News & Information

We know that, as health and wellness practitioners, you have an overwhelming number of options for professional certification. What makes the Certified Wellness Practitioner™ (CWP™) credential unique? Learn more about the key elements of the wellness industry’s nationally recognized gold-standard certification.

About the Certification

The CWP certification is a professional credential that demonstrates competence, practical knowledge, and ongoing commitment to excellence in wellness. This credential is awarded to individuals from multiple disciplines and backgrounds who meet eligibility criteria and successfully complete the CWP certification examination, offered three times annually. The Wellness Promotion Competency Model serves as the standard for the CWP. Encompassing a total of 27 competencies within five domains, this groundbreaking resource aids in curriculum development, recruitment and hiring, continuing professional development, and certification in the wellness field.

Individuals maintain their certification by obtaining and recording proof of earned continuing education (CE) credits and paying a fee to recertify every three years.

Elevate Your Professional Reputation

Becoming a CWP, like most certifications, elevates your professional reputation by identifying you as accomplished in your field. The CWP certification demonstrates your commitment to ongoing professional development and professional standards of excellence. Including “CWP” in your title helps to differentiate yourself in the ever-expanding field of wellness and enables you to gain opportunities to serve as a wellness subject matter expert. As a CWP, you can enter professional spaces with more confidence and certainty because you have a strong, evidence-based, and research-backed credential at your disposal.

Demonstrate Your Competence

By earning your CWP, you showcase your credibility and competence in the five core domains of the research-based Wellness Promotion Competency Model:

• Authenticity and Self-Awareness
• Whole-Person and Systems Approaches
• Inclusive and Responsive Practices
• Communication and Connection
• Legal and Ethical Principles.

When you earn your CWP, you agree to continue applying current and relevant methods and frameworks in your work. While this credential can be a complement to other valuable designations, the CWP certification stands apart because it showcases the breadth and depth of knowledge needed as a wellness professional when working with individuals, communities, or other groups to enact change. Only CWPs are able to validate and demonstrate proven competence in all five domains of the Wellness Promotion Competency Model.

Make an Impact

Perhaps the most compelling reason to pursue the CWP is to amplify the impact you can have on the populations you serve. Equipped with their certification, CWPs are able to more effectively advance inclusive cultures of well-being for all through the initiation of individual, organizational, and cultural change. Professionally, they have the tools to attain greater leadership opportunities, helping shape the trajectory of the wellness profession and moving it forward. Becoming a CWP inducts you into a vibrant community of inter-disciplinary health and wellness professionals, allowing you to build valuable connections as you consistently enhance your skills through continuing education and networking opportunities, both in-person and virtually.

This certification is unique in that it not only enhances personal and professional skills, but also builds community and provides the incentive to keep learning, furthering your passion for the industry and allowing you to have a deeper, more meaningful impact on those you serve. Each CWP has demonstrated their commitment and passion for being a force for positive change.

Ready to get started with earning your CWP? The May 2026 exam registration opens on February 1. Visit www.wellnessalliance.org/cwp to learn more, determine your eligibility, find study resources, and register for your exam.

Resources

The Gold-Standard Wellness Certification

Wellness Promotion Competency Model

CWP FAQs

Value of Certification Statement