Coaching is one of the fastest-growing professions in the world. You know what that means—training programs for life coaching are popping up all around, making it difficult to spot the legitimate ones.
With a wide array of choices, it’s crucial to do your research and separate effective programs from the ones that are nothing but fiction. This is why we’re doing a review of the best life coaching certifications to help you find the one that fits your criteria.
Often listed among the best of the best, The Life Coach School has caught our attention. If you want to know if this program justifies the hype and whether it aligns with your vision of coaching, keep reading. We’ll cover what the program offers, how much it costs, how long it lasts, and what graduates are saying in The Life Coach School certification reviews.
About The Life Coach School Coaching
Brooke Castillo is the founder of The Life Coach School (LCS) and a respected life coach. She had years of experience in this field before she established the school in 2010. While there are many schools with a longer record, The Life Coach School has managed to earn the status of an “Ivy League” life coaching school with thousands of coaches in their alumni network.
The Life Coach School is also making a positive impact through humanitarian efforts. They donate $1M per year to selected charities.
The Life Coach School Coaching Philosophy
LCS believes that the recipe for results-driven coaching is understanding the why and what and finding the origins of clients’ issues—not just working on the current problems. This philosophy is embodied in their one-of-a-kind tool, “The Model.”
Instead of treating the symptoms, “The Model” approach teaches you how to find the root of clients’ issues and guide them toward eliminating the pain. You can use “The Model” to coach anyone. This unique tool is what separates LCS from other coaching programs.
Their approach is deeply centered around life coaching, and Brooke explained why in the LCS podcast:
“I really genuinely wanted to focus only on teaching The Model and only teaching coaching because I think, honestly, that’s what I’m best in the world at. I didn’t want to teach business as part of my certification; I didn’t want to coach people on business. I didn’t want to focus on that area because I think there [are] other people out there that teach business, and I think they teach it better than me.”
The Life Coach School Coaching and Accreditation
For those familiar with coaching credentials, it may come as a surprise that LCS isn’t ICF-accredited. If you haven’t come across the International Coaching Federation (ICF), let us briefly explain: while there is no governing body for life coaching, certain entities accredit coaching training programs according to their standards and ethics. In the coaching world, ICF is the most recognized accrediting entity.
LCS isn’t ICF-accredited because training programs need to follow a certain framework to obtain this accreditation, and LCS has its unique approach to coaching.
Does this mean that LCS isn’t legit? Absolutely not! ICF is no indicator of legitimacy, but of a structured curriculum that adheres to its guidelines.
(If you want to get your ICF accreditation, there are other options, such as Coach Training Alliance. Find out more about CTA in our review.)
Pros and Cons of The Life Coach School Coaching Certification
You surely don’t want to commit to any training program before you know everything about it. So, to save you time on research, we have compiled all the key decision-making factors about LCS for you to review.
The Coach Tools Certification
LCS doesn’t offer specialty programs or program variety, since they are strictly focused on transforming you into a successful life coach. Instead, their focus is on a single, streamlined program—the Coach Tools Certification—which centers on mastering Brooke Castillo’s proprietary tools. At the heart of this method is The Model, the framework that has become foundational to the school’s approach.
Here’s a quick overview of the modules included in the certification:
- The Model
- Relationships
- Buffering & Feelings
- Creating & Achieving Goals
- Managing Time
- Money, Contribution & Value
- Certification Exam
The program is self-paced, so you can move through the modules on your own schedule. Once you’ve completed the training and passed the exam, you’ll be certified to use LCS’s coaching tools in your personal life, professional practice, or workplace.
Self-Paced Video Curriculum & Resources
The certification is entirely online and delivered through pre-recorded video modules—there are no live lectures, instructor panels, or practice sessions with clients. Instead, you’ll study the material independently and demonstrate your understanding through the exam.
To support your learning, LCS provides:
- A Curriculum Book summarizing the core coaching tools
- A Digital Workbook with editable worksheets for applying concepts with clients or in your own life
- Certification materials, including a certificate of completion and the official LCS certification logo you can use in your marketing
This updated format emphasizes flexibility and self-study rather than interactive or instructor-led components.
(Note: If you want to study at your own pace without any limitations, you can also check out the more affordable Transformation Academy. Our TA review can give you an overview of what they offer.)
How Long is The Life Coach School Program?
The Coach Certification Program is self-paced, so you can finish it within a few weeks or take your time and complete it over several months. You also get to schedule the instructor sessions, so the training will completely adapt to your availability.
However, you will need to complete all the requirements for the certification within one year from the date of your enrollment.
How Much Does The Life Coach School Coaching Training Cost?
The Life Coach School’s current Coach Tools Certification is significantly more affordable than its former $18,000 program. Today, the program costs:
- $3,000 as a one-time payment, or
- 4 monthly payments of $797 (totaling $3,188)
This tuition covers the entire certification experience—including all self-paced modules, the certification exam, the curriculum book, the digital workbook, and the official certification logo.
Unlike the earlier certification, the updated version no longer includes bundled post-certification programs (like Entrepreneur Training or Applied Training) or lifetime alumni benefits. Instead, it’s a streamlined, stand-alone certification designed for flexibility and independent learning.
The Life Coach School Coaching Reviews
Reviews are a great source of insider knowledge and can help you get a taste of what the training looks like from a student’s and graduate’s perspective.
Reviews From Graduates
Coaches who took our survey left several insightful reviews about LCS, so we want to share this with you:
- Very comprehensive, very supportive environment, excellent tools, and philosophy.
- The main tool the training is based around is so simple, it cuts a lot of the peripheral drama out. The training was thorough, and I really appreciated that I had to submit audio recordings of actual sessions I held with people, and had to coach in small groups over Zoom with a facilitator and other coaches in training. I haven’t gone through another training, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought the training I received was top-notch.
- The Life Coach School over-delivers every step of the way. Brooke and her team of coaches are all top notch and you can expect with complete certainty that every interaction, training, and call is going to be amazing. I love constantly being challenged to become a better version of myself thanks to all of the LCS resources!
- I did a program before the LCS, but it didn’t give me the tangible skills I was looking for—but I found that with the LCS.
At Indeed.com, LCS has a couple of reviews that praise the flexible schedule, the curriculum that inspires self-growth, and the experienced instructors.
In the LCS Brochure, we have come across numerous inspiring reviews. Here’s a small sample:
Is The Life Coach School Coaching the Life Coach Training Program For You?
After carefully reviewing LCS, we can say that this is an excellent program for becoming an amazing coach. You’ll receive top-notch training and get all the right tools for learning the ins and outs of coaching—and the reviews prove it.
However, the program is less focused on the business and marketing side of coaching, so if you want that included in your training, you might want to look elsewhere. Coach Training Alliance, our top pick for comprehensive training, covers every aspect of coaching, including how to expand the business and attract clients. In case the LCS price is over your budget at the moment, we recommend that you check out the incredibly affordable Transformation Academy or have a look at our other best life coaching certifications.
Take the Coach Certification Quiz
Need help choosing a coach training and certification program? We created this short quiz to help you find the best program for you.
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