Individual Healthcare License

The Individual Healthcare License is intended for people interested in creating opportunities to use Nordic Walking within a specific hospital, clinic, medical center, rehabilitation facility, physical therapy practice, public health organization, or other recognized healthcare organization.

This license can serve as the starting point for establishing the healthcare organization’s own Nordic Walking Group, with the opportunity for future development and official recognition by NWANA.

The annual fee for this individual license is $20. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

The group is created by the healthcare organization or with its permission. It may serve employees, patients, family members, or the local community. Nordic Walking may also be incorporated into programs developed and supervised by the healthcare organization.

NWANA does not create medical, treatment, or rehabilitation programs. NWANA provides Nordic Walking education, technical standards, and professional expertise to the people responsible for developing or delivering such programs within the healthcare organization.

Organizations Included in This Category

The Individual Healthcare License may be associated with:

• a hospital or medical center;

• a physician’s office or multidisciplinary clinic;

• a rehabilitation facility;

• a physical therapy or occupational therapy practice;

• a recovery center;

• a public health organization;

• a healthcare program serving people with chronic health conditions;

• another recognized provider of medical or rehabilitation services.

Fitness clubs, studios, gyms, and wellness businesses that do not provide medical or rehabilitation services belong in the Fitness & Wellness category.

If an organization provides both wellness and medical services, the appropriate category will be determined by the department or program through which Nordic Walking will be developed.

Three Possible Group Formats

A healthcare organization may choose one of three formats or combine multiple options.

1. Employee Health and Activity Group

This group is created for physicians, nurses, therapists, administrative personnel, volunteers, and other employees of the organization.

It may become part of an internal physical activity program, employee health initiative, team activity, or workplace wellness program.

2. Patient and Community Group

This group is created or officially supported by a healthcare organization for patients, former patients, family members, caregivers, and members of the local community.

It may provide an opportunity to participate in Nordic Walking through an accessible community format that is not medical treatment or individualized rehabilitation.

The healthcare organization independently determines who may participate and whether medical clearance, screening, or other safety measures are required.

3. Healthcare Organization Program Using Nordic Walking

A healthcare or rehabilitation organization may independently develop a program that uses Nordic Walking as one component of physical activity, recovery, or rehabilitation.

The program belongs to the healthcare organization and is delivered under its professional supervision.

The organization and its qualified professionals independently determine:

• which patients the program is intended for;

• medical indications and contraindications;

• participant eligibility and admission procedures;

• the intensity, duration, and frequency of activities;

• the required level of supervision;

• methods for evaluating participants and outcomes;

• procedures for responding to changes in a patient’s condition;

• safety and medical documentation requirements.

NWANA does not make these decisions and does not act as a healthcare provider. Its role is to help the organization’s professionals understand and correctly teach Nordic Walking.

Who Can Obtain This License

The license may be obtained by:

• a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional;

• a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or rehabilitation professional;

• a clinical exercise physiologist or another qualified physical activity professional;

• a manager or employee of a healthcare organization;

• a health, recovery, or community activity program coordinator;

• a volunteer officially connected with the organization;

• a patient, former patient, caregiver, or program participant;

• another person interested in establishing a Nordic Walking Group through a specific healthcare organization.

Obtaining an Individual License does not authorize a person to represent a healthcare organization, create programs on its behalf, or use its name, logo, facilities, staff, or other resources without permission.

If the license holder is not an authorized representative of the organization, NWANA must receive the organization’s approval before creating and publishing a group under its name.

What Happens After You Obtain the License

After registration, NWANA records the first interested person, the specific healthcare organization, and the proposed location of the group.

The first license demonstrates genuine interest. It does not mean that the healthcare organization has approved the group, created a program, or entered into an agreement with NWANA.

NWANA does not create pages in advance for every hospital, clinic, or rehabilitation facility. Work on a page begins only after at least one genuinely interested participant has registered.

