Life Coaching Courses – 5 Things You Should Know

Having been through the same process of looking for life coaching courses there’s a lot of things I wish I knew before I signed up in the course that i did. It would have saved me a lot of time and most likely I could have finished in half the time.
I’ve heard disaster stories of people getting on a program that did not fully prepare them for the world of coaching, lacking a lot of training, experience and practice all that which could have been obtained with the proper course. I have laid it all out for you to avoid the mistakes thousands of people have done, and provide some perspective on key points to consider saving you time energy and money.

1. Do they offer the time zone for you?

Many life coaching courses don’t provide the complete schedule on their websites, they’re kind enough to let you know that they have classes to accommodate all the time zones in the world and there’s a time slot to fit your requirements. Later you come to find out that you’re going to have to wake up at 2:00am Tuesday and Thursdays to attend a class. Make sure they provide the time slots before you commit so you can see if it indeed fits in your day to day life.

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2. Required peer and outside coaching:
Many life coach course schools don’t make this a requirement yet it is one of the most critical components. In the life coach courses I took we where required to coach two peers in the program, two outside clients and the option of one more either inside or outside client for a total of five for 12 weeks each. In addition, there was a requirement of being coached by a peer for 12 weeks as well.
This is important because by the end of the program you will have a good experiential foundation to coach clients and eases the learning curve. Imagine going threw a program where this level of experiential learning was not as in-depth? See our detail post on how to become a life coach for most common requirements to complete the training.

3. Do they offer business building training?
Just like everything else talent, education and natural coaching skills will only get you so far. An additional component that is critical for a successful coaching practice is BUSINESS SKILLS. You can be the best coach in the world however if you can’t get paying clients what good does that do for you?
You might have heard by now that most business that start in the US fail. Having a business building curriculum aids in improving your chances of being success in the coaching business. Learning skills such as managing a life coach crm , sales, marketing, internet marketing campings, website authority presence and so on. Many life coach training don’t offer this type of resources so be alert.

4. Is it an International based school?
By being part of an international life coaching course enables you to explore the different perspectives, styles, beliefs and challenges people from all over the world experiences. By partaking in that you will gain key insight in cultural diversity and coaching ethics which will expand your awareness of the world that you can share with your future clients.

5. Do the instructors walk the talk?
Research the instructors who are teaching the classes don’t just go by the bio on their web page.
You don’t want to be part of a program where the instructor is someone who just achieved their life coach training course that has little or no experience.
Google their name to see what type of information is out there about them. Are they actively coaching? Who are their clients? What is their track record?
Coaching is growing to a very lucrative profession where you work with people to achieve their goals, overcome challenges and walk along side them to become each day an extraordinary person. Make sure you choose the right course for you. Do it for your future clients.

Life Coaching Courses In Florida
Coach U
College of Executive Coaching
Corporate Coach U International
CTI – The Coaches Training Institute
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)

Additional Coaching Courses Will be posted soon.

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How Much Does Coaching Training Cost?

Cost of coaching and how much does a course in life coaching cost?

Just as much professions the fees will vary depending on the level of “expertise” .  How recognized are they within the industry, have they written a book? are they a public speaker? a program with one of Anthony Robins life coaches will be much different then someone who is not as well known.  This does not mean they are not as good, it simply means they haven’t marketed themselves on that level.

I currently pay a business coach $150 per month which includes a 45 min coaching call, and email support.  He also has several packages available upto $1000.   Another fact that makes a difference in the cost of coaching is the type of coaching.  Business coaching pricing is greatly different then personal life coaching, or then from relationship coaching.   The important aspect of choosing a coach and how much to pay is to evaluate case studies and what results they have achieved for their other clients.

Different coaches have different pricing models, some charge by the hour, others by the package, others by a combination of both.  The best thing to do is ask yourself how much will you budget for coaching. Once you have that number on hand you can go out and read articles of coaches, decided which one resonates more with you and make them an offer based on your budget.

If it is an individual coach they can make it happen for your budget, if it’s an organization most likely not.

