We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more . Life coaches help people to identify goals, assist them in making lifestyle changes, and provide encouragement along the way. The best way to get started in this career is to find a reputable life coach certification program that provides the necessary education and tools to pass an exam and earn a life coach certificate. There are a number of programs to choose from, and several offer both online and in-person training. To help you find thebest life coachcertification program for your needs, we evaluated over 30 top programs based on how well it offers a well-rounded curriculum that covers the ins and outs of life coaching, the accreditation of the program, student reviews, and cost. We prioritized the programs accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and offered additional training in specialized areas such as business coaching or health and wellness coaching. Below we outline the best life coach certification programs that ranked the best. Best Life Coach Certification Programs Best Life Coach Certification Programs Final Verdict Compare Providers Guide to Choosing FAQs Methodology Key Specs Why We Chose It Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching is our pick for the most comprehensive program because it provides an in-depth education that allows you to earn three certifications. Pros & Cons Pros Extensive library of tools and resources Live sessions every three months Earn three credentials through one certification program International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited Cons More expensive than other certification programs Takes several months to complete Not self-paced Overview The Institute for Professional Excellence inCoaching (iPEC) provides one of the most comprehensive life coaching certifications available. The program is accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and offers a three-day live seminar either virtually or in person at select locations, a workshop series, and over 320 hours of coaching education online. You’ll earn three certifications in one: iPEC’s Certified Professional Coach (CPC) credential, along with two other credentials that can help set you apart from other life coaches. Aside from the three days of live classes, the entire course is delivered via on-demand webinars, e-workbooks, and self-study materials. Once you complete the iPEC life coaching course, you can go on to earn more certifications in additional specialties, such as sports performance, health and wellness, business leadership, couples coaching, and more. Pricing & Certifications The coaching fundamentals certificate costs $2,995. The full program, which includes three certifications (including a master's level certification), costs $13,395. You can choose between program lengths of 3 days (30 training hours) or nine months to one year (320+ training hours) for three certifications (again, including a master's level certification), and can also choose a self-paced or scheduled program (the master's certification is self-paced). Payment plans and discounts are available. Key Specs Why We Chose It You can earn a certificate in three days with the Certified Life Coach Institute. Pros & Cons Pros Short completion time More affordable compared to other programs ICF approved Cons Not as in-depth as other certifications Must complete level one and two to join ICF Overview For those looking to get certified quickly, the three-day life coach certification from the Certified Life Coach Institute offers about 33 hours of immersive education. Expect three full days of high-quality information and training. Through the course, you’ll learn the ICF Core Competencies of being a life coach, strategies to help establish and grow your business, and coaching scope of practice. You’ll also learn key coaching strategies and techniques, such as how to let your clients lead and how to listen attentively. Pricing & Certifications While you can certainly start your life coaching business with this quick $995 certification, it’s wise to invest in longer-term training over the course of your career to ensure that you deliver a valuable service to your clients. In order to join ICF, you will need to complete Certified Life Coach Institute’s Coaching 102 class ($1,295). Key Specs Why We Chose It The Health Coach Institute is the best health-focused certification since it combines two certifications—health coach and life coach—into one program. Pros & Cons Pros Dual life and health coach certification Focus on nutrition, personal growth, habit change, and business education ICF accredited Cons No in-person classes or training Payment plan adds $500 to tuition Overview There’s a difference between a life coach and a health coach, but the two specialties overlap a great deal—after all, staying healthy plays a significant role in cultivating a happy, successful life. This self-paced dual life and health coach course from the Health Coach Institute unites the two certifications into one seamless experience, where you’ll learn the ins and outs of both professions. The training includes four main pillars: nutrition, habit change, personal growth, and business education. The program takes place 100% online and your training will mostly be self-guided with recorded webinars, weekly mentoring sessions, online homework and activities, and hands-on training. Pricing & Certifications The course is self-paced and takes about six months. You'll earn the ICF-accredited titles of Certified Health Coach and Certified Life Coach. Get in touch with a program representative to learn more about this program. It costs $5,950 when paid up-front. Key Specs Why We Chose It Integrative Wellness Academy offers a Master Integrative Life Coaching certificate to help current life coaches take their coaching practice to the next level. Pros & Cons Pros Advanced level master certification Teaches high-level coaching techniques Covers topics including career, finance, health and wellness, family Dual enrollment possible Cons Must complete IWA's ILC program to enroll in MILC program Requires learning about all five distinct areas Overview If you already have a life coach certification from the Integrative Wellness Academy (IWA), you can advance your career by earning a master life coach certification. In the IWA advanced life coach training program, you’ll build upon what you already know, apply high-level coaching techniques, and learn how to coach even the toughest