Before publishing a page under the name of a healthcare organization, NWANA contacts its authorized representative and confirms approval for the group.

Once permission has been received:

• a dedicated page may be created for the organization’s Nordic Walking Group;

• the organization selects the appropriate group format;

• employees, patients, caregivers, and other approved participants will be able to find and join the group;

• the organization can gradually determine how it wants to use Nordic Walking;

• professionals can gain access to NWANA education and technical standards;

• participants can become familiar with the broader Nordic Walking system;

• the group may eventually pursue official recognition by NWANA.

The Individual License belongs to the person. The group is associated with the specific healthcare organization or a program approved by it. Recognized status is granted separately to the group.

Individual license holders may register for and participate in NWANA in-person and virtual competitions in accordance with the rules of each event. They receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

If a separate athlete license is required for a particular competition, this requirement will be stated in the event rules. The athlete license can be obtained through https://license.nwaofna.org/.

No Mandatory Requirements at the Initial Stage

During the initial stage of group development, NWANA does not require a minimum number of participants, a regular activity schedule, a minimum number of events, an appointed leader, or any other level of activity.

Obtaining the license does not require a person to create a group, become its leader, teach Nordic Walking, organize walks, or participate in a medical program.

At the same time, the license does not prevent the holder from doing so. With the healthcare organization’s permission, the license holder may choose to initiate the group, help bring participants together, invite others, or participate in its future development within the limits of their qualifications and authority.

The purpose of the initial stage is to identify genuine interest and give the healthcare organization an opportunity to consider using Nordic Walking without initial obligations.

Role of the Healthcare Organization

The healthcare organization independently determines:

• whether it will establish a Nordic Walking Group;

• which audience the group will serve;

• whether the group is a general physical activity program or part of a medical or rehabilitation program;

• who may participate;

• which medical clearances or screenings are required;

• who is qualified to conduct and supervise activities;

• which internal policies and protocols must be followed;

• which facilities, locations, and resources may be used;

• which participant information must be collected and maintained;

• how safety, clinical supervision, and emergency response will be managed.

NWANA does not participate in diagnosis, treatment, medical prescribing, or the organization’s clinical decisions.

Role of NWANA

NWANA views Nordic Walking not simply as walking with poles, but as a sport and fitness discipline that requires proper technique and an understanding of movement.

NWANA helps healthcare professionals learn:

• proper Nordic Walking technique;

• coordination of the arms, legs, and torso;

• correct pole placement and completion of the push;

• equipment selection and adjustment;

• movement techniques at different speeds;

• common technical errors and methods for correcting them;

• techniques for different surfaces, inclines, and descents;

• the effects of weather and route conditions;

• the structure of a general Nordic Walking session;

• competition rules and opportunities for future participation.

NWANA’s methods and educational programs are based on the practical experience of international-level athletes, including World Championship winners and medalists and competitors in other major events.

This experience helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of Nordic Walking and use it correctly within programs developed by their healthcare organizations.

Two Different Professional Competencies

Healthcare qualifications and Nordic Walking qualifications serve different purposes.

A professional’s authority to work with patients, make clinical decisions, and participate in rehabilitation is determined by their professional education, license, individual competence, and authority granted by the healthcare organization.

NWANA education confirms that the professional understands Nordic Walking technique and can teach it correctly.

For example, a physical therapist who has completed NWANA education:

• continues to practice as a physical therapist under their professional license;

• independently or together with the healthcare team determines clinical goals and limitations;

• uses knowledge gained through NWANA to teach proper Nordic Walking technique;

• applies Nordic Walking only within their professional scope and the healthcare organization’s policies.

NWANA education does not expand a professional’s medical authority or replace a healthcare license.

