How to Become a Certified Life Coach

Coaching is a vast field, so professionals have many niches to choose from. This helps coaches market their services to a specific type of client and gives potential customers confidence that the coach has expertise in helping people with their unique challenges. Some of the possible areas of specialization for life coaches include:

• Business
• Career transition and job search
• Romantic relationships
• Academic issues
• Spirituality
• Aging
• Work-life balance
• General wellness

Helping people improve different areas of their life is a big responsibility requiring specialized training. During training, prospective coaches learn the psychological principles of coaching, how to conduct a coaching assessment to determine clients' needs, ethics in coaching, and communication skills.

To get the best results from their training, students should find a program accredited by industry associations like the International Coach Federation (ICF). This process takes about 18 to 24 months. Depending on the program you choose, you may pay between about $2,500 and $12,000.

You can apply for certification after you complete your training program. Credentials provided by professional associations like the ICF and the International Association of Coaching (IAC) require expertise and demonstration of high work standards. The annual membership fee for the ICF is $245 per year. The IAC's annual fees range from $169 to $319 per year.

For example, the ICF offers a Professional Certified Coach certification requiring 500 hours of coaching experience—450 of which must be paid—as well as at least 25 clients. You also need to pass a test.

To get certain legal protections as a business owner, life coaches can get a business classification, such as a Limited Liability Company or Corporation designation. The process of setting up an official business varies by state. You will need to file articles of organization, reserve a business name, get a business license, and pay applicable fees (some states also require additional steps).

Filing fees for your paperwork are usually under $300, plus you'll pay ongoing LLC fees assigned by the state where you incorporate your business.

Although life coaches don't need insurance, getting coverage can help protect their business and give clients peace of mind. General liability insurance may be as low as $60 per month.

Getting the word out is important for any business, especially one that is in its early stages. Placing ads in targeted publications can help life coaches get the exposure they need to boost their business. You should also attend networking events geared toward people in your niche — this may allow you to meet the types of clients you want to work with.

Sharing positive feedback from clients can also help life coaches gain the trust of prospective customers. Life coaches should ask regular clients to write a testimonial for the website and in promotional materials.