Life Coach Certification: How to Become a Certified Life Coach

What is life coach certification, where do you get it, and do you need it? Learn all about life coaching certifications and decide whether certification is right for you.

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What Is a Life Coach?

A life coach is someone who helps people make progress in their lives in a variety of ways. They often help clients with their relationships, careers, and day-to-day struggles. But many life coaches have specialties—they focus on coaching around specific aspects of people's lives.

For example, a nutrition coach might help people learn how to eat well and build good eating habits. A health or wellness coach might help people with multiple skills related to improving health and reducing disease. And a relationship coach might specifically help people build skills to improve their personal relationships.

Types of Life Coaches

Here is a list including some of the different types of life coaching:

Dating and relationship coaching
Health and Wellness coaching
Leadership coaching
Career coaching
Weight loss coaching
Financial coaching
General life skills coaching

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What Is Life Coaching Certification?

Life coach certification programs may consist of some educational content (e.g., learning some psychological tools that can be used to help people reach their goals) and some practicum or in-person life coaching practice. This approach enables coaches to gain the skills they need and learn how to apply them in the coaching context.

Is Life Coaching Certification Required to Become a Life Coach?

Life coaching certification is currently not required as of the time of this publication. No life coaching degree is required and many life coach certification programs are not accredited (and the ones that are accredited are accredited by a non-governmental body). And there is no license required to be a life coach.

In this way, life coaches are unlike licensed therapists, mental health counselors, or psychologists, all of who are required to get various degrees and licenses. That's why life coaches can not act in any way like a therapist, provide medical advice, engage in patient diagnosis, or treat any mental illness or trauma. And life coaches are not legally allowed to call themselves counselors or "counsel" clients in some states. Instead, life coaches support people to become their best selves.

Should You Get Life Coaching Certification? Here’s One Answer:

How Does One Choose a Life Coach Certification?

Life coaching organizations help increase the standards and ethics within the coaching industry. Psychology is an inherent part of any profession that involves helping others. That's why getting some education on how to help others can, at minimum, help you become a more effective coach, and at maximum, ensure you don't end up harming someone.

Because there are so many different types of life coaches, there are lots of different types of life coaching certifications. If you're looking to become a life coach, it's worth it to take some time to find the right life coaching certification program for you.

This Video Discusses How to Choose the Right Life Coach Certification Program for You

Life Coaching Certification Programs to Explore

Functional Nutrition Coaching

More and more of us are realizing that western medicine isn't successful at resolving our most common diseases—things like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Functional medicine, on the other hand, is showing great promise for helping people prevent and even cure these and many other illnesses. Given the number of people with these illnesses just continues to grow, functional nutrition is a quickly growing field with a lot of growth opportunity for aspiring coaches.

You can learn more about becoming a functional nutrition coach by clicking this link.

Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)

With this coaching certification you will complete nearly 400 hours of training, (currently online due to Covid. Check in to see when in-person classes will be offered again). A unique benefit of iPEC coaching certification is its emphasis on helping you choose a niche or specialty. This can help you improve your chances of success with your clients as well in your business.

You can learn more about iPEC by clicking this link.

Evercoach

Evercoach is a bit newer. As the way we live continues to evolve, both the coaching profession and the people who need coaching are evolving. The challenges you face as a coach are different. So the type of training you receive should ideally be evolving as well. With Evercoach, you can help push humanity towards a more conscious and connected world.

You can learn more about Evercoach by clicking this link.

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How to Choose a Life Coach Certification Program

The international coaching federation (ICF) is the primary organization that accredits coaching certification programs. ICF is the most trusted organizing body in the coaching industry. So if you want a standardized and approved education, you may want to choose a program that is accredited by ICF.

That being said, there are many reasons not to choose an ICF accredited program. You may prefer training in a particular specialty that doesn't cover all the basics, and therefore is not accredited. You may not be able to afford an ICF accredited program. Or you may prefer an organization that's not affiliated with ICF. Given there are not strict regulations in the life coaching industry, the decision is up to you.

How Much Does Life Coach Certification Cost?

Life coach certification programs can cost between $3000 and $7500, with less intensive programs costing a bit less and more intensive programs costing $10,000 or more.

How Much Do Life Coaches Make?

According to ICF, the average salary for a life coach in North America is $61,900. Total coaching revenue is 955 million in North America alone.

Note. The majority of life coaches in this study were affiliated with ICF and had over 200 hours of training. This could mean that life coaches who are younger or not doing as well we're not included in this study.

Who Are Life Coaches Coaching?

A variety of people seek out life coaching. However, most of them hold some kind of professional position. According to ICF, clients tend to be:

Managers
Executives (CEOs, CFOs, etc...)
Personal clients
Business owners/entrepreneurs
Team leaders
Staff members

Video: What Is a Life Coaching Session Like?

Summary: Life Coaching Certification

Hopefully, with this guide you have the information you need to explore some life coaching programs and decide which is the right path for you.

Last Thing: Some Great Questions as Ask as a Life Coach

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