What qualifications do I need to become a life coach? Are you asking yourself this question? Do you think you have or can get what it takes to become a life coach?

Definition of a Life Coach
The most basic definition of a life coach is someone who helps you reach a goal or assists you in making an important change in your life.
Other definitions include:
- • Someone who helps you get from Point A to Point B
• Someone who motivates, inspires, supports, and holds you accountable for reaching your goals and dreams.
• Someone who helps you identify your goals and works with you to create actions steps to reach those goals.
What Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Life Coach?
If you are still asking yourself that question after learning the true meaning of what a life coach does, it is a good place to start on your journey to a rewarding and fulfilling career. There are qualifications that are considered personality traits or skills, and there are qualifications that are considered steps to becoming a life coach. So – ask again – What qualification do I need to become a life coach?
What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Life Coach?
To become a life coach in the digital age, you need nothing more than a few hundred bucks, a credit card, a free weekend to attend a training seminar, and an individual who will gladly take your money and print out a piece of paper with the words “Certified Life Coach.” But, there’s much more to it than that.
Assessing Your Personality Traits
Before you make that first step to becoming a life coach, you should assess your own personality. Are you ambitious and hardworking? If not, life coaching may not be right for you.
Do you take action and make decisions quickly? Famous coach, Tony Robbins says, “Never leave the scene of a decision without taking immediate, massive action.” You need to do that to get your career rolling and you will continually need to do that with your clients and yourself. Procrastinators need not apply!
Are you curious? Do you feel compelled to find solutions, answers, and reasons? If you can leave questions unanswered, life coaching is probably not where you should hang your hat.
Do you care about others? To be an excellent life coach, you must have deep feelings of sympathy and empathy for others. Without this, you would just be going through the motions to collect a pay check. Do you think that you will make you a successful and in-demand life coach?
Steps to Becoming a Life Coach
Have you asked the question: What qualifications do I need to become a life coach? If you have answered the personality portion of that question, you are ready to find out what steps you need to take to be a life coach. Here they are:
- Go to college. If you are way past that age, no worries, it is not a requirement. But if you are headed off the college, majors in psychology, sociology, counseling, and social work are best.
- If you are in a position to do so, working as an intern or a volunteer is an important step in the process. Working with people who are in need of a little help gives you a better perspective on the needs and dreams of others.
- Take a coaching program with an accredited provider. The ICF (International Coach Federation) and the ICA (International Coaching Association) are two of the largest governing bodies in the industry – look to them to help guide you to the right program.
- Get certified. Once you complete an accredited program, you are eligible to get a certification. This gives you the cred to back up your claim to be a life coach.
- Attend seminars and continue your education. Reading books, watching DVDs, viewing webinars, and making a habit out of going to seminars will help keep you on top of your game.
What qualifications do I need to become a life coach? Assess your personality first!
What qualifications do I need to become a life coach? Take the steps necessary to learn the skills and get certified.
What qualifications do I need to become a life coach? Always strive to improve through the lifelong pursuit of new skills and education.
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
Writing Team, Coaches Training Blog Community



Knowing if you have what it takes and if your heart is in the career is best before deciding if you want to become a life coach. Thanks for these tips, very helpful.
Having the right qualifications and skills is always needed to be the best in your chosen career. It is not enough that you are interested in a career that you decide to join that chosen field. It is important that you know what is required of the job.