A career coach certification means that a coach has met certain requirements set down by different governing bodies and organizations. The principle coaching body is the ICF (International Coach Federation), but there are many others that have specific rules and requirements to earn a certification.

What Does a Career Coach Certification Mean?

It means that you are certified. Does it mean that you are a good coach? Hell no, you could have ten career coach certifications and still be a crappy coach. But, is it worth getting a career coach certification or a few of them? Yes, without question, it is better to be certified, whether you stop at one certification or you pursue multiple ones.

You can call yourself a coach without having any formal training or specific certifications. Just hang a shingle outside your door, place an ad on Craigslist or some online classifieds site and voila, you are a coach!

Will clients flock to you as soon as your start calling yourself a coach? Hell no, unless you market and promote and market and promote some more, just like every coach has to do. But, what about if you have a career coach certification; will clients flock to your doorstep and will your phone be ringing off the hook? Hell no, unless you promote and market and promote and market some more, just like every other coach has to do.

By now, you have probably figured out the point of this article. If not, here it is – having a certification won’t necessarily make you a better coach or bring you boatloads of clients. But, as previously mentioned, having a career coach certification is much better than not having one. The certification itself won’t make you better, but the act of getting it will.

Why is it Better to Have a Career Coach Certification?

It is better because it says to potential clients that you have pursued education in your field. It also tells potential clients that you have made an effort to keep up with the professional standards and changing landscape in the career coach industry. It says to these potential clients that you are trying your hardest to be the best coach you can be. And, to take this to the next logical step, if you have three, or four, or more certifications, it means you are trying even that much harder to be the best coach you can be.

A certification are not essential, but it can be considered very, very important. If you want to make a name for yourself as a career coach and you want to build your own personal brand and expand your business, certifications become even more essential.

If you want to be the best coach you can be, get certified. No, that piece of paper won’t make you a better coach, but the knowledge you gain and the new skills and techniques you learn while earning that piece of paper, will elevate your game to a whole new level.

By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your 30-day coaching blueprint videos.

Fred Philips
Business Coach
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