Top 3 courses to get ahead in Life Coaching Certifications in 2022

Introduction:

There are many life coaching certifications available on the market. How do you know which one is right for you? This article will help you with the best ones.

Section 1: What is life coaching?

Life and human minds can get complex. If you ever felt like you want to get to the roots of your thoughts and if you feel like you need freedom from understanding your thoughts – we seek a life coach. For example, you can seek a life’s coach if you are struggling creating routines and creating healthy habits for yourself. 

A life coach can help you grow by analyzing your current circumstances, identifying any limiting beliefs or other potential hurdles and obstacles, and developing a personalized plan of action to help you reach your desired life goals. Life coaches help people to move from surviving to thriving.

Section 2: What are the different types of life coaching certifications?

The best ways to determine the legit life coaching certifications are to find ones that are accredited through ICF ( International Coaching Federation). Accreditation does not mean that the course is top quality, but it does indicate that the course meets certain standards.  Read further to know about some of the life coaching certifications that are deemed as BEST in the industry.

Section 3:  Are life coaching certifications really necessary to become a life coach?

No, not really.

This industry is largely unregulated, atleast in the US. I can’t speak to other countries.  Which means, that you can be a life coach without attending formal trainings and acquiring industry credentials. There is no requirement of a degree, certificate or license to be called a life coach. Life coaching certifications are only as important your clients believe them to be.

Having said that, dealing with people’s lives and emotions requires knowledge and training. Starting with a life coaching certificate will can help you coach more effectively. 

A certification demonstrates to your clients that you have been trained and that you have the skills necessary to be a life coach. This will only increase your value in the eyes of the clients and in the long run, might earn you more money as well.

Section 4: What are some of the best life coaching certifications?

International Coaching Federation (ICF)

The ICF is a great place to start if you want to learn about coaching as a profession. Go to their website, use the search tool to find ICF accredited programs. There’s a wide range of options. 

What should you look for ?

Check the courses available in your area or online,  length of school, support, community support, after graduation support works for you. and of course the prices ! 

Look at iPEC particularly

1. Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)

This is one of the best options available out there and a highly recommended one.  To know more about the iPEC’s process you can read the book ‘Energy Leadership‘ by Bruce Schenider. Bruce is the founder of the school. Most of the iPEC courses are virtual via recorded lessons and live webinars. The course offers PLENTY –  peer coaching sessions, 3-10 hour weekends, weekly webinars, on-demand videos, mentor coach, succession coach.

There are 3 modules (of 3 days each) that may require you to attend in person. However during covid times, it is better to check on the alternate ways. The course provides you with a wide variety of resources to help you start a coaching business, including templates, marketing materials and a quick start series of business development webinars and lessons. 

If the full course is expensive for you,

• Check with them for a payment discount or a plan with no interest.
• You can look for other less expensive options within iPEC. For example, Life & Leadership Potentials Training costs around $2K and covers a significant portion of the fundamental coaching skills. 

2. The Life Coach School 

Course fee: 21$k USD as on 2020.

This is another popular and well accepted programs . Many find their programs to be very well rounded and realistic. ‘Spectacular support system‘, say their students. It is set up like a university but virtual and runs for 6 months. You are put into small groups where a certified coach teaches you all the things you need to know and you practice with your peers.

After you certify, more things open up for you as an alumni. For example, they teach you about entrepreneurship ( how to market yourself, how to position yourself etc), going deeper into coaching, live events – all at NO additional cost. To stay active you have to take an annual test . They provide you materials for your own practice so you don’t have to develop something from the scratch. You also have an opportunity to work for the school itself – isn’t that just great ?!!!!

The Life Coach school is run by Brooke Castillo. You can also listen to her podcast by the same name – The Life Coach School.  She is very open about her earnings and the business side of things.  

The two disadvantages of this program are – Their website does not really talk about ICF accreditation.  Second, its pricey. It was at $21k in 2020. 

A tip – If you go to their actual website, they have episodes grouped into subjects, like, “Should I be a life coach” that can really help you decide if this is the path you want to pursue. 

3. Transformation Academy 

Course fee: $50 – $1000

If you do not care much about accreditation, then you can try Transformation Academy. It is affordable and lots of good quality courses. Easy to follow. Flexible learning hours. You can stop and resume your learning as you deem fit. If you hit a block, you can chat with an advisor and discuss your questions, concerns. They provide you with tools needed to start your business even after you leave the school.

4. Co-Active Training Institute 

Course fee: $ 12k

CTI has been around for 30+ years. They offer both in person and online training. They are ICF certified. The core curriculum is said to be fantastic and pulls from many effective therapeutic modalities as well as profound experiential exercises.

If you want to know if CTI fits you or not, they run free evening events – you can attend one of those to understand their structure/model better.

5.  Wisdom of the Whole

They are accredited by the National Board of Health and Wellness coaches, the American Holistic Nurses Association, and ICF. They fulfill all of the education requirements to prepare you for certification. The program is said to be incredible. Its online but has many face to face Zoom meets every week for about 7 months with options on the timings.  Lots of practical sessions. 

In addition, they also have dyad partners and volunteer sessions.  The price is reasonable. The people behind this program can also help you find which pathway is right for you. They have open calls for prospective students to sit in on as well, do check them out. 

Section 5: What are the benefits of life coaching certifications?

I read an interesting statistic –  Self help is a $12 billion industry expanding at the rate of nearly 6% per year.  One of its fastest growing niche is life coaching. Especially in the new millennium , the demand for life coaching has increased, and its only the beginning. Its a great time to tread the path of becoming a life coach.

Section 6: How much can you earn as a life coach?

Life coaches charge anywhere between $70-1000 per hour. It varies in different geographical locations. 

Every coach gets to decide his business model and prices , based on his/her competency and marketing skills. Other factors that help you decide the price are your certifications, your experience in coaching, the quality of coaching and the results your clients are seeing. 

The number one issue new coaches have is getting clients . They don’t know how to market themselves or they are unclear about how to communicate the value of their services and attract client. Understanding how to market yourself as a life coach is a very important skill to have. Working IN the business and working ON the business are two different thing. Hence when you are choosing your certifications/ programs try and look for courses the impart knowledge on the business side as well. 

Section 6: Where to start?

Start by being sure if this is what you want to pursue. Once you’ve made your decision find the right school/program to find the perfect one for you, using the above tips.  

Conclusion 

Life coaching certification can be a great way to improve your career. There are hundreds and thousands of life coaching certifications available in the market. The options can overwhelm. Hope this blogpost introduced to the best ones out there. Share your thoughts and comments below.