Certified Life Coach: What It Means and How to Become One

Life has its inevitable ebbs and flows. Sometimes, a person finds it easy to continue on the path in front of them and other times, they may find it harder to figure out the right next steps. A certified life coach is a professional trained to help others navigate those more difficult periods.

If you enjoy tapping into skills like empathy, active listening, and problem-solving to help people improve their lives, you may be interested in exploring a career as a life coach. Explore what a life coach does and how you can start your career as a certified life coach.

What is a certified life coach?

As a life coach, you will partner with clients as they work toward a more ideal version of their life. You may often focus on areas such as the client’s daily well-being, work-life balance, or relationships.

The coaching industry has no regulating authority and it has yet to establish any formal requirements for a person to become a life coach. However, you can opt to take various coach training programmes to deepen your knowledge, build expertise, and learn more about the best ways to work with individuals. You must undergo formal training programs to gain recognition as a certified life coach.

Life coach certifications

Whenever a person declares themselves a certified life coach, it’s essential to consider where they received their certification. You will find many programs offered online and in person, but choosing a program accredited by a professional body is ideal and ensures you have the proper credentials. The following lists some popular life coaching professional bodies that offer accredited certification courses in the UK:

• UK International Coach Federation (ICF): Part of the global International Coach Federation, a leading organisation dedicated to advancing the coaching profession. This chapter offers three certified coaching credentials: associate, professional, and master.  

• European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC): A professional body dedicated to advancing mentoring, coaching, and supervision across Europe and beyond. The EMCC offers four levels of certifications: foundational, practitioner, senior, and master.  

• UK & International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA): A professional body promoting and supporting the field of health coaching in the UK and internationally. UKIHCA offers student-in-training and full membership options for individuals currently enrolled in a UKIGCA-approved course or have already completed an approved course. Approved courses range from naturopathic and functional medicine courses to lifestyle and wellbeing courses. 

• Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision (APECS): A professional body focusing on executive coaching, supervision, and associated fields. APECS offers accredited certifications for established, advanced practitioners (Accredited Master Executive Coach, Accredited Master Supervisor, Accredited Master Team Coach), as well as professional certifications for practitioners with less experience (Certified Professional Executive Coach, Certified Professional Supervisor, Certified Professional Team Coach, and Certified Associate). 

• Association for Coaching (AC): Global professional body intended to promote best practices and standards in coaching. The AC offers various levels of accreditation for individual coaches, training programs, and organisations. AC offers multiple categories and types of certification within each level. 

Life coach education and qualifications

You can become a life coach without any formal education requirements. However, as of 2023, 85 per cent of all life coaches worldwide have a certification and belong to a professional organisation [1]. Keep in mind that certification programmes may set their own education requirements for applicants, such as requiring an associate degree as a prerequisite. 

Build your coaching mindset with a personal growth course on Coursera, such as The Science of Well-Being from Yale, Mindshift, or Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life from the University of Michigan.

Life coach salary and job outlook

According to Payscale, life coaches in the UK earn an average of £22,489 annually [2]. Additionally, according to the 2023 ICF Snapshot Survey Future of Coaching, the job outlook for life coaches is positive and expected to experience a high growth rate. 

As a certified life coach, you will have a few options regarding how you would like to work. Some people work full-time in their own coaching business, whilst others see coaching as a side hustle. Still, others will seek employment as a coach within a larger organisation, such as a company or school.

If you choose to run your own coaching business, either full or part-time, you’ll have flexibility in deciding how much to charge. In general, personal life coaches just starting might charge as little as £30 to £60, but experienced coaches could charge anywhere from £100 to £200 or more [3].

How to become a certified life coach

The first step to becoming a certified life coach is determining the type of life coach you’d like to be. Doing so will likely decide whether you need to pursue a degree or specialised training requiring post-secondary education. Many coaches pursue education in the form of A-levels, a degree, or the completion of a specialised training program.

Your next step is to pursue certifications, which will help demonstrate your proficiency and skills as a life coach since the UK doesn’t have formal regulations for this profession. Working toward additional credentials entails completing the educational component, followed by any required coaching hours, and culminating with an exam. Additionally, your path toward becoming a certified life coach will depend on your certification type.  

Once you select your certifying body of choice, you can research specific requirements for that credential.

Choosing a coaching certification programme

Because coaching is an unregulated industry, you have a lot of flexibility in deciding what type of certification is right for you. A simple internet search can guide you toward many options. 

Although it’s not necessary to obtain a credential to start a career as a life coach, if you are going to participate in a certification programme, it may be helpful to choose one that an industry-recognised certifying body like the Association for Coaching, or other professional organisation approves or endorese, in case you decide to pursue the formal credential in the future.

Tip: Browse the websites of ICF and other professional organisations to better understand what they offer. ICF coaches tend to focus on careers, whilst other organisations may vary the focus of certifications and offer different specialisations.  

Once you decide which organisation aligns with your goals, you can find approved programmes on their websites. Ultimately, each programme teaches similar skills and information but may vary in length, cost, and format (virtual or in-person instruction). 

Schedule exploratory calls with the admissions team or directors at the programmes that best align with your needs to learn more about their guiding methodologies and practices. 

Cost of becoming a certified life coach

Your total costs will depend upon the specific certification you pursue. Accredited programs and specialty programs are likely to cost more than basic certification programs that are not accredited. When calculating the certification cost, it’s important to factor in additional costs, such as exam and application fees.

Build skills for your career as a certified life coach

A career as a certified life coach could prove to be personally and financially rewarding. Whilst working toward your certification, prepare to launch your life coaching practice with the Entrepreneurship Specialisation from Wharton, available on Coursera. Over five courses, you’ll learn how to develop your idea, launch your business, and set yourself up for growth. You can also learn to share the news about your new business with potential clients using proven social media marketing techniques with a Professional Certificate from Meta, also available on Coursera.