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How Long Does It Take To Become an NLP Practitioner?

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a hot topic among coaches and mentors nowadays. When applied hand-in-hand with life coaching strategies, it inspires positive behavioral change at the individual level, and later transforms into success. 

To become an NLP practitioner, one must complete an NLP program, such as Symbiosis Coaching’s ICF-accredited NLP training course. This usually takes sixty to seventy hours, though the length depends on the course you take and the certifying body you’re applying to (i.e. the required number of hours); some programs even extend up to 120 hours. After completing the necessary steps, you can offer NLP in your life coaching and mentoring practice.

What Is NLP?

NLP is a psychological approach rooted in therapy. It intends to aid people in communication and personal development and is particularly known for its modeling strategies, which allow individuals to achieve desirable outcomes by replicating patterns that worked successfully for others.

There are three key concepts behind NLP, all of which are suggested in its name:

Neurology

NLP deals with the functions of the nervous system, particularly the brain. Its strategies are designed to increase a person’s awareness and recognition of their behaviors, reactions, and actions, as well as any inherent biases and patterns. Through this, NLP can help individuals rewire their brains to have a more positive mindset.

Linguistics

People communicate both internally and externally, and NLP recognizes that in these exchanges of information, things may get lost in translation. So, the framework aims to improve the linguistics of the mind towards the self and others.

Programming

NLP “programs” the psyche and behavior to drive successful results. This is an effective strategy that can be used both at the individual level (such as self-improvement or therapy) or at a larger scale (like the collective achievement of a company goal).

What Is NLP Coaching and Mentoring?

What is NLP coaching and mentoring, anyway? This refers to the coexistence and collaboration of core competencies behind life coaching and NLP. They work hand-in-hand to facilitate positive change in individuals to achieve desired results. 

Here are some benefits of NLP coaching and mentoring that have made it a valuable specialization:

Holistic Approach

NLP is more problem-solving while coaching and mentoring are more outcome-based. Combined, these two approaches offer a holistic experience that offers more consistent and long-lasting success.

Effective Strategies

One of the most successful strategies of NLP is modeling, which breaks down successful methodologies into actionable frameworks that people can replicate to arrive at the same results. 

Greater Success

Because NLP coaching and mentoring deal with both internal and external factors, it sets people up for success that they can obtain repeatedly and sustain better in the long run.

What Is an NLP Practitioner?

An NLP practitioner is a professional coach or mentor that has received the necessary training and certification to put NLP into practice. These experts help people recognize their tendencies and change psychologically and behaviorally to achieve their goals or obtain success in their fields.

How to Become an NLP Practitioner

One must complete an accredited NLP course to become an NLP practitioner. Symbiosis Coaching offers a dual certification program that combines both life coaching and NLP competencies, allowing you to be trained and certified in both fields for more specialized practice. The NLP program can also be taken standalone.

What Qualifications Do I Need to Become an NLP Practitioner?

Anyone can be an NLP practitioner; there’s no specific profile or prerequisites required to become one. That said, NLP practitioners need to have a positive and purposeful attitude that inspires and empowers them to help others reach their goals.

How Long Does It Take To Become an NLP Practitioner?

NLP training usually takes sixty to seventy hours, but the length may vary depending on the program, institution, and requirements of the NLP certifying body. Some courses take up to 120 hours.

How Much Does an NLP Practitioner Earn?

An NLP practitioner earns an average of $75,000 a year, typically falling in the range of $70,000 to $80,000. They can charge anywhere from $60 to $200 an hour when working independently. Some NLP practitioners may also take a regular salary as HR personnel or a life coach on retainer for individuals or companies.

Become an NLP Practitioner With Symbiosis Coaching

Symbiosis Coaching’s online NLP practitioner training course will equip you with the necessary training, tools, and frameworks you need to effectively practice life coaching and mentoring with NLP. Enroll in the course to get started with your NLP practitioner journey today!

Certified NLP Coach

Program Description: The Certified NLP Coach program allows you to incorporate very powerful NLP techniques you’re your day-to-day coaching practice.