When discussing Beware of home life coach training programs and cheap ebooks. See our detail article that discusses what is involved in the process of how to become a life coach .  This is the difference between an authentic training program or a cheap program that just steals your money.

As life coaching becomes more and more popular there seems to be an on pour of different programs and methods that claim to get you certified in as little as three months. Think of it this way would you pay from $250 – $500 dollars to a self claim life coach that read some books passed a home test and received a cheap certificate of completion by some unknown body association?
ICF is the international coaching federation, they not only provide a foundation for coaching institutions but also fundamental coaching principals across the board.

You might ask how much do you pay for life coaching .The coaching school I personally attended was a two year program I could have completed it in year and a half, however I choose to not rush it and get as much coaching experience and feedback as possible.
In a home study life coaching program do you have communities of practice? Peer coaching:? Supervised coaching? 20 different coaching instructors whom you can learn and understand their particular style? Can you talk to peers all over the world so you can experience an international perspective of the coaching process? Is a personal coaching model a requirement? And most importantly will you get personal business building support.

A life coach certification Icf Accredited will be extremely beneficial from a marketing perspective. One of the biggest challenges you will have as a life coach is finding clients. Beware of the cheap programs that do not deliver results or prepare you for the new life ahead.

How much do life coaching courses cost?

You can expect to pay from $1,000 up to $6,000. I personally paid $4,000 for the life coach two year program. You get what you pay for. If you choose the right coaching school for you it will pay itself out in the long run. When looking into a life coach course ask if they offer a life time membership program? How many times can you retake the course after you graduate? You will realize how important it is to still be part of the community of your program once you graduate so you can bounce ideas with your peers and your instructors about cases of your actual paying clients.

It’s not just about the life coach two year programs but also about the lasting relationships there after.

It is not just about how much do you pay for life coaching it’s also about the quality of the coaching you receive.

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Making Money As A Life Coach Facts

The question of making money as a life coach is it possible? is a common concern among those looking into getting started. The answer to the question is yes and no. By that I mean if you are looking to become a life coach and obtain a life coach certification so you can go out apply for a job, It will be tough! , it’s too narrow of a niche and many companies don’t see the value to have one on staff full time. If however it can enhance your current career in any way it will be an added bonus, and hiring managers will put you head of the pack. If for example you are in human resources, school counselor, teacher or so forth adding a coaching credential is of great value.

Now consider the most lucrative alternative: to start your own coaching business. That is by far the most way to earn a good size income however coaching skills alone will not cut it. If the thought of building a business, sales, marketing, public speaking, writing and publishing gives you chills down your back. Then coaching is not really a career path for you, if you really want to make money as a life coach it is what it takes, however of all of the above things excite you then get ready for some fun times ahead.
A study by the salary.com website identified coaching as a fast growing business.

The personal development business in general is a billion dollar business, and hefty rewards for those who commit to the process.
making money as a life coach depends on your background it will be easier or more challenging. In my experience talking to other coaches, the ones who make money as a life coach the soonest are those with sales, marketing or have had business building experience in the past. I’m not talking about those with an MBA’s I’m talking about those who have built business from the ground up. If that is not you be prepared for the learning curve.

That is why attending a coaching school that offers business building, marketing and sells training is a critical part of your curriculum. In additional the training learned via the process of coaching is not only a business opportunity but it will also build you as a person and it will make a significant impact in your life and your relationships. Even if you never make a penny the skills learned through coaching measure its weight in gold.

You can consider to Sell Life Coach Ebooks on your website :  Ebooks are a great way for you to build additional passive income streams.   It will also enable you to become recognized as an expert in your particular niche.   An important thing to consider if you decide to sell life coach ebooks on your website, is that you will benefit greatly from learning internet marketing seo skills for coaches.


