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Scope of Practice

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This page provides guidance on the Scope of Practice for Health Coaches helping them work confidently, safely, and responsibly within professional boundaries. 

It supports Health Coaches to practise in a variety of settings – including one-to-one consultations, group sessions, workshops, seminars, or publishing content – by empowering clients to set and achieve self-determined goals, improve their health, and build lasting wellbeing.
 

Out of Scope

  • Diagnosing a medical condition

  • Claiming to cure a health condition

  • Giving detailed, prescriptive dietary advice or create individualised meal plans

  • Prescribe personalised nutritional supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other nutraceuticals

In Scope

  • Support clients to understand their own health experiences and any diagnosed conditions.

  • Empowering the client to become confident in self-management strategies

  • Collaborate with clients to set meaningful health and wellness goals.

  • Support clients in improving overall health, resilience, and lifestyle outcomes through appropriate strategies — not just managing symptoms.

  • Co-create holistic, personalised health improvement plans, helping clients implement sustainable changes that enhance wellbeing and quality of life.

  • Provide practical guidance on nutrition and lifestyle consistent with course content (e.g., reducing refined sugar, regular exercise, reducing toxin exposure, improving sleep, reducing stress).

  • Support clients in applying this guidance in daily life through goal-setting, reflection, and habit-building.

  • Share reputable resources and educational materials to empower clients to make informed choices.

  • Encourage sustainable, client-led changes rather than prescriptive or highly individualised meal plans.

  • Provide general educational guidance rather than personal health advice, directing clients to reputable sources so they can make informed decisions and build confidence in managing their own health.

Doing no harm

In common with all health professionals, Health Coaches must follow a ‘do no harm’ mandate by refraining from or carrying out any actions that would harm clients. To do this, Health Coaches must work within the scope of practice outlined in the table above.

 

Avoiding these activities helps to:

  • Protect clients from harm

  • Minimise legal risk

  • Maintain professional indemnity coverage

  • Uphold the reputation and integrity of Health Coaching

 

Health Coaches can operate within a wide range of activities that positively impact client health and learning, including:

 

  • Coaching individuals or groups

  • Writing blogs or articles to educate and inspire

  • Hosting or participating in webinars, speaking engagements, or educational events

  • Communicating in professional forums or meetings with colleagues and healthcare professionals
     

If a Health Coach holds a recognised professional qualification and active insurance in another field (e.g., nutritional therapy, pharmacy, medicine, nursing), they may provide guidance within the Scope of Practice of that profession, ensuring they clarify the boundaries of each service with the client in writing.

 

Working collaboratively

As part of a wider healthcare team, health coaches refer clients to specialists (e.g. Nutritional Therapists, medical practitioners) for expert advice and then support them in implementing the guidance provided.

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