Should I Become An ICF Credentialed Life Coach?
Have you ever seen a photo of someone on social media who is holding a shaker bottle and calling themselves a coach? It’s usually a MASSIVE red flag for me.
The truth is that there are no state or federal laws that govern the coaching industry. This makes unsuspecting clients often fall victim to so-called online gurus who can’t seem to see past the dollar sign. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of coaches in their respective industries who have the experience and education that they need in order to deliver the services that they offer. We should, however, ask ourselves the question of, do we even check the credentials of people who call themselves coaches? I have been sucked into the trap of a sales page that was too compelling to say no to, dropped a ton of cash and realized later that I didn’t get what I was promised.
I believe that because of how muddied the life coaching industry has become, if you have the ambition to become a life coach yourself, it is important for you to obtain the required education that can put you on a path needed to become an ICF credentialed life coach. Once certified, wear that credential with pride, showcasing that you’ve done what most coaches don’t do.
What is The International Coaching Federation (ICF)?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the gold standard when it comes to setting the bar on professionalism and standards in the life coaching industry.
As an ICF credentialed coach, we have opportunities opened up to us that those who aren’t credentialed don’t have. When you receive your ICF credentials, you have the ability to be listed as an ICF certified life coach on the ICF website. Many big companies only use ICF certified life coaches and one of the main ways for them to find the coaches they are looking for is through the ICF website.
ICF credentials enhances professional credibility, provides you with an entire network of other coaches and increases opportunities for your career advancement.
You may choose to become an ICF certified life coach so that you can start your own coaching practice or you might also choose the certification so that you are qualified to work as a life coach for a bigger company.
Should I Become a Life Coach if I Already Went to College?
One great way that I like to help clients answer the question of whether or not they should become a life coach is by asking the question: Do people often come to you because you are a really good listener and you are praised for the good advice that you give? This is a good indicator that you already have skills that will make your life coaching education even easier.
You can and in some cases should pursue your career as a life coach even if you already went to college. I went to grad school and obtained my MBA before I hired my first life coach. It was at that point that I realized the power of life coaching and self-study. I grew more in three months than I did during my entire study in grad school.
The great thing about life coaching education is that it doesn’t matter how much or how little education you have up until this point. As long as you meet the individual life coaching training and ICF requirements, you can begin today.
Weighing the Costs to Become an ICF Certified Life Coach
Many people don’t know that becoming an ICF credentialed life coach is not an easy task. I often advise people to look consider what their overall goals are when it comes to becoming a life coach. Are you wanting to start your own life coaching business? Do you want to work as a life coach under another coach’s practice? Perhaps you want to become ICF credentialed so that you can become qualified to apply for a job as a life coach. These are all important questions to consider.
The Actual Cost to Become an ICF Certified Life Coach
Here are some financial costs and time considerations to be aware of when it comes to becoming certified as a life coach:
- Attending an ICF accredited education school (In my experience, accredited ICF schools typically cost around $10,000)
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- Paying for mentor hours if not included in your tuition (Qualified life coaches usually offer mentor coaching hours in a package that can range from $1000-$3000. See our package HERE)
- Paying for in-person training where required (When I did my training, my school offered the in-person portion of the training within driving distance so I did not have to pay anything additional)
- The time required for LIVE training, remote training and required coaching sessions (I already had a coaching practice while I was training and I spent about 25 hours a week on both training and coaching hours)
- Fees associated with the ICF application and credentialing process, exam fees, membership fees (depending on whether or not you are going for your ACC, PCC, or MCC, the fees here are different. This is what is current on the ICF website).
An ICF Certified Life Coach in the Real World
To sum it up, there are three main reasons why someone would decide that the time and money required to become an ICF certified life coach makes sense for them:
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- You want to have your own life coaching practice eventually or you want to work under someone else’s.
- You want to have the qualifications needed in order to apply for a life coach position that requires ICF certification.
- You simply want the credibility and recognition that comes with being credentialed by the ICF to use how you wish once you decide.
Always remember that the costs of programs, certifications and trainings from authorized facilities will probably never be less expensive as they are now. Inflation is a real thing and while many life coaching education programs might not be cheap, you are investing in yourself. Always ask if payment plans are an option if that is something that fits your financial needs.
If you are looking to become a credentialed life coach and are researching ICF credentialed schools, I am a proud student and supporter of the Radiant Coaches Academy.
Written By: Coach Ashlie Walton