“I want to be a coach and start my practice.”
Did you make that declaration to yourself or your family and friends? Firstly, congratulations! You just took the first step towards an amazingly fulfilling career and the independence to do where your passion lies.
However, do you know how to become a life coach?
If you thought that you could start a coaching practice just like that, think again! Why would people come to you? Why would they trust you to be their coach?
We’ll walk you through the steps of how to become a life coach and what to do after.
What kind of courses should you look for?
Coaching, unlike other forms of career, does not require a degree. Yes! You heard it right.
Nevertheless, getting formal training is crucial because of one essential factor; the certificate adds more credibility to your profile as a coach.
When referring to courses, you should always go for the accredited ones. Here are the international bodies that offer accreditations to the coaching courses:
- International Coaching Federation (ICF).
- European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
- Association of Coaching.
- Centre for Credentialing and Coaching.
These organizations set the rules for coaching competencies and ethics, credentialing courses, and individuals that can live up to that standard. To find out more about life coaching courses, click the link.
What certifications matter in life coaching?
Speaking of coaching certifications, it’s the passageway to your credentialing as a life coach. You undertake a coaching course, get certified, and start practising. You can then apply for credentials. This solidifies your identity in the coaching community as an able professional. Here’s a glimpse of the ICF certification that would benefit you:
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC): 60+ hours of coach-specific training followed by 100+ hours of coaching practice.
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC): 125+ hours of coach-specific training followed by 500+ hours of coaching practice.
- Master Certified Coach (MCC): 200+ hours of coach-specific training followed by 2500+ hours of coaching practice.
The coaching and experience hours act as the unit to measure your competency as a life.
What happens after you get the certificate?
After the certificate, you can join a coaching organization or start your own business pr practice. While practicing, once you have realized that you have enough experience hours to apply for the credential, you can do the same by submitting the required credentials to ICF, EMCC, or CCE.
Once you have acquired both the certificate and the credential, nothing can stop you from starting your very own practice. However, make sure that you conduct a thorough market survey and establish your website and social media identity for more exposure.
Wrapping Up
If you still have questions or comments on “how to become a life coach,” you can drop a comment. Completing the training hours, learning and imbibing the skills and ethics, getting certified and credentialed; that’s the drill. Nevertheless, the fruits would depend on your labor and your passion.
