You have come to the conclusion that you would like to pursue a career in life coaching. Good for you! Life coaching is a rewarding career path, and we are proud of you for deciding to walk down it. It is truly awe-inspiring to come across individuals who decide to take on the journey of helping others and learning the skills required through accredited life coach certification.
If you have done your research, you have probably come across a multitude of different resources, how-to guides, and programs claiming to help you. The sheer number of questions floating through your head might even have you feeling slightly overwhelmed. Before you give in to your thoughts, let’s address some concerns.
There are different types of life coaches, so you may be wondering which one is your calling. Anyone can be a life coach, and while there are some legal requirements for life coaching businesses you want to meet, none specifically state that you must have a degree or certification, so you may be also curious if you need to enroll in a training program.
We know choosing the right certification can be overwhelming. Rest assured that we are here to give you the guidance you need to make this process easier, stress-free, and enjoyable.
Do You Need Certification?
The answer depends on what you want to gain from your new career. As you probably know by now, there is no rule requiring you to be certified; it is a choice.
Many people hesitate when it comes to certification. While the choice is ultimately yours, there are a few important factors about a certification to keep in mind.
Certification from The International Coaching Federation Foundation, also known as ICF, provides many benefits. Aside from ensuring that you are learning all of the skills necessary to be an ethical, professional, and effective life coach, it gives your clients confidence that you are credible and know what you are doing.
The process of certification depends on what type of coach you would like to be. Each specialty has different requirements that need to be met. It is worth researching your options and deciding which lines up with your passions and your goals.
You’ve Decided You Want to Be Certified
So, you have decided that you want to be a life coach. You are ready and more than eager to jump right in and start practicing. After thoroughly researching the field, you have come to the conclusion that becoming certified is the best move for you and your career.
The first step to becoming certified requires training with an accredited life coaching program. A simple search for ‘accredited life coaching programs’ yields countless results.
Three Things to Look For
No need to feel overwhelmed again. We’ve put together some tips so that you don’t have to search endlessly for hours to figure out which is the best certification program for you.
Good Reviews
Let’s be honest–chances are that you’ve come across a product or page at some point in your life that had highly-rated reviews that were somehow skewed too far in favor of the product or service. Now, while these reviews are a great problem to have as a brand, something about the ones you read felt disingenuous, or forced. It makes you wonder if maybe they were not real reviews.
As you look for the perfect certification program, look through the reviews. Try to spot good and authentic reviews that don’t shy away from any problems the course might have. Was there an issue or problem students kept mentioning? Was it disorganized? Was it too organized? It is important to read reviews that highlight different students’ experiences.
Support After Completion
After you complete your training, there are more steps that need to be taken before becoming a certified life coach. A good program will provide its students with resources to help guide them through the next steps.
Does it Meet Your Personal Lifestyle?
Take into consideration what your ideal course offers. Do you need it to be in person? Are you looking for a course that allows you to work at your own pace?
Be sure that the courses you are considering match your lifestyle, your learning style, and your schedule.
Summary
No matter what led you to the field of life coaching, know that you are not alone. Many individuals have stopped in their professional tracks and made a complete 180-degree turn to pursue a new career in life coaching. It is a service that provides individual clients with support, while simultaneously bringing fulfillment to those that coach.
Some of the most successful people in the world credit much of their journey and accomplishments to the help of a life coach, and the most helpful coaches are those with the best certification. This is where we come in–we’ll get you on the path to ICF-accredited certification so that you gain access to the best mentoring and online courses available to become the most successful life coach possible.