ICF Training Hours: 65

Duration: 25-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Organizational Development Coach

Program Description:

The Certified Organizational Development Coach program is an exclusive and very unique program, designed for coaches who wish to coach entire organizations with their Organizational Development and Change Management goals. This program provides you with 65 ICF training hours - more than enough for the ACC credential. Over a series of 25 weekly lectures, it prepares you to deal with volatile group dynamics across entire organizations. Topics including OD interventions, Team Engagement, Buyer Behavior of internal customers, The Tripod of Success, Ensuring Sustainability, Performance-Retention correlation, Strategies to influence behavior - and many more - are covered in detail.

Coaches are introduced to the ARCS Model, as well as to the Organizational Culture Audit Toolkit. Employee motivation, satisfaction, and productivity are discussed, as well as their impact on the performance of the organization as a whole. Students are introduced to various Change Management models including Lewin's Planned Change model, the ADKAR Change Management model, and Kotter's 8 steps of Change Management. Resistance to change and its manifestation are discussed, as is Behavior Modification.

Upon completing this program, Certified Organizational Development Coaches will have all the tools they need to affect positive transformation within organizations, and will be able to coach teams and personnel at all levels - including initiators, decision makers, influencers, and intervention implementers.

In addition to coaches who are launching their own Corporate Coaching practices, this is an essential program for HR professionals, Training and Development Professionals, Managers, and Corporate Leaders who wish to implement internal policies and OD processes to guide their companies and people through ongoing change.

ICF Training Hours: 65

Duration: 25-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Executive Coach

Program Description

The Certified Executive Coach program has been designed for coaches who wish to coach managers, executives, and corporate leaders. The goal of this program is to cultivate a deep understanding of how the executive coaching process works as well as some of the challenges that come up in executive coaching conversations.

This program has been approved by the International Coaching Federation for 32 hours, and it comprises of 12 live, instructor-led, fully interactive virtual classes offered over zoom. These classes cover various aspects of executive coaching including, but not limited to Effective Collaboration, Performance Management, Upskilling, Conflict Management, Effective Collaboration, Developing Team Members, and many more.

This program has a very unique, hands-on, experiential structure. Classes are focused on active participation by students through real life Coaching Challenges and discussions of real life executive coaching situations.

ICF Training Hours: 32

Duration: 12-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Life Coach

Program Description:

The Certified life Coach program is an essential program for anyone considering coaching as a profession. The goal of this program is to create a deep understanding of the coaching process, along with how and why it is effective in catalyzing shifts in the mindset to create positive, sustainable transformation.

The training is based on the ICF’s core coaching competencies. It focuses on skills that lead to effective coaching conversations and that are required to build a successful coaching business. It evokes awareness about how identity, thoughts, and feelings determine mindset; and why a change in Think Feel Do impacts the achievement of goals though a change in this mindset.

This program is approved by the International Coaching Federation for 95 hours and comprises 24 live, instructor led, fully interactive virtual sessions offered over Zoom. These lectures cover all aspects of coaching – topics such as Human Emotions and the Brain, Coaching through Emotional Intelligence, The Belief System, Coaching Process and Structure, Deep Listening, Setting Worthy Goals, Asking Insightful Questions, Addressing Client Resistance, Coaching Groups, The Business of Coaching, and many more. These are complemented with a library of reading and reference material, coaching challenges based on various real-life coaching situations, extensive hands-on coaching practice, and assignments designed to trigger reflection on and mastery of coaching skills.

ICF Training Hours: 95

Duration: 24-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Class Schedule
ProgramStart DateClass TimesClass Schedule
Certified Life CoachMonday, Nov 6th10:30am ET
3:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 24-weeks
Certified Organizational Development CoachTuesday, Dec 12th10:30am ET
3:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 25-weeks
Certified Executive CoachWednesday, Dec 13th10:30am ET
3:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 12-weeks
Certified NLP CoachThursday, Dec 14th10:30am ET
3:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 25-weeks
Level 1/2 - ACC/PCC
Mentoring
Friday, January 12th10:30am ET
3:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 1-hour
for 6-sessions PLUS 4 one-on-
one sessions with mentor