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Becoming A Life Coach Ultimate Guide – Written By A Life Coach

How To Become A Life Coach

Unlike most websites you will find that rank on the first page of Google, who are only really trying to sell you something, this post is intended to really guide you on becoming a life coach. This will cover mostly the Associate & Professional Life Coach certification track.
Before going into details lets first get clear of important definitions:

Life Coaching Certification Vs Life Coach Accreditation
The life coach certification is a longer process. It took me two years to complete the life coaching course I had signed up for, while some of my peers took only 12 months to complete all the course work. They were also attending classes full time while I could only attend part time.
There are three main paths in the life coach certification track:

  • ACC Associate Certified Coach
  • PCC professional Certified Coach
  • MCC Master Certified Coach

The ACC is really more like an introduction to coaching it is much shorter in length and does not go into much depth on tools and resources that are indispensable to assist others to achieve change in their life.
If you are serious about becoming a life coach then the PCC track is what you are after.
In order to become a life coach and obtain your Professional Life Coach Certification here are list of requirements you will most likely have to complete. While it may vary depending on the program you decide to enroll, here are the fundamentals.

What are the requirements for the life skills training coach certification and coaching?
There are currently no main requirements for the life skills training coach certification, all that is required is the time, the financial resources and the desire to do so.

Attending Classes

You will be required to attend approximately 90 hours of classes. These classes will cover a wide array of modules that important for every coach to be proficient with working with clients. Some of the Key learning outcomes of the program include:

  • A core understanding of what is coaching and overview of the industry of coaching
  • Complete resource and core tools of coaching
  • Program specific Power Tools such as: Active listening, Reframing, Game Vs Significance, Trust vs Doubt.
  • Develop the ability to develop an effective coaching model and a unique version of the coaching process
  • Develop the capacity to grow your coaching thinking process
  • Improve the ability of the coach to build a profitable coaching business.

Communities of practice:

One of the most important aspects of coaching is the ability to identify a target coaching niche. In most cases you will be required to complete 12 hours of communities of practice. This will allow you to discover and test out several niches to identify what works best for you, based on your coaching style and your background.

An example of such niches are:

Spiritual coaching
Executive coaching
Leadership coaching
Single Mother Life Balance coach
I want to take a moment to point out the last one, which is a perfect coaching niche for two reasons:
a) It is very specific
b) There is low completion.

We will get into more details on coaching niches later on.

Coaching and Being Coached

You will be required to complete 12 hours as client and 60 recorded hours as a coach. It will usually take place as 2 peer clients (Those inside the coaching program) and 2 outside clients, and an option of one more client of your choosing either inside or outside of the coaching program.

Business Building Group Study

You also be required 12 hours of business building group study courses to aid you in developing a profitable business.

This will be one of the most critical skills for you to learn. Robert Kiosaky in his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, outlines the importance of having a skill but yet more so important is the ability to sell that skill to the masses.

A good life coaching course will include large amount of resources and training to develop those skills. We will discuss more on business building later on.

Supervised Coaching

You will be required to attend 12 hours of supervised coaching session where you will experience the process of coaching with an already certified and experienced coach on the line to provide feedback an evaluate the coaching process.

Coaching Oral Assessment

As part of the requirements you will be given an oral assessment which consists of 7 questions. 5 of which are brought up during the supervised coaching session, and the remaining two will be about the ICF code of ethics.

Research Paper

You will be required to turn in a 2000 word research paper regarding one particular aspect of your coaching. This paper will be evaluated by the comity in order to identify the students purposeful use of:

  • Research and analytical data
  • Capacity to express point and argument
  • Presentation and referencing
  • Understanding of topic being presented

The ACP track only requires 750-1000 words for the research paper.
The above is an overview of what is expected for the PCC route on becoming a life coach.
Master Certified Coach is already for those individuals who have existing experience as a coach. They will be required to have at least 2,500 hours of coaching and 35 clients as a minimum.
They will be required to submit one recording of their coaching session.
Attend a 30 min oral live oral exam
If the participant currently holds a PCC they will not be required to take the written exam otherwise passing this evaluation becomes a requirement.

How much does a life coach training cost?

