Degrees are not needed to become a life coach, but more and more coaches may be looking at life coach degrees as a way to get the proper education and get in to this expanding industry. Life coaching degrees do not formally exist at most universities or colleges, however, there are many independent programs or organizations that offer certifications or degrees in different types of coaching.

Will Life Coach Degrees Become the Next Big Thing?

Colleges and universities are beginning to offer coaching programs for their students. Many of these programs are geared toward athletic coaches, but more colleges are developing programs that offer degrees in executive, life or other coaching fields.

Life coaching is an exploding industry, so it can be expected that universities and colleges will try to get involved with this explosion. After all, there is money in life coaching, and universities and colleges not only exist to educate students, they also exist to make money. With the coaching industry on the rise, it would be wise for colleges and universities to begin offering more life coach degrees and similar programs.

Get Certified!

Though you don’t need a degree, and you don’t even need a certification, it is always better to get educated and earn some proof that you have taken courses, learned skills, and have put forth the effort to become the best coach you can be. Sure, you can jump into the coaching business with no formal training or start a practice without any fancy certificates to hang on your wall, but with coaching competition at an all-time high, your chances of getting clients may be less than someone who has a certification or degree. Life coach degrees may not be important or readily available yet, but life coaching certification can be earned through many different programs and is a valuable commodity when you are trying to promote yourself as a coach.

Types of Programs:

Though life coach degrees may be difficult to obtain at this point in time, life coaching certifications come in all sizes, shapes, and types. Here are a few of the most common ways to get a certification:

• Correspondence Courses – a series of classes which are completed independently and at the student’s pace. These are usually online and perfect for people with busy schedules.
• Online or Web-Based Courses – virtually the same thing as correspondence courses, though some of these are paced like a real class and do not go at a student’s pace. Students will watch lectures, read material, do homework, and be tested.
• Seminar Courses – these are completed in a group session and are often held at a hotel. They typically last a weekend or a few days. Great for students who want to get the most information in the shortest amount of time.
• School-Based Classes – just what the name implies, these take place in a classroom setting and are run just like a typical school class.
• One-on-One Mentoring – this involves one mentor teacher and one student. Students learn by observation and practice. This is often self-paced and sometimes is part of another type of coaching course.

Life coach degrees are not the norm in the industry…yet. However, a life coaching certification acts as a degree and is your ticket to a rewarding and dynamic career in the life coaching industry.

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Fred Philips
Business Coach
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