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HCAI outlines two-year recertification rules, 20 continuing‑education hours for certified wellness coaches
Summary
At a webinar, HCAI staff explained that certified wellness coaches must recertify every two years, submit 20 continuing‑education hours (including minimums for cultural responsiveness and ethics), and file documentation through an online portal; missed deadlines move a coach to inactive status and can affect Medi‑Cal billing.
Officials from HCAI laid out the requirements and application steps for recertifying California’s certified wellness coaches during a webinar, saying recertification is required every two years and must include 20 hours of continuing education.
Why it matters: The agency said an inactive certification status resulting from a missed deadline prevents employers from billing Medi‑Cal for a coach’s services until active status is restored, creating a direct operational and revenue consequence for employers and coaches.
HCAI presenter Ben Gamache said the core requirement is straightforward: “recertification is required every 2 years,” and each recertification cycle must include 20 hours of continuing education. Of those 20 hours, HCAI requires a minimum of three hours in cultural responsiveness and a minimum of three hours in laws and ethics. Gamache advised attendees that trainings should focus on “prevention and early intervention” because certified wellness coaches are nonclinical providers.
HCAI staff described the notification and submission process: the agency will email coaches beginning six months before a recertification deadline, then send reminders at three months, one month, one week, three days and one day. Coaches may accrue hours throughout their two‑year certification period but may only submit an application once the six‑month window opens. The application requires a completed PDF listing trainings and supporting documentation such as a transcript, certificate of completion, or event attendance receipt; if documentation is not available, the applicant must provide a supervisor or trainer contact for verification. Ben Gamache said the portal allows applicants to save and resume the application and that HCAI aims to review applications within about five business days, though review times can vary.
HCAI provided guidance on acceptable training sources: county behavioral health departments, approved training providers, community‑based organizations, school systems, institutions of higher education (California community colleges and state universities), professional boards and government health agencies. The agency noted employer‑required trainings (for example, mandated reporter trainings) can count toward recertification if they fit the required topics and are documented. HCAI staff also said some online course platforms (for example, Coursera) are not automatically accepted and must be referred to HCAI for review.
On documenting hours, HCAI explained the conversion rules: one hour of direct instruction equals one continuing‑education hour; a three‑unit college course equals 12 continuing‑education hours; conference plenary, breakout or workshop sessions count hour‑for‑hour but breaks and meals do not. Applicants upload a filled PDF that totals their hours and attach supporting files (up to 20 files; contact HCAI if more are needed).
Ben Gamache emphasized enforcement and employer implications: missing the deadline moves the coach from active to inactive status and “your employer will no longer be able to bill Medi‑Cal for your services until that active status is reinstated.” HCAI staff repeatedly urged applicants to retain documentation and to contact HCAI’s customer support (certify@CAwellnesscoach.org) for questions. They also said HCAI will hold additional office hours, publish an FAQ, and continue to accept questions and suggestions about qualifying training providers and recommended trainings.
HCAI staff closed by encouraging coaches and employers to review the official recertification policy document (linked on the HCAI recertification webpage) and said the webinar recording and PDF materials would be posted within 7–10 business days. They also referred general billing questions to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and noted DHCS webinars on the fee schedule were scheduled in the months ahead.
The webinar did not include any formal votes or policy changes; HCAI presented the agency’s planned recertification process and requested ongoing feedback from coaches and employers.
Contact and next steps: HCAI will send email notices to the address on file six months before an individual’s recertification deadline, provide a recertification PDF to complete and upload, hold office hours, and maintain customer support at certify@CAwellnesscoach.org and wellnesscoach@hcai.ca.gov for program questions. The agency said it will follow up with a public FAQ and recommended training lists.
