Wellness certification is the process of training an individual or a group to lead others in wellness education. Wellness certification courses may vary in terms of length and topics addressed, but all focus on disease prevention and obtaining optimal health via changes in lifestyle with a special emphasis on controllable behaviors. Once training is completed, participants are awarded a certificate as proof that all requirements for certification have been met. While it is usually one individual or a key group of individuals selected to undergo wellness education, knowledge gained is intended to benefit the rest of the members of an organization or the public at large.
In meeting preventive health care objectives, some insurance companies will offer reduced rates to companies with employees who have participated in a wellness certification program on the company’s behalf. Through wellness promotion, it is expected that certified employees will encourage and assist other employees in eliminating controllable behaviors, such as smoking and overeating. By doing so, it is further expected that all employees will experience better health and decrease the likelihood of developing cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other expensive or even life-threatening health conditions.
Wellness certification is also offered to health care professionals, such as doctors, nurses and emergency specialists. Aside from the intensive medical training these individuals have already received, the magnified emphasis on preventive health care offered through additional wellness education helps health care workers in instructing the public in ways of maintaining better health. Using the methods, information and tools offered in a good wellness education program, health care professionals are better equipped to help lower the rates of preventive illnesses occurring in their area.
A wellness certification program will specifically focus on healthy nutrition, physical exercise, mental health maintenance, and offer effective ways of administering smoking cessation and weight loss programs. Beyond wellness education, a wellness certification program will also train attendees in ways of developing corporate wellness programs, recruiting participants and encouraging employee wellness overall. Certification will also train attendees to evaluate their own outreach efforts to assure that key program and wellness goals are being met.
Wellness certification not only decreases insurance and health care costs, but it can actually save a company money in other ways. The results of wellness certification can significantly lower health care costs locally, as well as nationwide, therefore tax incentives are often extended to companies willing to participate in certification. When employees implement preventive health strategies, some companies have also discovered that employees use fewer sick days, which increases productivity and adds to the bottom line.