What the Individual License Does Not Provide

The Individual Healthcare License:

• is not a healthcare license;

• is not a physician, therapist, or rehabilitation professional certification;

• does not authorize diagnosis;

• does not authorize medical treatment;

• does not authorize a person to independently create medical or rehabilitation programs on behalf of NWANA;

• does not confirm that Nordic Walking is appropriate for a particular patient;

• does not replace medical clearance or supervision;

• does not authorize claims that NWANA or Nordic Walking treats or prevents disease;

• is not a Nordic Walking instructor certification;

• does not authorize a person to represent a healthcare organization without its permission.

Requirements for individuals who will officially teach Nordic Walking or deliver sessions using NWANA methods are administered separately through the NWANA educational system.

Handling Medical Information

A standard Nordic Walking Group page is not intended to store diagnoses, medical records, examination results, treatment plans, or other confidential clinical information.

If a healthcare organization uses Nordic Walking in its work with patients, medical information must be collected, maintained, and processed by the organization in accordance with applicable laws and its internal policies.

NWANA should not receive participants’ medical information unless such disclosure is governed by a separate formal agreement and all necessary data-protection measures have been established.

Connection to NWANA Competitions

Healthcare employees, community members, and other participants can practice Nordic Walking for health and physical activity and, if they choose, participate in NWANA competitions and other programs.

Competition participation is a separate, voluntary decision. It is not considered part of medical treatment or rehabilitation unless the healthcare organization specifically determines otherwise.

Each participant is responsible for following the recommendations of their healthcare professionals and the rules of the applicable event.

Holders of an active Individual License receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

Organizing Your Own Competitions

As the group develops, it will be able not only to participate in NWANA competitions but also to organize its own in-person and virtual Nordic Walking competitions. Organizing competitions is optional. If the group operates through a specific organization, such events must be conducted with that organization’s approval. Separate approval from NWANA will be required for an event to receive official NWANA competition status. The applicable rules and opportunities will be published at a later stage.

Future RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to a group, not to an individual license holder.

During the initial stage, a group may form and develop without this status and without an annual fee. When the healthcare organization and its Nordic Walking Group are ready to operate according to NWANA standards, the group may apply for official recognition.

Requirements for recognized groups, the education of responsible individuals, the use of NWANA methods, and the delivery of sessions will be established and published separately. These requirements do not apply to obtaining the initial Individual License.

The annual $200 fee applies only after a local group receives RECOGNIZED status. It does not apply to the Individual License or to a group that is still in the initial development stage.

If a program is intended to cover multiple hospitals, clinics, branches, or an entire healthcare network, its structure will be considered separately and may be established through a special agreement with NWANA.

RECOGNIZED status confirms the group’s participation in the NWANA system and its compliance with applicable Nordic Walking requirements. It is not medical accreditation, approval of a clinical protocol, or a guarantee of treatment outcomes.

Financial Administration of Programs

Obtaining an Individual License does not create any financial obligation for the healthcare organization.

Payments for treatment, rehabilitation, healthcare services, and the organization’s own programs remain under the organization’s control and are not administered by NWANA.

If an NWANA-created page is used to collect payments for licenses, competitions, educational products, or other NWANA programs, those payments will initially be processed through the NWANA system.

Payments for medical or rehabilitation services must not be collected through a standard NWANA group page.

The financial and administrative structure of any official joint program will be determined separately in accordance with the policies and requirements of the participating healthcare organization.

What This License Provides

The Individual Healthcare License gives you an opportunity to:

• demonstrate genuine interest in developing Nordic Walking through a specific healthcare organization;

• become the first potential participant in a future group;

• propose the creation of the healthcare organization’s own Nordic Walking Group;

• help establish a dedicated group page after permission has been received;

• bring together employees, patients, caregivers, and other approved participants;

• participate in developing the group within the limits of your qualifications if you choose;

• gain access to the NWANA educational and methodology system;

• help the organization’s professionals correctly understand and teach Nordic Walking;

• connect general physical activity programs with the broader Nordic Walking system;

• receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees;

• help a healthcare organization establish its own Nordic Walking Group with the opportunity for future official recognition by NWANA.