2024’s Best Life Coach Certifications: A Comprehensive Guide
What is Life Coaching?
Life coaching is a process that helps individuals identify and achieve personal and professional goals. The coach works with the client to clarify goals and achieve measurable progress.
It is an industry that is growing rapidly.
Many want to make it their profession to help others reach their dreams.
What is a life coach certification?
For most, getting a certification is a big part of becoming a life coach.
Technically, you do not need a certification to start your coaching practice; however, few have successful coaching businesses without a certification.
Attending a life coach certification program comes with many benefits:
You learn a lot about coaching in general.
More often than not, you also learn how to run your coaching business.
The certification will boost your credibility and trust and help you attract clients.
You may have access to a community of life coaches.
As you can see, getting your certification can be very helpful. However, finding the right one for you can be pretty challenging.
So many programs are out there, and it is an unregulated industry. This means there is a lot of trash and scams, but there are also excellent, helpful, and professional certification programs.
In the following text, you get all the info you need to choose the best life coach certification for you:
How to identify a “good” life coach certification program
1. Accreditation
There are many accreditations, but the ICF accreditation is by far the most important. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s leading coaching organization. It improves the standard of coaching worldwide and accredits other coaching programs.
To get their accreditation, a coaching program gets reviewed, and only if they hold their standards might they get certified.
There are three general ICF accreditations for which a life coach certification has to offer specific education and experience:
Associate Certified Coach (ACC): 60 hours of coach-specific education and 100 hours of client coaching experience.Professional Certified Coach (PCC): 125 hours of coach-specific education and 500 hours of client coaching experience.Master Certified Coach (MCC): Hold or have held a PCC Credential, completed 200 hours of coach-specific education, and 2,500 hours of client coaching experience.
You are OK with an ACC certification to start, and you can make your PCC or even MCC later if you want.
2. Reputation
There are many institutions and programs, some of which have been on the market for well over ten years.
The older certification programs have survived for a reason, and choosing an established brand is probably safer than one that is just starting out.
However, many new institutes offer spectacular content; some established ones, on the other hand, have become too expensive.
As a rule of thumb, if you can’t decide between two programs, choose the one with the better reputation, but do not make it the main point of consideration.
3. Value per bucks
The prices of all the programs vary a lot.
Those differences often make sense. For example, if you get a lot of one-on-one coaching practice and feedback, the program is likely more expensive, but you get more value for your money.
Sometimes, however, price differences are not justifiable, and other programs offer the same value for less than half the price.
A fair price is somewhere between 3,000$ and 6,500$ for a basic certification program that includes the ICF accreditation. Just watch out. Many offer advanced courses, often called master certification; they are more expensive, but again, because they go deeper and offer more value.
4. What is in the package
Different certification programs offer different services. Some are online, some are in place, some have life classes, and some are self-paced with videos.
It is hard to determine what is essential and what are nice add-ons. The two key features any program should have are:
At least 30 hours of coach training content. Whether it’s life or videos, etc, is a matter of preference.
Coaching practice opportunities and feedback. The best is feedback from the head coaches or mentors. However, the peer practice many programs offer is also good.
That is the bare minimum a coach training program should have. You want to learn coaching basics and get the chance to practice it. Valuable additions that may be worth paying for are:
One-on-one coaching sessions to get great feedback and get coached yourself.
Life classes to exchange and ask questions.
- (Lifelong) support
The ability to join an active community.
Business and marketing skills
Unique techniques and skillsets (specific techniques like NLP are exclusive, and if they resonate with you, it may be worth an extra cost)
In-person classes if that fits your learning style.
One more thing to consider is the length of the program. Some might prefer a short, in-depth immersion program, while others prefer to take their time and learn slower and steadier over several months. There is no right or wrong; it is up to you.
My Top picks
I want to point out that no program on this list is terrible. These are my top 8, and they are all good programs; some are better than others, and some offer a better price for what they offer.
Nevertheless, all these life coaching certification programs will teach you the core competencies you need to become a successful life coach and prepare you to start your own coaching practice.
Let’s start by helping you choose your favorite from the many training programs on the market.
Here are my top 8 life coach certification programs.
Top 10 Life Coach Certification Programs
- Coach Training Alliance: Best Overall
- Health Coach Institute: Best for Health and Life Coaching
- The CaPP Institute: Best runner up.
- Institute for Life Coaching: Best for those with a counseling or social science background.
- iNLP Center: Best with a unique skillset
- Certified Life Coach Institute: Best for those who want to get started as quickly as possible
- IPEC: The most established Institute with the most experience.
- Integrative Wellness Academy: Best for those only looking for content to consume.
1. Coach training alliance
Overview
The Coach Training Alliance offers a certification that takes six months to complete. You will receive life lessons in small classes of up to 12 people. Additionally, you will spend 2 to 5 hours of self-study every week, which totals about 60 hours.
Your fellow groupmates and your mentor coach will mentor you.