clients. The master course covers five distinct areas: integrative life coaching, relationship and family coaching, career and finance coaching, health coaching, and self-development and spiritual coaching. You can choose one niche over the others for your final credential, but you’ll learn about all five nonetheless. You can complete the course online. For those who do not have an ILC from the Integrative Wellness Academy, dual enrollment is offered. You can complete the life coaching course and move on to the master course at a bundled cost. Note that IWA courses are not ICF-accredited. Though that is the gold standard for coaching certifications, the industry is unregulated. You are not required to take an accredited program to be a coach, nor does the coaching program accreditation convey the same esteem that universities and other professional schools offer in medical, mental health, and dietetics fields. The IWA says accreditation removes flexibility from training programs. Because IWA is always developing new coaching techniques and educational material based on world changes, its leaders feel that having to pass accreditation for every program alteration would be too limiting. Pricing & Certifications After completing the master's program, which costs $2,499, you will earn the Master Practitioner of Integrative Life Coaching certification (MILC). Key Specs Why We Chose It The Institute for Life Coach Training earned its place on our list thanks to its sweeping program that helps you prep for a master coaching certification. Pros & Cons Pros Most comprehensive and intensive coaching program Elective courses at no extra cost Teaches about the business side of coaching ICF approved Cons Requires a commitment of four to five hours per week More expensive than other programs Takes 18 to 24 months to complete Overview If you’re looking for an extremely intensive life coaching program that will set you up for years of success and continued knowledge, look no further than the Professional Certified Coach program from the Institute for Life Coach Training (ILCT). This program is an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) by the ICF. Though this life coach certification program has fewer training hours (130) than some others, you’ll end up putting in much more time than that. The ILCT website specifies that most weeks require a time commitment of at least four to five hours. To obtain ILCT's professional coach certification, you'll have to rack up 500 hours of coaching experience and pass an exam. This life coaching course also requires you to sign up for specific classes at specific times on certain days—the course structure is very much like that of a college program. It might help to think of the Professional Certified Coach program as an unofficial associate’s degree in life coaching: You’ll have instructors who expect you to show up to class for an attendance grade, and for the Foundations course, you’ll have to complete a written exam with a score of 70% or higher. The ILCT Professional Certification also offers seamless advancement into master coaching programs and specialty credentialing. This life coaching certification definitely isn’t a quick and easy way into the profession, but it’s worth it for life coaches who really care about their careers and their clients. Pricing & Certifications Tuition for this program is around $7,800. By the end of it, you'll earn a certification as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Key Specs Why We Chose It Coach U Core Essentials offers a completely virtual, 78-hour program designed to teach you coaching skills, deepen your personal foundation, and learn practical practice development skills. Pros & Cons Pros Self-paced program that typically takes 6 to 8 months Offered as distance learning Can take week-long intensive workshop ICF approved Cons Does not offer business courses Minimal continuing coach education hours Not as much support as other programs Overview Coach U offers a comprehensive approach to life coaching, with the opportunity to refine your business into niche specialties. The Coach U life coaching certification is ideal if you're considering a career change. The organization is very attuned to the fact that many life coaches work part-time around other job schedules until they can make the leap to full-time coaching. In addition, some life coaches only want their certification to implement strategies into their current job or business. The Coach U Core Essentials program in particular is entirely virtual via live online courses and only requires 78 hours of coaching education to complete (usually done in 6 to 8 months, according to the company’s website). Since the class length is limited, the Coach U Core Essentials program focuses on foundational elements of coaching. You will learn all the fundamental knowledge it takes to be a successful life coach, as well as the ICF Core Coaching Competencies, the scope of practice, and ethics standards for life coaches. You can also opt for the Coach U Core Essentials Fast Track Program, which consists of six immersive, intense days of coaching education, plus pre-and post-program events. With either option, you’ll become an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC). Pricing & Certifications This self-paced, 6- to 8-month program varies in cost based on which course format you choose. For distance learning, expect to pay around $6,095 in tuition. Key Specs Why We Chose It The Udemy Life Purpose Coach certification is an introductory class that allows you to add niche coaching focused on life purpose to your coaching business. Pros & Cons Pros Costs under $200 Often on sale for under $50 Can be completed in one day Cons Focuses more on life purpose than coaching Does not lead to a traditional life coach certification Not accredited by a recognized certifying body Overview It’s probably fair to guess that most people who seek a life coach certification are doing so because they want to coach other people. However, it’s often worth it to invest in a course for the sake of self-development. If you’re looking to learn some life coaching skills and knowledge to apply to your own life, check out the Life Purpose Life Coach Certification on Udemy. This is a short, condensed course that focuses on you finding your life’s purpose. Discovering the answer to this question can spark inspiration, courage, motivation, and determination—all good qualities to have. Plus, who knows? You might end up using this life