How Long Does it Take to Become a Life Coach?

Now this sure is an interesting question, that doesn’t actually have a specific answer, or at least, the answer is more complicated than you may have thought. How long does it take to become a life coach? Anything from 2 weeks to several years!

What?! Let’s explain this a little better.

Life coaching is an unregulated industry. There are no minimum qualifications needed, you don’t need to be certified, nor do you need to be registered with the authorities. You can simply declare “I am a life coach!” and as if by magic, you are one! (Sounds a bit like manifestation!)

But of course, in reality, this isn’t going to be a great way to start a new career. You’ll be totally unprepared for the work involved, untrained and unskilled.

You certainly won’t be in a position to give excellent advice and help your clients achieve their goals. Indeed, you’re unlikely to get any clients in the first place if you have neither a life coaching certification nor experience.

Perhaps a better question to ask is – How long does it take to become a GOOD life coach? A life coach with a decent chance of building a successful career.

Training and certification is the key

Some of the skills needed to be an excellent life coach can be learned, and others may well be your natural talents.

If you’re looking into a career as a life coach, there’s a good chance you already have the basis of what it takes to excel in this profession.

You’ll be a great communicator who loves to talk but is also an excellent listener. You’ll have an interest in people, their lives, their dreams and goals, and you’ll always be keen to offer practical advice and support to those around you.

But on top of your natural talents, there’s still plenty you can learn, and that’s why life coach certifications are invaluable to both those starting out in this career and anyone looking to expand their skills and boost their credentials.

With Life Coaching Certification you’ll stand out from the crowd

As with most other unregulated industries, there is a huge mix when it comes to the quality of the services provided by life coaches.

It can be hard to ensure that your life coaching business is seen for what it is, genuine, high-quality, reliable and skilful. Anyone can set up a stylish website (we suggest using Squarespace!) and get a professional-looking logo designed, so how do you differentiate yourself from the masses?

Certification is the perfect way to prove your credentials. When you’ve earned a certificate in life coaching, potential clients will know that you’ve undertaken professional training and have worked hard to achieve this accolade.

Your life coaching certificate is a huge asset.

But do you have the time and money to take a life coaching course?

The benefits of life coach certification are obvious, but is it really feasible?

Perhaps you already have a full-time job and want to start out being a life coach in your spare time, to test the waters and see if it’s the career for you.

You have bills to pay, you can’t simply opt out of employment for a few years to take a degree course. Or perhaps you have childcare commitments, and attending college just isn’t a realistic option for you. 

Don’t worry, even when you’re short of time, and don’t have a bottomless bank account, life coaching certification is not out of your reach. There are many life coaching courses available, and if you look hard enough and do your research, you’ll find one that ticks all the boxes.

There are short courses on offer that are excellent value for money and you can receive your certification within just a few weeks.

There are courses that are totally flexible, allowing you to study at times that fit in with your daily life, at a pace that works for you.

You’ll also discover a wealth of online courses, so you can study at home and don’t have to commit to a time or a place for your studies. 

Finding the ideal middle ground

Yes, you can simply call yourself a life coach and wing it, hoping for the best.

Or, you could spend years and thousands of dollars studying for a degree.

Or better still, you could choose the third option, of taking a shorter, lower-cost course, that will get you that all-important certification, and teach you all the skills you need to be an outstanding life coach, without having to sacrifice your life and your bank balance.

How do I choose the right life coaching course?

Again, this is where research pays off. There’s no shortage of life coaching courses, and selecting the one that will work best for you can take a little effort.

First and foremost, we suggest only choosing from courses that offer certification, as this will be so valuable to your business.

The next step is to decide what your own needs are. Do you want a course that is flexible? Where the work can be completed at times to suit you, such as in the evening or at weekends.

Do you want to attend a college, in person, or would you prefer to take a remote, online course from your own home?

All these factors will determine what course you should take, and help to narrow down your choices.

Of course, you’re also going to want to take training that is beneficial, informative and enjoyable. So the next step is to look at reviews and testimonials for the courses you’re considering

What do past students think about the course? Was it worthwhile for them? Did they feel they learned a lot? Was it a pleasant experience?

If you can, take a look at the curriculum. Does it cover everything you need? Perhaps you’d like to focus on career coaching or alternatively, relationship coaching. Are there modules that cover your preferred areas of expertise?

How to make the best use of your life coaching certification

Once you’ve achieved your certification, don’t forget to put it to good use!

You can use the job title ‘Certified Life Coach’ which certainly looks more impressive than simply being a ‘life coach’.

You can also add information about your new credentials to your resume and website, your social media and your business cards.

It’s a huge accomplishment, and it will shine a light on you and your skills, it’s an outstanding step up for any budding life coach.