At Transformation Academy, we’re committed to helping you find the best life coaching certification programs for your career and entrepreneurship goals. Of course, we would love for you to learn and grow with us, however more importantly we want you to choose a training program that fits your needs and helps you feel confident and prepared to be a great, successful life coach.
Whether you want to coach people through their business ambitions, help them find more joy in day-to-day life, or find their life’s purpose, we’re here to help.
Read through our list of the five best things to look for when choosing the coaching program that’s best for you.
5 Things to Look For in a Coaching Program
As you assess the best schools for a life coaching certification, there are a few key features to keep in mind, no matter what your niche might be. Here’s what to look out for:
1. Practical Coaching Training
Top coach training programs always emphasize the practical part of coaching. When it comes down to it, knowing how actually coach your clients (aka what to say and do during a session, how to structure your coaching offers, real-world tools and processes that get results) is going to be what makes the difference between you and other coaches. A program that puts practical training first, and emphasizes the way you can use these tools and strategies with your clients, is an absolute must when considering a life coaching program.
2. Credible Certifications
As you search for the best life coaching certification program, it’s important to find a program that will provide you a credible certificate for each of the courses you take. So, what makes a certification credible?
It’s important to know that there are not legal requirements for becoming a life coach. This means there is no accreditation for training institutions and no requirement to be certified. However, this does not mean certification is not important and valuable. The most important part of a training or certification program is how well it prepares you to be a coach. But having a certification also helps provide credibility, that is if the organization certifying you has a good reputation.
Transformation Academy has a great reputation, with extremely high ratings and passionate students and fans. It is also officially recognized as an Accredited Provider of Continuing Professional Development with the internally recognized CPD Standards Office.
There are a variety of types of certification programs with different requirements. Some claim to be accredited by life coach associations, however again this is not necessary.
We always reiterate that the best option for you is the one you feel aligned with the most.
3. Solid Testimonials
One way to find out whether a life coaching program is right for you is to hear from people who have been through the program in the past. Listening to real-world life coaching testimonials can help you find a program that has the goals, strategy, and teaching style that’s right for your learning style.
The simple truth? The actual experiences of other coaches-in-training is a better indicator of the quality of a coach training program than judgements or criticisms you may hear from coaches who took a different route for their training.
4. A Program That Fits Your Values
Different people have different values, and at the end of the day, it’s important to find a life coaching program that will align well with your personal values.
Some programs may emphasize in-person or one-on-one training, while others may emphasize self-paced, distance learning, making their programs accessible.
Some require trainees to complete a certain number of practice-coaching hours before becoming certified, while others encourage new coaches to start coaching right away.
Some value a more academic approach while others value a more real-world approach.
Some encourage standardized approaches and requirements for all life coaches while others encourage standards for all within each coach’s unique approach.
At Transformation Academy, we value democratizing coach education, making the tools and strategies to be a great coach accessible to all. We believe you already are a coach (you’ve been doing this un-paid your whole life, right?!) and that the best way we can serve you is to give you real-world training that you can implement with clients right away, as you continue to learn and grow over time.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to find a program that speaks to you and has the right vision for your growth, career, and development.
5. A Program That Suits Your Niche
Lastly, finding a niche is an essential part of any life coaching program. Some programs focus only on teaching foundational coaching methodologies and skills, which of course is important. However, other programs may offer different niche specialties, for example:
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Personal relationships
- Yoga and mindfulness
- Shamanism
- Life purpose
- Confidence
(Note: we have niche life coach certifications available in all of the topic areas mentioned above.)
Focusing your life coaching around a niche that you are uniquely passionate about and capable of providing guidance in is a huge factor for success. Having a niche makes it easier to market your services (for instance, offering “life purpose coaching” vs. “life coaching”). It also helps guide both you and your client through a more structured process of discovery and transformation because you both know exactly what your desired outcomes are for the coaching experience.
Whatever your preferred niche coaching area, finding a program that can cater to what you want to learn is essential to finding the best life coaching certification program.
Life Coaching vs. Therapy
Some professionals considering a career in life coaching may also be considering pursuing a career as a professional therapist. While there are some aspects of the two career paths that are similar, there are some differences that may push someone more towards life coaching vs therapy.
Therapists focus on mental health and mental health problems, whereas life coaches help clients work towards achieving life milestones and goals. Therapists are legally licensed to treat people who are struggling with mental health or have experienced trauma or substance abuse, while life coaches are not trained or qualified in these areas and should never address these topics with clients. There are no legal requirements for life coaches—just industry-recognized certifications—but this is exactly because they do not treat or address these issues.
Life coaching is also a lower-cost path, as life coaching certifications are quicker and more inexpensive than the graduate degrees necessary for a career as a licensed therapist. That brings us to our last point to consider.
Assessing Cost
It’s important that whatever life coaching program you choose, it’s built to be cost-effective. For example, Transformation Academy offers bundled packages and life coaching masterclasses that are designed to get you started right away. We deliver the skills necessary to build your coaching business from the ground up in a way that makes sense for your budget. The reason our programs are cost-effective is because they are 100% virtual and self-paced. Other life coach training organizations offer more hands-on, in-person, and guided instruction, the benefits of which are included in their higher fees.
Whatever program you choose, though, always remember to factor in the cost of training and education as you consider your startup expenses.
Choosing the Best Life Coaching Program: Key Takeaways
Finding the best schools for life coaching certifications can be a challenge, but if you narrow your search using the items listed here, you’re sure to find a top coach training program that’s suited for your career path and life goals.
Whether or not you choose Transformation Academy, we are here to support you in your path as a life coach. We believe in the real change life coaching can make in clients’ lives, and want everyone to find the coaching path that’s right for their mind, body, and soul.
Here’s what to keep in mind as you continue your search:
- Always seek out programs that emphasize practical knowledge and application of coaching skills.
- Find a program that has reputable, practical certifications that help you feel prepared and that you are proud to have alongside your name.
- When in doubt, listen to testimonials. People who have been through a life coaching program often know best whether that program is all it’s cracked up to be.
- Consider your values, and be sure to find a program that is well-aligned with the things that you hold most important.
- Remember to carefully research and decide on your niche. Different coaches have different coaching niches, and picking one that’s right for your mindset and ambitions puts you in a solid position for future success.
You should also keep in mind whether coaching (or some other option, like therapy) is right for you, and whether the costs make sense for your budget. As you navigate your career and life path, Transformation Academy is happy to help you along the way—connect with us if you have questions about where to head in your journey next!
