
Requires at least 4 years of full-time practice, or 8,000 part-time hours, within the past 7 years
Other Prerequisites for the NC-BC Exam
Beyond your nursing experience, the AHNCC requires two additional components before you can sit for the NC-BC exam: educational contact hours and supervised coaching hours. Our programming allows nurses to fulfill both.
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60 CNE contact hours
Coursework grounded in the Nurse Coach Core Values and Competencies, completed within the past 3 years. These are the same credits that count toward your RN license renewal.
60 supervised coaching hours
Structured coaching sessions with real patients, overseen by a Certified Nurse Coach Supervisor provided by NSHC as part of both enrollment options. Your supervisor will document your hours and submit the validation letter required for your AHNCC application
You do not need to source a supervisor independently. We provide access to a qualified supervisor as part of your program investment.
NC-BC vs. Other Boards: A Side-by-Side Look
Not all health coaching certifications are built for the same purpose. Most are designed for general wellness coaching and open to anyone, regardless of clinical background. The NC-BC is different: it is the only board certification in health coaching designed exclusively for registered nurses, built on the clinical knowledge and professional experience you already have.
Where general wellness coaching credentials treat nursing as incidental, the NC-BC treats it as the foundation.
| NC-BC (NSHC + AHNCC) | Other Certifying Boards | |
| Designed exclusively for nurses | Yes | No |
| Builds on existing nursing education & experience | Yes | No |
| Focus | Professional health coaching in clinical practice | General wellness coaching |
| Nationally accredited | Yes — AHNCC accredited | Varies |
| Recognized by ANCC Magnet | Yes | No |
| Self-paced, no live class requirements | Yes | Often required |
| CE credits included | Yes — 60 CNE credits total | Varies |
| Supervised coaching hours included | Yes — provided by NSHC | Not always included |
Why Nurses Trust NSHC
NSHC was founded by nurses and built on a single premise: that clinicians already bring the knowledge and clinical skills that great health coaching requires. Our program gives you the framework to springboard your skills to the next level through skillful conversation techniques, advanced patient engagement strategies, and a holistic patient centered approach to affect health behaviors
The result is the nation’s first Clinical Model of Evidence-Based Health Coaching, grounded in peer-reviewed research and aligned with the ethics and standards of the AMA, ANA, and ICF.
Alliances
Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Provider Accreditations
NSHC's program and Health Coach Certification has been developed specifically for health practitioners in contrast to programs developed for the masses.
Your NSHC Membership: Included with Every Enrollment
Every NC-BC enrollment includes NSHC membership, giving you a professional home in a community of clinician-coaches. Our members enjoy:
- Access to Live Practice Webinars to keep your skills sharp
- A peer community and member listserv spanning care settings across the country
- Credential verification through the NSHC member registry, so employers can confirm your status with ease
To explore the full range of your member benefits, visit the National Society of Health Coaches Membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Board Certified Nurse Coach
What support does NSHC provide during the program?
Can I build a private practice with the NC-BC?
Is the NC-BC recognized by ANCC Magnet?
How many CE credits will I earn?
What are the 60 supervised coaching hours, and how do I complete them?
How long does the full pathway take?
Do I need to complete the CHC program before pursuing the NC-BC?
What is the difference between NSHC's health coaching certification and the NC-BC?
Get Started
Ready to take the next step? Register now to enroll, or contact us to talk through which option is right for where you are today. Our team is available for a complimentary consultation to walk you through the program and help you plan your pathway.
