Do you want to specialize in the health niche in the coaching industry? Are you unsure about which programs are legit, and which is the right one for you?
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve created a review series of the best life coaching certifications. In today’s post, we’ll be breaking down the Primal Health Coach Institute reviews. If you want to know what makes them different from other programs, whether they’re worth the money, and how much time you’ll need to get certified, keep reading.
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About Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching
Founded in 2014, the Primal Health Coach Institute (PHCI) was the first institute that introduced ancestral health to the coaching industry. They have a unique approach to coaching rooted in primal health which allows aspiring coaches and professionals to introduce a novel, holistic type of health coaching to their practice.
The Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching Philosophy
Primal Health Coach Institute’s philosophy is accentuated in their school’s name. The “primal” in the Primal Health Coach Institute refers to their philosophy and approach to coaching, comprised of the following elements:
- Primary – The fundamentals of health (nutrition, movement, and life choices that put balance at the center)
- Ancestral/Evolutionary – Focus on evolutionary science with a nutrient-dense, whole-food, low-inflammatory approach to nutrition and finding the right strategy for every client
- The Primal Blueprint – Coursework based on The Primal Blueprint, written by the founder Mark Sisson, who is one of the pioneers of the ancestral health movement
Overall, Primal Health uses a holistic framework that incorporates diet, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle behaviors, exercise, and stress management.
Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching and Accreditation
All courses are accredited by the leading organization in the coaching industry, the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This accreditation will provide you with international recognition of top-notch training for professional coaches.
In addition, their flagship training program, the Primal Health Coach Certification Course, is approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), Health Coach Alliance (HCA), UK Health Coaches Association, Health Coach Australia New Zealand Association, and American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).
Their Primal Fitness Coach Certification Program also holds additional accreditation besides ICF, including the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
(Does accreditation land at the top of your coaching priorities list? Then you can also look into our review of the Coach Training Alliance, another ICF-accredited program.)
Pros and Cons of a Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching Certification
Numerous quality programs offer comprehensive health and fitness training, but that doesn’t mean that every one of them will fit your needs and goals. Let’s analyze the key aspects of Primal Health Coach Institute—such as training, cost, and duration—to help you determine whether this one is the right certification for you.
3 Types of Coaching Certifications
Primal Health Coach Institute offers training for health and fitness coaching. Their certification programs include two flagship certifications and one advanced certification:
- Primal Health Coach Certification
- Primal Fitness Coach Certification
- Master Coach Certification
The Primal Health Coach Certification program is an NBHWC-approved training that sets you up with robust health education, coaching tools, and business development strategy for establishing a successful career as a health coach.
The second flagship program, Primal Fitness Coach Certification, is for coaches who want to establish their niche in fitness coaching. Its focus is on helping clients reach their physical potential and teaching you how to establish a fitness coaching practice.
If you want to further your professional development, they offer Master Coach Certification. This program is designed for experienced health coaches who want to take their coaching to the next level. It covers more advanced topics such as functional medicine, biohacking, genetics, and more, all with the purpose of helping clients achieve even greater levels of health and wellness.
Specialist, Expert, and Coaching Business Training
Primal Health Institute’s educational efforts don’t stop at coach training as they have several specialist and expert courses. These courses offer specialty training in different fields so you can advance your coaching abilities. The available programs are:
- Specialist Certifications:
- Strength Training for Women
- Health Coaching in Medical Practices
- Human Intestinal Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Expert Certifications:
- Primal Health and Nutrition
- Primal Fitness
- Coaching
- Business
- Additional Programs:
- Launch Your Coaching Business
- PrimalPro™ (a done-for-you 12-week coaching program that you can use in your practice with your clients)
Mentored Board Certification Program for NBC-HWC Credential
If you want to become a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), PHCI has a mentored program that will prepare you for earning the designation.
This program includes both the Primal Health Coach Certification Course and the Master Coach Certification Course. In addition, you’ll get mentor assistance in completing the 50 coaching sessions that are necessary for the NBC-HWC exam application. If you want someone to keep you on track to pass the board exam and become an NBHWC Certified Health Coach, this program can be of great help.
Online Studying and Lifetime Access to Course Materials
Do you want to study at your own pace, anytime, anywhere? PHCI’s coaching programs are all online and self-paced. You will also get a chance to network with your colleagues and instructors during live monthly webinars.
Once you sign up, you’ll have lifetime access to the program and all future updates. The lifetime access also applies to their Business Resource Center.
Note: If you like the independence that comes with self-directed study, we suggest that you check out the incredibly affordable Transformation Academy and our in-depth TA review.
How Long is the Primal Health Coach Institute Program?
The Primal (both Health and Fitness) coaching programs are self-paced, so there are no time constraints. But just to give you an estimate, if you study for around 5 hours per week, you’ll be able to get your certification within 6 months.
The Master Coach Certification program has a different learning approach, as it is a real-time course consisting of live webinars which last 12 weeks.
How Much Does Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching Training Cost?
The cost varies for the different coach certification programs, so let’s break it down:
- Primal Health Coach Certification – $4,495
- Primal Fitness Coach Certification – $4,495
- Master Coach Certification – $1,896
They also offer flexible payment plans. For Primal certifications, you can pay in 12 installments of $413.58, and for Master Coaching, there’s an option of 3 payments of $670.67. You can also get in touch with their admissions team for a custom plan.
PCHI also offers the Dr. Al Danenberg Scholarship award that rewards free tuition to one student each year. This is primarily for students who have faced obstacles in obtaining a health professional education.
What’s great about PHCI programs is that they have money-back guarantees. If you’re not happy with the course you enroll in, you’ll have 7 to 30 days (depending on the course) to apply for a full refund.
Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching Reviews
Do you want to hear the impressions of PHCI students and graduates? We have compiled some insightful reviews from different sources for you to check out.
Reviews From Graduates
The reviews on PHCI’s site are largely positive, and they reveal the strongest points of their courses:
At Indeed.com, PHCI has a couple of reviews, and they all reward PHCI with 5 stars. The graduates praised the focus on both health and coaching and the flexible learning schedule. Here’s what they shared:
We came across more than a dozen reviews on PHCI’s Facebook page, so here’s a small sample:
Is Primal Health Coach Institute Coaching the Life Coach Training Program For You?
Primal Health Coach Institute can help you specialize as a health or fitness coach. Their unique, “primal” approach can help you offer your clients something unique, which can help you differentiate yourself from others in this field. If you want to know more, you can sign up with your email address to download their course catalog and join a free live workshop.
To make a final decision about your coach training, it’s useful to consider some other options as well. Check out our review on Health Coach Institute and Nickerson Institute, which also offer health and life coaching trainings. You can also get a small taste of health coaching principles through this 5-hour course from Coursera.
And, if you wish to pursue the best life coaching certifications, we recommend our top budget selection, Transformation Academy, and our top pick for comprehensive, hands-on coach training, Coach Training Alliance.
Take the Coach Certification Quiz
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This article was written by the Life Coach Magazine staff. We cover everything from personal development, to coaching tips, to how to grow your coaching business.
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