Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach Or Is Coaching Certification A Waste of Time?
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Coaching certification is great, but do you need to be certified to be a life coach? What reasons are there for getting a coaching certification? These are great questions to ask if you want to be a life coach. One popular reason to get coaching certification would be to learn coaching techniques. Another reason would be to help your prospects believe you are qualified to coach them. Yet another reason could be that you believe you will get more clients than someone who does not have a certification. All of those reasons seem pretty good, but let’s look at them more closely. Are they really true? Do you need to be certified to be a life coach?
Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach? Just Any Coaching Certification Course Will Not Be A Quick Fix
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A lot of people take coaching certification courses because they believe it works just like going to college and getting a career. However, there are some problems with looking at coaching that way. While some people see going to college, getting a degree and then getting a job as a measure of success, in life coaching you would need a lot more than one client to be considered a success. Not only should you take a look at what other life coaches have done to be successful, but also ask yourself what do you need to be a certified life coach who considers himself to be successful.
Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach? Only Get A Coaching Certification After Finding Out Which One Paying Clients Expect You To Have
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When I get asked the question, “Do you need to be certified to be a life coach?,” I respond by asking why one feels the need to get certified. Usually, people think it will give them credibility with their prospects. This may be true, but you will want to do some homework before you dive into coaching certification by finding out if there are any particular certifications that your prospects will expect you to have. For example, some financial advisers obtain financial planner certification because it is one certification that prospects recognize. Other certifications may appear as meaningless letters on the end of their name. By learning what certifications your clients will recognize, you will avoid wasting time and money getting a coaching certification that means nothing to your clients.
If you are still hesitant about getting a coaching certification, the best way to start getting clients is to do free coaching sessions. You are applying for the job of being their coach. They need to have a great experience coaching with you. Do you need to be a certified life coach to enroll clients? NO. All you need is the ability to help them get results.
Do you need to be certified to be a life coach? Not before you get started. Over time you should get certified because great coaches are lifelong learners. However, don’t make the mistake of waiting to take certification courses before getting started coaching and making a difference for your clients.
Kris Thompson
JTS Advisors Strategy Coach
Coaching Certification, Do You Need To Be a Certified Life Coach
