Life Coach Education & Career Guide
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Life Coach Education
Expect to complete a coaching certificate program to become a life coach. And with some experience, you can go for a professional credential.
There are no federal or state-mandated educational or licensing requirements to become a life coach, but there is consensus in the industry on education and training: Completing a coach certificate program is highly recommended to be a successful coach and demonstrate your expertise to potential clients and employers.
In This Article
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is widely recognized by life coaches and educational programs alike for taking the lead in setting educational and professional standards for this self-regulated industry.
According to a global survey by the group, 95% of coaches say they have completed 60 or more hours of training, and 43% report that they have 200 hours or more.
What to Look for in a Coach Training Program
There are hundreds of life coach programs available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Life coach gurus, coaching schools, and university extension programs all offer programs and courses, and some colleges and universities also offer undergraduate or graduate programs or certificates.
As you consider your options, find out if the programs or courses you’re looking at have ICF accreditation. The ICF has developed a code of ethics for coaches, standards for coaching programs, and a credentialing process for coaches to demonstrate their expertise and skills.
Because of this work, ICF accreditation is considered the gold standard in the coaching industry.
Luke Davis, vice president of ICF coach training, advises prospective coaching students to ask these questions as they evaluate coaching programs:
Life coach gurus, coaching schools, and university extension programs all offer coaching programs and courses, and some colleges and universities also offer undergraduate or graduate programs or certificates.
Accreditation for Life Coach Programs
The ICF provides three types of program accreditation. Here’s a look at each one.
Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP)
Programs with this accreditation:
Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH)
Programs with this accreditation:
Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
Programs with this accreditation:
The ICF provides a searchable directory of accredited programs, courses, and providers on its website.
Life Coach Education and Training
When it comes to the programs themselves, there’s a range of formats. Some are offered as retreats over a long weekend. Others can be six-week online courses, or in-person or hybrid programs that take six months to a year to complete. If the program is part of a postgraduate degree at a university, the time frame might be a year or two.
This means that prospective life coaches have a lot of flexibility in how they pursue their education. For example, aspiring coaches who work full time in another profession could choose to complete their training in monthly or weekly courses.
Jenny McGlothern, owner of the retreat and life coaching business Mama Needs A Refill, had young children when she completed her training and attended retreat-like sessions on Saturdays.
Angelina Corbet, who started the coaching business The Mobius Company after a career as a corporate executive, says she took several of her classes at ICF conventions, which allowed her to network, learn about trends, and pursue her coaching education all at the same time.
Programs are offered in a range of formats. Some are retreats over a long weekend. Others can be six-week online courses, or hybrid programs that take six months to a year to complete.
What You’ll Study
Life coach programs cover a range of topics to help you learn to work effectively with your clients. A program might cover any or all of the following:
Core Competencies for a Life Coach
The ICF defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” According to the ICF, an effective coach:
- Demonstrates ethical practice by adhering to coaching ethics and standards
- Embodies a coaching mindset that is open, curious, flexible, and client-centered
- Establishes and maintains coaching agreements with clients
- Cultivates trust and safety by creating a safe, supportive environment that allows the client to share freely
- Maintains presence by being fully conscious and present with the client, using a style that is open, grounded, and confident.
- Listens actively by focusing on what the client is and is not saying to fully understand what they are communicating
- Evokes awareness by facilitating client insight and learning using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, or analogy
- Facilitates client growth and autonomy by partnering with the client to transform learning and insight into action
–The International Coaching Federation
Sample 6-Week Program Versus 6-Month Program
Since there’s such a broad range of programs, you might be wondering how they differ. Here’s how a basic coaching program might compare to an intensive program.
| Basic Coaching Program | Comprehensive Program |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks | 6 months |
| 60 class and practice hours | 125 class and practice hours |
| Online sessions twice a week | Online and in-person sessions, with weekend retreats |
| Does not include coaching practicum | Coaching practice sessions included |
| Does not include coach mentoring | One-on-one coaching with a certified coach |
| Final exam required for certificate | Final exam required for certificate |
Online and Classroom Learning
Coaching programs can be one or a combination of the following:
The coaching profession has offered online training and education for years, so online options are plentiful. Many programs are conducted entirely online, which is great for career changers who want to work while they train and those who want to take a program that’s not offered nearby.
However, if you prefer learning in the classroom, you’ll be happy to know that many programs offer training in person as well as online.
How to Choose Your Program
McGlothern taught coaching for six years, and she has this advice for picking a program after you’ve done your research and analysis:
Many programs are conducted entirely online, which is great for career changers who want to work while they train and those who want take a program that’s not offered nearby.
Specializing as a Coach
Life coaches can specialize or focus on a number of areas. Many enter coaching as a generalist and remain a generalist, helping a variety of clients adopt a healthy lifestyle, improve family relationships, change careers, live a spiritual life, or pursue other goals. Other coaches choose a focus over time.
Still, others come to coaching with college degrees and credentials in another field, such as business or psychology, and choose a coaching program with related a specialty. While life coach and therapist are different roles, some professionals with the right education and credentials can combine them.
Top Coaching Specialties
Health and Wellness Coaching
Work with clients to improve their health, vitality, and well-being by addressing issues such as illness and weight
Relationship Coaching
Work with individuals and couples to find more connection and fulfillment in relationships
Internal and Organizational Coaching
Work at fostering positive, systemic transformation within organizations and teams
Executive Coaching
Work with executives to enhance their leadership and achieve an organization’s goals
Work-Life Balance Coaching
Work with clients to define success, fulfillment, and work-life balance and set goals to achieve their vision
Professional Credentials
While not required, many life coaches also pursue professional credentials after they receive certification through a training program.
In its latest report on membership and credentialing, the ICF says that 92% of its member coaches have one of the three ICF coaching credentials:
These credentials are highly respected globally and convey that you’ve been rigorously trained according to a set of high standards.
The Difference Between a Certificate and a Credential
Earning a certificate and becoming credentialed are two distinct steps in a profession.
Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes life coaching in its classification for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors. Professionals in this group earn a median salary of $60,510, according to the BLS, with the top 10% making $98,190 annually.
Of course, earnings can be tied to a number of factors, including:
Having a life coach certificate, a specialty certificate, or an ICF credential may help you stand out with potential clients or employers like private businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit groups.
“Most job descriptions posted by those organizations now indicate a strong preference or requirement for a certificate from an ICF-approved program or a coaching credential approved by the ICF,” says Davis.
Written and Reported by:
Sheila Mickool
Contributing Writer
With professional insight from:
Luke Davis
Naturopath and Professor, Bastyr University
Jenny McGlothern
Owner, Mama needs a Refill
Angelina Corbet
Founder,The Mobius Company