One of the best ways to build credibility and skills as a coach is to get a coaching certification from a reputable organization. And with so many coaching training and certification programs available today, finding one that fits your goals and budget has never been easier.
We’ve written this article to help you find the best life coach certification program for your specific situation. The “best” program is the one that aligns with your values, personality, and specific coaching goals, and that helps you become the best coach you can be. So the “best” may be different for everyone.
With that said, here are the coach training and certification programs we’ve chosen to include:
- Coach Training Alliance – Best for Building a Coaching Business
- Transformation Academy – Best for a Budget
- iPEC – Best Advanced Coaching Certification
- The Life Coach School – Best for Mindset Coaching
- iNLP Center – Best for NLP Coaching and Hypnosis
- Nickerson Institute – Best for Holistic Health Coaching
- Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy – Best for Law of Attraction & Money Mindset Coaching
- iACTcenter – Best for ADHD Life Coaching
- Relationship Coaching Institute – Best for Relationship Coaching
- Life Energy Coaching – Best for Energy Coaching
- Human Potential Academy (HPA) – Best for Human Potential Coaching
We regularly update this article based on our research and the responses from our Coach Training & Certification Program Feedback Survey. If you have experience with any coach training and certification programs (included in this article or not), we’d love to hear about your experience.
Table of Contents
Do You Need a Certification to Be a Coach?
Before we get into the best coach training and certification programs, it’s important to note that you don’t need any kind of professional life coach certification or other qualification to be a life coach. As long as you are offering coaching services and not therapy, you can begin working as a coach at any time. There is currently no government regulation of the coaching industry.
That said, there are organizations like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) that operate to accredit individual coach certification programs. You can also get an ICF Credential for yourself as a coach. Many of the best life coach certification programs are accredited by the ICF or another association, but this is not a requirement. You will find many excellent programs with and without an ICF accreditation.
So why get a coaching certification? Among other reasons, you might choose to pursue a coaching training and certification program because you want to:
- Improve your coaching skills
- Increase your credibility and visibility as a coach
- Get help growing or starting your coaching business
- Join a community of like-minded coaches and mentors
The Best Coach Training & Certification Programs
And now, here is an overview of some of the best coach training and certification programs available today.
Coach Training Alliance
Coach Training Alliance (CTA) was founded in 2008 by Will Craig (former president of the ICF Denver Chapter). Their Certified Coach Program takes a very hands-on, practical approach to coach training, with a focus on instantly applying what you’re learning to your coaching practice and business. The curriculum is comprised of their “three-legged stool” approach: coaching skills, marketing skills, and business skills–everything you need to have a successful coaching business.
- Program Cost: $3,747 (Payable in full or in 3, 7, or 9 parts)
- Course Length: 6 months
- Accredited by: ICF
Our Recommendation: The Certified Coach Program from Coach Training Alliance is best for new or experienced coaches who want help growing and running a coaching business.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Certified Coach Program page on the CTA website
- Read our in-depth Coach Training Alliance review
- Take the CTA quiz
- Sign up for their free online workshop
Transformation Academy
Transformation Academy offers several online coach training and programs, with a wide variety of coaching niches to choose from. Their Professional Life Coach Certification is an inexpensive way to get certified as a life coach, as well as to receive training on both how to be a coach and how to grow your business. You can also get access to this program as part of their more comprehensive Master Life Coach Certification program.
They offer several different coaching niche certification programs including Yoga, Career, Law of Attraction, Confidence & Growth Mindset, and many, many more. If you’re interested in these other programs, you can get access to all of these courses with a monthly Life Coach Membership. Transformation Academy is not accredited by the ICF. You can read more about that here.
- Program Cost: $197 (Get 80% off with our link! Discount applied at checkout.)
- Course Length: Self-paced (can reasonably be completed in 30 days)
Our Recommendation: The Professional Life Coach Certification from Transformation Academy is best for new coaches who want a faster and more affordable way to get trained and certified as a coach.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Professional Life Coach Certification page on the Transformation Academy Website
- Read our full Transformation Academy review
- Visit the Life Coach Membership page (to browse all their courses)
iPEC
Founded in 1999 by Bruce D Schneider, iPEC has been training coaches for almost 25 years. Their advanced, immersive training is based on unique coaching techniques rooted in Core Energy Coaching™, which you can read more about on their site.
iPEC’s Coach Training Experience leads to three certifications: Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), and a COR.E Dynamics™ Specialist certification in one of many niches. You can choose between four popular specialties, including life coaching, health and wellness, executive coaching, and sports & performance coaching.
Our Recommendation: The Coach Training Program from iPEC is best for new or experienced coaches who want an advanced coach training program that incorporates distinctive coaching techniques through three certification credentials.
Where to Learn More:
- Read our in-depth iPEC review
- Learn how you can save up to $600 off tuition
- Sign up for a short 1:1 admission call
- Download the free guide “How to Choose a Coach Training Program”
The Life Coach School
The Life Coach School was founded by Brooke Castillo. The Life Coach School offers an online coach training & certification program, as well as a monthly program called Get Coached (previously “Self Coaching Scholars”). Brooke is the host of the Life Coach School podcast, which is very popular and one of the most highly-rated podcasts on iTunes. You can get a very good feel for Brooke Castillo and the Life Coach School by listening to any number of the hundreds of episodes.
The Life Coach School offers one of the best life coach certification programs available but is not accredited by the ICF. You can read more about that here.
- Program Cost: $18,000
- Course Length: 12 months
Our Recommendation: The online coach training and certification program from the Life Coach School is best for coaches with some experience (either with Self Coaching Scholars or their own coaching practice), who are prepared to make a significant investment to take their life coaching skills to the next level.
