The nucleon axial coupling, gA, plays a critical role in beta decay and determining the free neutron lifetime, along with additional nuclear processes of interest. In our work we utilize lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) as a non-perturbative method to determine the axial coupling from Standard Model QCD interactions between quarks and gluons. As lattice calculations of gA continue to push the boundaries of precision, it is necessary to quantify and control all sources of systematic errors (e.g. excited-state contamination and finite-volume effects) associated with this framework. In this talk I will outline our approach for the first lattice determination of the axial coupling at the sub-percent level and discuss gA in the context of low-energy precision tests of the Standard Model.