coach certification to help others, too. Pricing & Certifications This course costs $174.99, but like most Udemy courses is frequently on sale for a small fraction of that price. You'll get more than seven hours of on-demand video with lifetime access and earn a life coach certification from Transformation Services. Our choice for the most comprehensive life coach certification program is the Institute for Professional Excellence inCoaching (iPEC), since it allows you to earn three credentials within one course that's accredited for certification. It's pricey, but we considered its value for launching a career with the potential to specialize in sports or another specific area. That said, all the options on this list are recognized by industry experts and there are many reputable life coach programs that prepare students in different ways. If you’re looking for a certification program with a shorter completion timeline, consider the Certified Life Coach Institute’s courses. Life coaching is a broad career term for professionals who help others develop a variety of skills they wish to improve. This can include working with clients to establish healthy habits, strengthen interpersonal skills, become more organized, manage stress better, and identify and meet goals. Life coaching was estimated to be a nearly $1.5 billion industry in the U.S. in 2022 and was on track to grow by about 5% per year, according to data from Grand View Research. Many certification programs have cropped up to take advantage of widespread interest in life coaching. Most of these courses share core training, but some differentiating factors to consider when choosing a certification program include: Life coaching is an unregulated industry that doesn't require certification, but professionalism, credentials, and skill can set you apart from thousands of other people when you are marketing your services. Training programs can be expensive, but there are budget-friendly options. Your success will depend on your business savvy, too. There are no mandatory prerequisites to becoming a life coach. Life coaching is an unregulated industry and doesn’t require a college degree, work experience, or prior certifications. Anyone who wants to become a life coach can do so. Learn MoreCoaches vs. Psychotherapists It can take anywhere from a few days to an entire year to become certified. The longer the program, the more equipped and confident you’ll be when it comes time to working with clients. We started with a list of more than 30 life coach certifications and a list of categories, such as “quick,” “intensive,” and “advanced.” We also verified third-party accreditation status through the ICF, the gold standard for certification in coaching professions. After reviewing the curriculum of each program, applicable accreditations, and real student reviews, we rated the best here. Keep in mind that the life coaching industry is not regulated by any governing agency and even reputable programs may not have an ICF accreditation. We picked one unaccredited life coach certification (the master life coaching program from the Integrative Wellness Academy) because we stand by its reasoning for withholding accreditation. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback?Best Life Coach Certification Programs of 2024
Most Comprehensive : Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching
Best Quick : Certified Life Coach Institute Life Coach Certification
Best Health-Focused : Health Coach Institute Dual Life and Health Coaching Certification
Best Advanced : Integrative Wellness Academy Master Life Coaching Program
Best Intensive : Institute for Life Coach Training Professional Certification
Best for a Career Change : Coach U Core Essentials Program
Best for Personal Development : Life Purpose Life Coach Certification
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Life Coach Certification Programs
Life Coach Certification Programs Cost Length of Program Specialty/Focus Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching
Most ComprehensiveAbout $13,395 10 to 12 months Earn three certificates through one program Institute for Life Coach Training Professional Certification
Best IntensiveAround $7,800 18 to 24 months Comprehensive coaching program; prep for a master coaching certification Health Coach Institute Dual Life and Health Coaching Certification
Best Health-Focused$5,950 About 6 months Dual life and health coach certification; entirely virtual CoachU Core Essentials Program
Best for a Career ChangeVaries based on format; distance learning is about $6,095 About 12 to 15 months Designed for working individuals; entirely virtual Life Purpose Life Coach Certification
Best for Personal DevelopmentAbout $160 7 hours of video Condensed course to help find your purpose Integrative Wellness Academy Master Life Coaching Program
Best AdvancedAbout $2,500 Self-paced Master life coach certification Certified Life Coach Institute Life Coach Certification
Best QuickAround $1,000(plus $1,295 for the 102 course and ICF eligibility) 3 days of immersive education Quick certification; core competencies of being a life coach Guide to Choosing a Life Coach Certification Program
Comparing Health Coach Certification Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Getting Certified As a Life Coach Worth It?
What Are the Qualifications You Need to Become a Life Coach?
How Long Does It Take to Become Certified?
Methodology
Best Life Coach Certification Programs of 2024 (2024)
Table of Contents
Best Life Coach Certification Programs of 2024
Most Comprehensive : Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching
Best Quick : Certified Life Coach Institute Life Coach Certification
Best Health-Focused : Health Coach Institute Dual Life and Health Coaching Certification
Best Advanced : Integrative Wellness Academy Master Life Coaching Program
Best Intensive : Institute for Life Coach Training Professional Certification
Best for a Career Change : Coach U Core Essentials Program
Best for Personal Development : Life Purpose Life Coach Certification
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Life Coach Certification Programs
Guide to Choosing a Life Coach Certification Program
Comparing Health Coach Certification Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Getting Certified As a Life Coach Worth It?
What Are the Qualifications You Need to Become a Life Coach?
How Long Does It Take to Become Certified?
Methodology
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