You can expect to pay between $2,500US upt $4,000US.
Cert Life coach for under $1,000
Any cert life coach for under $1,000 that you find will not be worth it. You get what you pay for; if you are serious about becoming a life coach you must take your training seriously. Would you prefer to visit a doctor that attended a cheap medical school? Or a school with a track record of training good doctors.
Add additional tools toy your toolbox. More on Life coach training cost
Another great beneficial skill that would go well with life coaching and has no previous requirement is NLP Neuro Linguistic programming. It is dedicated to understanding how the mind works and how it records information in order to create change. Hypnosis is another valuable tool that taps into the subconscious mind to change behaviors that are not readily available to the conscious mind. It is a way to bypass the current limitations of the mind and install desired behaviors from the root.

Building a Life Coaching Business

If you are serious about answering the question regarding how to become a life coach there are two important elements that are imperative that you have firm grasp and understanding of. While the training and your natural skill will play a key role in your success, choosing the right coaching niche based on your experience and having solid business skills is what will set you apart and make you successful in the long run.
About Coaching Niches

As a rule of thumb take a look at your work experience, what types of books have you read, what your hobbies are. By taking a dissociated look at your life in your professional and areas of interest could form a base line to identify your niche. Not only will it be critical towards your marketing success but it will also aid when talking to potential customers. Let the “I” come out.

If you are a single parent that works full time and has success in achieving happiness both in the workplace and with your children, then perhaps Single parents Balance Coach could be your niche. This coach would focus on supporting single parents on finding balance with their home and work life. If you have a background in yoga, or Pilates; Yoga Therapy Coaching, is the process of combining the body energy and self exploration to create change.
There are no predetermined niches, if you can create a niche that has a market and you have prior experience with it, you will most likely be successful.

Why you need to learn Internet Marketing

One of the wonderful things about coaching is the option to have a complete practice remotely. Your only requirement would be internet, an internet phone, life coach crm, and a computer. You are totally mobile. The challenge however would be to determine how are you going to get the word out.
Internet marketing is very different than traditional marketing. It focuses around driving traffic, building a large social media profile and establishes yourself as an expert in the field. As you may have noticed this website ranks on first page for several top keywords in Google such as life coach crm, life coaching courses, life coach course to name a few. This is no coincidence this was done with purpose, while I will not be getting too much into that you can vist my friends Mark And Court and for just $1 they can teach you all you need to know. The fact remains that you must become an Internet Marketing expert.

Learn to Sell.

Before you can coach someone you must first sell them on the idea of coaching, then you must sell them on why you would be the best ideal coach. You see coaching cannot start unless they are signed up in the program. Enroll in sales training courses, read as much as you can on selling and dedicate yourself to become a master sales person.

Life coaching elevator pitch:
You are in the elevator in the 10th floor you meet someone and then they ask, so what do you do? Do you stand cold and mumble a few words or do you say:
My name is _____ and I help coaches find new clients, and get more leads.
Having a clear message in the short in 30 sec or less will be a key factor to peak interest in potential clients.

Learn to Manage your Leads:
If you do not have a CRM system or do not know what a contact management system is? Then you need to get up to speed quick. That database is your Gold mine!!! Everyone you meet goes in the crm system, with time you will have hundreds of contacts and start building a network that will lead you to profits. Follow up on each lead until you hear a yes or a no. If you get a No it only means to try back again in three months.

Before You Quit Your Job:

  1. Make sure you have experience with coaching clients
  2. You have track record of success
  3. A few good testimonials
  4. A solid lead capturing website on first page of google
  5. Have a good handle on your income vs expenses
  6. A well defined and TESTED niche
  7. The basic outline of a business plan with a one year and three year projection
  8. A populated life coach CRM system
  9. If you live in the US visit your local SBA office: Small Business Administration

I leave you with one last thought:

Define Your Why.
before asking the question: how do i become a life coach or how to become a life coach you need to take a closer look at your WHY question:

Why do you want to become a life coach? Do you have a background in therapy, psychology or do you just happen to be the go to person when someone is having problems? Do you like the feeling of aiding others to achieve greatness?
It is important to have a clear definition of your why so that you can move forward during the challenging times in your life.


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