What is the value of a life coaching certificate? Does it have any value? Should you shell out several hundred dollars to get trained and certified?

The answer to the three questions above: 1.) The value is incalculable and priceless. 2.) Yes. 3.) Yes, again.

You may or may not know that you do not need a coaching certificate to be a coach. Though this may change sometime, you do not need any special certifications to be a coach in any state in the nation or any country in the world. You can just announce to the world that you are a life coach. Plain and simple. If that is the case, why would anyone spend their time and hard-earned money to take special training and earn a special certificate in life coaching?

You can get plenty of training from books, the Internet, webinars, seminars, DVDs, CDs, jobs, and life itself. Your own personal experiences serve as some of the greatest learning tools for a career in life coaching. Though these different methods of training may provide you with valuable insights that can help others ameliorate their lives, a lack of formal training and certification may leave you with a credibility gap.

Why Should You Have a Life Coaching Certificate?

If you want to work for someone else, it will look much better when you send in your resume or walk in for an interview, if you have your life coaching certificate. Some employers may even require that you have one.

If you want to open your own coaching practice, it is also a smart move to get certified. A life coaching certification will not necessarily bring in new clients immediately, but in the long run it will act as advertisement for the depth of your training and your commitment to the coaching profession. If you were someone seeking a life coach, you would probably be more prone to hire one with a certification than one who is not certified.

3 Important Things to Know Before Getting Your Life Coaching Certificate

If you are thinking of starting your own practice, don’t wait until you have a certification. Get started and begin building your practice while you are working toward your certification. If you wait, you may miss out on some potential clients and the chance to start building a thriving practice. However, don’t let this piece of advice stop you from getting the proper training. Get your business and your formal education started at the same time.

When you decide to work toward achieving your life coaching certificate, it is a smart move to get your certificate from the International Coach Federation (ICF). The sole purpose of this non-profit organization is to improve and advance the quality of coaching and coaching training. ICF requirements are the gold standard for coaches and coaching training around the world. If you complete training from an ICF accredited coaching school, you will earn two certifications – one from the school and one from the ICF. Not a bad way to start!

Do your research before starting your education. Research the reputation, the time, the access to mentoring coaches, and the cost. Don’t just sign up with the first school or program you see online. Knowledge is power – get the knowledge and then use your power to pick the right coaching program for you. There are no laws requiring you to get a life coaching certificate, but in an increasingly competitive industry, it is a must!

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!

Fred Philips
Business Coach
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