If you are seriously considering becoming a life coach, it is very reasonable to ask: when it comes to life coach training, how much does it cost and are there fees? But while this is a very reasonable question, it should not be your first question. Not your second or even your third. Remember, anyone can offer life coach training, and charge whatever they want. So let’s take a moment and consider three questions to ask before you talk about costs and fees.

Ask These Three Questions First

What exactly does “life coaching” mean to you? According to Wikipedia, “life coaching is a practice that helps people identify and achieve personal goals.” If you agree literally, then your coaching is pretty limited and does not talk about career or professional goals. So it is critical that you create a detailed answer to this first question, and let it guide you, as you move ahead.

Secondly, do you identify more with traditional western thinking or more with new-age thinking? For better or worse, several new-age based schools of life coaching have emerged in recent years. You may be draw to these schools of thought, but if you are, I suggest that you seek a balanced view and make certain that you benefit from training in more traditional approaches, as well. If you can only study one approach, I would err on the side of the more traditional, understanding that it represents a solid base from which to step out and explore alternatives.

Third, are you more comfortable in a training program that is part of a college or university? While these programs are usually very comprehensive and structured, they also are often quite expensive because their cost includes supporting, not only the program, but also the institution. There are many fine programs outside of a college or university model, but make sure that they are intense, include lots of theory and lots of actual coaching. Also, make sure that your training cuts across the three basic skill areas – assessment, strategy, and accountability coaching – as you home in on your specialty of life coaching.

So for Life Coach Training, How Much Does It Cost and Are There Fees?

So for life coach training, how much does it cost and are there fees? The answer is that it varies and most probably there are a number of fees, as well. I recommend laying the broad foundation and then specializing in a particular area, such as life coaching. Because of this you will probably pay $1,200 to $2,400, or more much more for the entire program. You will probably also take between two and six months, or more to complete the program. On the other hand, I have seen advertisements to “Become a Certified Life Coach” for $395 by attending four weekend sessions.

So for life coach training, “how much does it cost and are there fees?” is a valid question only after you answer our first three questions.

Hope you took some great value out of this post today! I’d love to hear your feedback, so make sure you leave a comment with your thoughts or questions. And also, you can click on the Twitter button below to retweet this article… Thank you!

Dave Iuppa
JTS Advisors Strategy and Accountability Coach