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Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach Or Is Coaching Certification A Waste of Time?

November 30, 2009 by Jeffrey T. Sooey 5 Comments

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?

Coaching Certification
Coaching Certification

Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach? Just Any Coaching Certification Course Will Not Be A Quick Fix

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

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.

Special Bonus – Learn 3 simple ways to become a life coach with the “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit when you fill in the form at the top right and click the “Watch The Videos Now” button. You’ll learn how to change your client’s life in 45 minutes.

Kris Thompson
JTS Advisors Strategy Coach

Filed Under: Coaching Certification, Do You Need To Be a Certified Life Coach Tagged With: Coaching Certification, Do You Need To Be a Certified Life Coach

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Comments

  1. Annette says

    April 1, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Thank you for this post! It is good to learn that certification can be beneficial to the growth of your business but that you can start from where you are and forego certification until you are ready to grow towards a higher goal.

  2. realist y waste words, say it like it is says

    March 28, 2012 at 9:34 PM

    Gosh you go on and on lol like a sales pitch, most successful coaches are born not created in some course. Any human being can tell the difference easily. A strong coach develops their skills through living life. You Do need a course if you not confident in the gift you may not have, But you don’t if it just so happens that you’ve known deep down in side that this was what you where put on earth to do and people just stop to hear you talk because you bring meaning to them. See thats the issue now a days …. people can’t just be people and say it like it is 🙂 inspire and help with out forcing a money grab
    Pick up a book save your money self educate
    Be healthy
    Cs

  3. SH says

    April 19, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    I totally agree with Cs ^^^^ and it could not been said better if I had of said it myself! Like when people tell like it and get straight to the point!

  4. ButterFlyy says

    April 27, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    @ Cs….Thank U !!! I also want to add that if we were all trained the same way than we would not be unique. Thats the problem in so many other fields as well…ex: I was an excellent hair stylist until I went to cosmotology school, now their technique is so engraved in me that i cant get back to my unique flair that i brought to the table in the beginning. We were all put here with gifts, we should have faith in them and stop trying to be copies….people like Originality !!!!

  5. Mr.Hill says

    May 31, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    Does this all apply to Canada?

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