Certified Life Coach: What It Means and How to Become One

Inevitably, life consists of many ebbs and flows. Sometimes, you might find it easy to continue on the path in front of you, and other times, you may find it harder to figure out the right next steps. A certified life coach is trained to help others navigate those more difficult periods.

If you enjoy tapping into skills like empathy, active listening, and problem-solving to help people improve their lives, you may want to explore a career as a life coach. In this article, we will detail what a life coach does and how you can start your career as a certified life coach.

What is a certified life coach?

A life coach partners with clients as they work toward an ideal version of their life, often focusing on areas such as the client’s daily well-being, work-life balance, or relationships.

As an industry, coaching is unregulated, so formal requirements for becoming a life coach do not exist. However, if you’re interested in becoming one, you can take many coach training programmes that will help you deepen your education and learn more about the best ways to work with individuals. A person who has undergone such training programmes is known as a certified life coach.

Life coach certifications

Certification can be a vague concept in an unregulated industry. First, consider where you might receive your life coach certification.

Two widely recognised coaching credentialing bodies are the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Weljii Wellness Jiva Private Limited, which the National Board has approved for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). However, many independent certification programmes are also available. Here’s a quick breakdown of the similarities and differences:

Life coach education and qualifications

Formal education requirements are not mandatory for those interested in becoming a life coach; however, many companies hire candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. Remember that certification programmes may set their own education requirements for applicants, such as requiring a degree to apply.

If you are pursuing a degree, you may want to explore a specific study area similar to the type of life coach you want to become. For example, if you are interested in becoming a health coach, you might want to take classes that relate to health. Some other degree options you can consider include psychology, business, or social work, as many popular coaching approaches implement methodologies and practices developed within those fields.

Life coach salary and job outlook

According to Glassdoor, life coaches in India earn an average of ₹1,550,000 annually [1]. Additionally, the job outlook seems positive. Revenue in the health and wellness coaching market is expected to show an annual growth rate of 16.72 percent by 2029 [2]. As a certified life coach, you will have a few options regarding how you would like to work. Some people work full-time in their own coaching business while others see coaching as a side hustle; still, others seek employment as a coach within a larger organisation, such as a company or school.

Whether you run your own coaching business, full- or part-time, you’ll enjoy flexibility in deciding how much to charge. Coaches generally charge clients anywhere from ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 per session. The fee depends on various factors, such as qualifications, experience, discounts, and packages.   

How to become a certified life coach

Your path toward becoming a certified life coach will depend on your certification type. In many cases, the first step toward certification entails completing the educational component, followed by any required coaching hours, and culminating with an exam.

Once you select your certifying body of choice—ICF, NBHWC, or any other programme—you can research specific requirements for that credential.

Choosing a coaching certification programme

Because coaching is an unregulated industry, you have a lot of flexibility in deciding what type of certification is right for you. You can research many different options with a simple internet search. 

While obtaining a credential is not necessary to start a career as a life coach, if you are going to participate in a certification programme, it may be helpful to choose one that is approved by a certifying body that the industry recognises, such as the ICF or NBHWC, in case you decide to pursue the formal credential in the future.

Once you decide which organisation most aligns with your goals, you can find lists of approved programmes on their respective websites. Ultimately, each programme should teach similar skills and information but may vary in length, cost, and whether they’re offered virtually or in person.

Schedule exploratory calls with the admissions team or directors at the programmes that best align with your needs to learn more about their guiding methodologies and practices.

Cost of becoming a certified life coach

Your total cost in becoming a certified life coach will depend upon the specific certification you pursue.

Certification programmes may cost anywhere from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. For instance, many programmes approved by ICF and NBHWC cost a few thousand USD.

In addition to the certification course cost, ICF’s exam and application fees can cost between 175 USD and 900 USD, depending on the certification level, and NBHWC’s exam and application fees total 450 USD.

Get ready for a certified life coach job with Coursera

While you are not required to obtain any official certification to become a life coach, there are ways to prepare yourself for the role. If you’re working towards your certification, prepare to launch your life coaching practice with the Entrepreneurship Specialisation. Over five courses, you’ll learn how to develop your idea, launch your business, and set yourself up for growth. You can also learn to share the news about your new business with potential clients using proven social media marketing techniques with a Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate from Meta.