Board Certified Patient Health Advocate Program
What is a Patient Advocate? What Do They Do?
A patient advocate is a professional who provides services to patients and those supporting them who are navigating the complex healthcare continuum. Advocates work directly with clients (or with their legal representatives) to ensure they have a voice in their care and information to promote informed decision making.
Advocates may work independently or in medical or other organizational settings. They serve individuals, communities, disease‐specific populations, and family caregivers. Synonyms may include health advocate, healthcare advocate, healthcare advocacy consultant, healthcare consumer advocate, and other phrases that imply this role.
–from the PAC Board Certification
for Professional Patient and Health Care Advocates
Online
Cost: $2,995
Payment options are available.
No prior medical training is required.
Review PAC Board prerequisites here.
The NIWH Board-Certified Patient Whole Health Advocacy Program offers one of today’s most advanced, evidence-based approaches to patient advocacy. It empowers clients through self-care education and shared decision-making, aligning with the latest standards in holistic, person-centered care.
Each learner is paired with a dedicated Academic Adviser—credentialed professionals in the medical or educational fields who have completed NIWH's Whole Health training. While no prior medical training is required, please review PAC Board prerequisites prior to applying. This program provides the comprehensive education necessary to pursue board certification in patient advocacy.
This exciting, cost-effective continuing education program contains 16 courses. The courses address the most urgent issues in healthcare today:
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Nutrition Research on Chronic Disease
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Inflammation and Disease
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Brain Function and Nutrition
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Obesity: Hidden Factors
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Health Advocacy, Shared Decision Making
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Peer Counseling
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Mindful Listening
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Behavioral Engagement
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Health Information Research
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Exercise Physiology
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Metabolic Syndrome
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Behavior and Brain Function
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Living with Chronic Illness
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Cardiac Whole Health
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Demystifying Medical Language
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Case Studies Practicum
These evidence-based health education and advocacy courses are delivered via Amazon's streaming platform to our virtual classrooms. Participants receive comprehensive support materials, including hard copy handouts, course abstracts, current research, and individualized assignment templates.
The program totals 250 hours: 150 hours of course instruction and an additional 100 hours dedicated to proctored exams and case study requirements. All courses are approved for professional continuing education contact hours and are suitable for nurses, educators, and other healthcare and wellness professionals.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the national certification exam offered by the Patient Advocacy Certification Board (PACB), positioning them for a meaningful and impactful career in Whole Health advocacy.
NIWH learners benefit from practice-building resources, professional networking opportunities, and success mentoring—available from initial enrollment through graduation and beyond. All current and former students are valued members of the NIWH Whole Health Family and Community, with ongoing access to workshops, events, and social media engagement.
Tuition for this program is an outstanding value at $2,995.
Hear From a NIWH Recent
Advocacy Graduate
Marilyn Kier, BS, OMT, BCTMB
Q: What drew you to the Whole Health field and the National Institute of Whole Health?
A. I worked as an Orthopedic Massage Therapist for 26 years. In that role, I treated all aspects of my patients’ pain, focusing on many of the areas NIWH incorporates in the Big Picture of health. As I’m transitioning to the next chapter of my life, the Patient Advocacy Program offered by NIWH was the perfect fit for my experience and future goals.
Q: Did the Whole Health training meet your professional goals?
A. The Whole Health training exceeded my professional goals. The vast amount of information presented by renowned experts and scientists will assist me in educating clients who want to achieve total wellness.
Q: How are you currently applying your training from NIWH?
A: After working with me, a client who has Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes lowered her fasting glucose # by 100 points in just 3 months. When I went to the Emergency Room for a client, I was able to bypass the administrative red tape by simply announcing I was a Patient Advocate. The emergency room physicians were happy to talk to me. I was able to assist the patient in getting the necessary tests quickly, which ultimately led to her discharge.
Q: Would you recommend the Whole Health training to others?
A. If you have a strong desire to help others achieve total health, you owe it to yourself to explore what the Whole Health training program offers. You’ll be hard pressed to find another program that offers such comprehensive training at such a reasonable cost.