The program is 1/3 coaching techniques, 1/3 marketing strategies, and 1/3 business skills.
Key Benefits
The coach training alliance offers everything you want. You have life classes, mentoring, and material to study for yourself. You will learn everything you need to start your business and get clients.
I know life classes may be difficult for busy people. However, they currently run four parallel courses, so you will most likely find one that fits your schedule.
You will be learning in a company that has been in the business for over a decade; they know what they are doing.
During the training, you will coach, get coached, and observe coaching, giving you plenty of real-life coaching experience.
Additionally, the price is absolutely fair for the value they offer.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
The Coach Training Alliance’s life coach certification will cost $4339 when paid in full. You can also pay in 3, 7, or 9 parts. You will receive the ICE-approved CCE accreditation.
2. Health Coach Institute Dual Life and Health Coaching Certification
Overview
The Health Coach Institute combines life and health coaching. Its program covers various topics such as nutrition, habit change, relationship coaching, and business coaching. In addition, the curriculum includes resources on how to set up your business and market your service.
It looks like a program generally designed for women, as most trainers and graduates seem to be female, but I have seen one or two males on their website. 😉
Key Benefits
The program is generally perceived as well-structured, and the graduates greatly appreciate its supportive community.
The training is based on new and proven theories, such as behavioral psychology, neuroscience, techniques for intuitive listening, and more.
Weekly engagement opportunities and Partner Practice Lab Sessions to practice your skills are available, which means you have plenty of possibilities to improve your skills.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
Their program has a regular price of $7,950. However, at the moment, there is a discount of $2,500, which makes the actual price $5,450. Ultimately, you will have a health coach and life coach certification and the ICE-accreditation.
3. The CaPP Institute (coach and positive psychology)
Overview
The CaPP Institute has operated since 2001. It offers an ICF-approved curriculum that teaches you everything you need to know to start your own coaching business.
Their program consists of a six-month course with over 50 hours of coursework completed through interactive seminars. In addition, their bundle includes a three-day Intensive training event.
Their coaching program is more business-oriented and teaches skills like resilience, character strengths, and how to facilitate client growth. It also features more personal topics like the motivation for happiness or well-being.
Key Benefits
The CaPP Institute’s Certified Personal and Executive Coaching Program will really prepare you to launch your coaching career.
You will learn in a fun, interactive setting, acquire a business ladder strategy, receive over 10 hours of mentor coaching, and accumulate over 50 hours of coaching experience.
You will even leave with two positive references from your fellow students.
All the info and the classes will surely leave you feeling ready to go out and use your tools to change lives.
In addition to all this, they offer a flexible money-back guarantee, and you can even get part of your money back if you don’t like your mentor.
Pros
Cons
A quick mention here:
First, the CaPP Institute was not so high on my list; it is not well known, and it is not even included on some other lists. However, after I really struggled to find a third downside of their program, I had to readjust the ranking. They are doing a great job.
Pricing and Certification
The bundle containing everything you need for the ICF accreditation is currently priced at $6,885. This makes the CaPP Institute a little more expensive than the mean of all life coach certification programs on the list. Nevertheless, it is a fair price and includes everything you need.
After you complete the six months of regular webinars, attend the three-day event, and go through all the other content and practice, you will leave with a Certified Personal & Executive coaching certification and the classic ICF accreditation stamp.
4. Institute for Life Coach Training
Overview
The Institute for Life Coach Training has been in business for over 25 years. It has extensive experience in the field and has established a reputation.
Their life coach certification is closely adjusted for the ICF. You will do and learn precisely what is needed for the Associate Certification. There are also countless other options if you want to deepen your training.
Key Benefits
From what I could see on their website and reading reviews, the Institute for Life Coach Training makes a spectacular impression. The only thing I do not like is that their website looks dull and lifeless. A minor downgrade.
What makes them special is:
They have several classes running parallel to fit your schedule.
Their program is customizable and even adapted for people with counseling or social science degrees.
You will be taught the basics of coaching and how to run a successful coaching business. In addition, you will receive 10 hours of mentor coaching and a performance evaluation.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
The Institute for Life Coach Training focuses only on the training needed to get accredited by the International Coach Federation. Their price is absolutely fair; for the ACC accreditation, you pay $4,300 for six months of training, and you even have the option for the in-depth master’s certification for $7,700, which takes up to two years to complete.
5. iNLP Center
Overview
The iNLP center offers a comprehensive program focusing on neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and its use as a professional life coach.
Their coach training program focuses exclusively on developing coaching skills and learning the NLP foundations. Their offer is unique, and if you need guidance setting up your life coaching business, they have a separate marketing course.
NLP is a set of psychological techniques and skills developed in the 1970s. It intends to teach the client how his mind and emotions work and how he can use them to his advantage.
Key Benefits
If you are into NLP, the iNLP center is definitely the place to go; its training system dives deep into the techniques and skills of Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
They combine all necessary learning modalities, including reading, listening, and watching, practice with your peers, life lessons with your trainers, assignments to check your progress, and even 10 hours of coach mentoring.
