Press Room

University Emphasizes Health Coaching, Behavior Change Expertise in New Program for Healthcare Professionals

Posted: Nov 17, 2014 in

American Council on Exercise, Nova Southeastern University Partner
to Introduce Advanced Continuing Education Certificate in Health Coaching

 

SAN DIEGO November 17, 2014 – In a move that illustrates the increasing emphasis on behavior change expertise in many professional settings, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has partnered with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) to provide curriculum to aspiring health and wellness professionals as part of its Advanced Education Certificate for Health Coaching. 

The pilot program, a first of its kind for the Florida-based research university, will provide expertise in lifestyle and behavior change that participants need to effectively connect with clients and patients, and lead them to long-term, healthy change.

“No matter what healthcare career path these professionals have chosen, the expertise they’ll gain from ACE Health Coach curriculum included in the certificate program will help them incorporate a three-pronged approach to care for clients and patients that includes knowledge of behavior change, nutrition and physical activity,” said ACE President and CEO Scott Goudeseune. “That’s especially important as we move toward a preventative system of care, one in which all members of the healthcare team can help individuals establish and maintain healthy behaviors long before they become at risk of disease.”

Once participants complete the Advanced Education Certificate for Health Coaching, they will have the knowledge and skills to sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification Exam. Upon passing, they’ll possess the only certification of its kind accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

“Including curricula from the ACE Health Coach Certification in our course offerings will give healthcare professionals a 360-degree understanding of wellness and strategies they can utilize to help clients and patients,” said NSU Dean Linda Niessen. “Having expertise in nutrition, physical activity and behavior change to complement their education will help them be champions of prevention and healthy change.”

NSU is a not-for-profit, independent university classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, It is also one of only 37 universities nationwide to be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.

For more information on the NSU and ACE Health Coach Certification collaboration, visit dental.nova.edu/ce/courses/health-coaching-.html

 

About ACE
The nonprofit American Council on Exercise (ACE) educates, certifies, and represents more than 53,000 fitness professionals, health coaches, and other allied health professionals. ACE advocates for a new intersection of fitness and healthcare, bringing the highly qualified professionals that ACE represents into the healthcare continuum so they can contribute to the national solution to physical inactivity and obesity. ACE is the largest certifier in its space; all four of its primary certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the gold standard in the U.S. for assessing professional competence.  ACE also plays an important public-service role, conducting research and making available science-based information and resources on safe and effective physical activity and sustainable behavior change.

For more information, call (800) 825-3636 or visit ACEfitness.org. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise. 

About Nova Southeastern University

Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is a not-for-profit independent institution with 27,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. For more information, please visit www.nova.edu.  Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!

 

###