They are also one of the shorter programs on the list, and you can have your certification in only 3 months.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
The iNLP Center offers an accredited coach training program supported by the ICF and the International NLP Association. The primary option is currently priced at $3,900, a fair price for a three-month life coach training program that has produced many successful life coaches.
The master coach training, which includes the NLP life coach certification, costs 5,900$ and takes 3 more months to complete.
6. Certified Life Coach Institute
Overview
The Certified Life Coach Institute is the way to go if you want to start as fast as possible. You can get their basic coaching 101 certification in as little as 3 days with an immersion seminar of 33 hours. Just be aware that this is not enough for an ICE accreditation.
To get a certification accredited by the International Coaching Federation, you must complete the 101 and 102 training programs. The 102 is another three-day event lasting over 37 hours. In addition, you need to log 10 hours of mentor coaching, 100 hours of coaching practice, and an evaluation.
Key Benefits
It is incredible that they packed it all into two times three training days.
The Coaching 101 program provides a solid foundation, including basic life coaching skills, business and marketing skills, and some practice sessions.
In 102 Coaching, you can delve deeper into the neuroscience of the psyche, colorful thinking, and learning modalities.
Overall, the Certified Life Coach Institute convinces you with its immersion training and fast route to start your business. It is definitely not for everyone, but it is the way to go for those looking to get started as quickly as possible.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
Coaching 101 can be done for as little as $1,300 if you catch a good deal, making it the shortest and cheapest certification program on the list. Coaching 102 is currently priced at $1,495. If you buy them both in a bundle, you pay only $2,495. They also offer mentor coaching and the evaluation needed for accreditation. Altogether, you would pay $4,495, which is an average price.
7. Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Overview
The iPEC is one of the highest-regarded coaching institutes worldwide. It offers a life coach certification program that nearly checks all the boxes. It has good content, mentor feedback, and an active community. It looks like the perfect choice, but there is one major drawback: it is more than twice as expensive as all the others on the list.
Key Benefits
In its seven—to nine-month course, the iPEC clearly prepares you for your practice as a coach. You will learn and practice your coaching skills through quality content, interactive learning, and one-on-one feedback.
Since it has been in the industry for nearly 25 years and has over 25,000 graduates, the iPEC has established a widely renowned reputation. It is known for its quality coaching and for producing many great coaches.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
The iPEC life coach certification program costs $13,395 and offers the certifications Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and COR.E Dynamics Specialist. It is ICE-accredited and takes at least seven months to complete.
8. Integrative Wellness Academy Master Life Coaching Program
Overview
The Integrative Wellness Academy offers what is in its name: a holistic approach that includes many different techniques and aspects of coaching.
For example, they teach about Neulro-Linguistic Programming, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and also all the major steps of how to set up your business.
Sadly, their program does not meet the criteria for the ICF accreditation.
Key Benefits
The IWA has unique offers with key strengths; for only $1,200, you get over 60 hours of high-quality video content where you learn coaching principles and techniques, frameworks and tools, how to set up your business, and even some marketing basics.
Their integrative concept focuses on critical areas of life: career, health and wellness coaching, and finance. If you want to learn independently, get a relatively cheap certificate, and still have access to super techniques and skills, the Integrative Wellness Academy is exactly for you.
Pros
Cons
Pricing and Certification
Their program costs only $1,200, but you must pay another $200 for all the books and extra material you need to complete the course and pass the certification exam.
They have their own certification, but they are not ICF accredited.
For another 1,200$, you could sign up for the master’s certification, where you dive deeper into all the topics.
Their price reflects their offer; it is cheap for a certification program, and it lacks parts of the training like practice and feedback.
Conclusion
In the end, there is no perfect coach training program.
All the programs on this list have some key features that make them stand out from the rest.
Now, it is your time to choose the right one for you. Determine what you want from your program and your favorite/ most effective learning methods.
Then, compare the ups and downs of all the programs and choose. You will never be absolutely sure which is the right program for you.
Whatever your decision is, make it with a smile. It is an investment in your future. You are going to have a fantastic job, and you will be influencing lives all over the globe.
Thank you so much for reading this post, and have a fantastic day.
FAQ
What are the current job prospects and salaries of life coaches?
Life coaches can work in various industries, including healthcare, education, and business. Salary ranges vary depending on experience and industry but can range from $40,000 to over $100,000 annually.
How long does it take to become a life coach?
The shortest certification programs only take a few days to complete, while others take over a year. If you are looking for an ICF accreditation and want to learn and practice life coaching skills, then you need at least three months, and most programs average about six months for the entire process.
Do you actually need a life coach certification to start your practice?
Generally speaking, you can open a life coaching business without a certification.
However, a certification program teaches you all the skills and tools you absolutely need as a life coach. Additionally, getting new clients with a certification is much easier, and you can charge more for your work as you can back up your expertise.