Where to Learn More:
- Listen to the Life Coach School podcast
- Learn more about the Self Coaching Scholars program
iNLP Center
iNLP Center was founded in 2011 by Mike and Hope Bundrant. It was the first successful online neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) training center. iNLP Center has training and certification programs for Life Coaches, NLP Practitioners, and Hypnosis Practitioners. If you aren’t familiar with neuro-linguistic programming, you can read more about it in this article.
- Program Cost: $2,600 (Payable in full or in 6 monthly payments)
- Course Length: Self-paced (Approx. 160 hours)
- Accredited by: ICF, INA
Our Recommendation: The NLP-Integrated Life Coach Training from iNLP Center is best for new or experienced coaches interested in building a coaching practice that incorporates NLP techniques.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the NLP-Integrated Life Coach Training page on their website
- Read our detailed iNLP Center review
- Check out their blog and their reviews
Nickerson Institute
The Nickerson Institute of Integrative Health Training was founded by Dr. Wendy Nickerson, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Integrative Health Coach. The Nickerson Institute’s approach to health coaching draws on the principles of positive psychology, synergy, as well as motivational interviewing, goal setting, and mindfulness. The goal is healthy outcomes and optimal functioning of the human mind, body, and spirit.
- Program Cost: $3,799 (Payable in full or in 4 monthly payments)
- Course Length: 15 weeks (or self-paced)
- Accredited by: AADP, HCA, CAIN
Our Recommendation: The Integrative Health Coach Training Program from the Nickerson Institute is best for new or experienced coaches interested in a holistic or integrated approach to health coaching.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Integrative Health Coach Training Program page
- Learn about their Highly Sensitive Person Training for coaches and mental health professionals
Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy
Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy (ISCA) was founded in 2008 by Sandy Forster. After years of successfully coaching women on how to be “wildly wealthy,” Sandy decided to create a coach training and certification program to help other coaches do the same. With endorsements from people like Denise Duffield-Thomas and Jack Canfield, Sandy has had an impressive career helping others to apply the principles of the Law of Attraction in their own lives and in their coaching practices.
- Program Cost: $3,500 (Payable in full or in 6 or 12 payments)
- Course Length: 10 months (or self-paced)
- Accredited by: ICF, IAC, IICT
Our Recommendation: The International Coach Training and Certification from Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy is best for new or experienced coaches who want to incorporate the principles of the Law of Attraction into their coaching practice.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy website
- Watch the free online masterclass from Sandy Forster (Manifest Your Ideal Life as a Law of Attraction Coach)
- Read our full ISCA review
iACTcenter
ADHD Coach Training Center (iACTcenter) has a holistic approach to coaching clients and upholds ICF accreditation so you can become a Certified ADHD Life Coach (CALC). The program teaches you how to leverage clients’ strengths, diversity, cultural background, emotions, surroundings, and familial relationships for highly personalized ADHD coaching. On top of that, they offer several workshops on Helping ADHD Families and aspects of running a coach business to help you start your practice.
- Program Cost: $7,700
- Course Length: 6.5 weeks
- Accredited by: ICF
Our Recommendation: The Certified ADHD Life Coach (CALC) program from ADHD Coach is best for new or experienced coaches who want to specialize in ADHD life coaching.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Certified ADHD Life Coach (CALC) program page
- Download the free e-book to learn more about why they focus on the strengths and talents of the ADHD brain style
- Take their “Do You Have What It Takes to Be an ADHD Life Coach?” assessment
Relationship Coaching Institute
Relationship Coaching Institute (RCI) was founded in 1997 by David Steele, and it is one of the pioneers in the relationship coach training industry. Their Relationship Coach Training and Certification program covers the foundations of relationship coaching, as well as relationship coaching for singles and relationship coaching for couples. The all-encompassing curriculum allows you to specialize in these two distinct types of relationships.
- Program Cost: $3,997 enrollment fee + $79 per month membership fee for access to all courses + $125 application fee for certification for Certified Relationship Coach for Couples (CRCC) or Certified Relationship Coach for Singles (CRCS)
- Course Length: Self-paced
- Accredited by: ICF
Our Recommendation: The Relationship Coach Training and Certification program from the Relationship Institute is best for new or experienced coaches interested in the romantic relationships niche.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Relationship Coach Training and Certification page
- Download the free starter kit
Life Energy Coaching
Life Energy Coaching is focused on energy transformations for both personal and professional use. They offer a diverse range of resources, including energized modular programs, group and private coaching options, and a certification program for those interested in life energy coaching.
Life Energy Coaching offers a series of courses, the first of which (Level 1) consists of two programs, Love Your Self and Financial Freedom. The programs tackle the most frequently reappearing energetic blockages such as stress, workplace relationships, fear of public speaking, poverty consciousness, entrepreneur mindset, and more.
- Program Cost: $6,000—Level 1; $9,997—Certification
- Course Length: Self-paced
Our Recommendation: The Life Energy Coaching certification is best for new or experienced coaches who’d like to add energy coaching to their coaching expertise and experience personal transformation.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit Life Energy Coaching’s Level 1 page
- Read our comprehensive Life Energy Coaching review
- Experience energy coaching for yourself in a group setting
Human Potential Academy
The Human Potential Academy (HPA) is a pioneer and worldwide leader in the fields of coach training and human potential development. Their Certified Human Potential Coach training program is designed to inspire personal growth and self-discovery. They have a unique, all-encompassing approach that combines the Inner Game of Coaching (self-mastery), the Outer Game of Coaching (how to coach effectively), Coaching for Health and High Performance, and the Business of Coaching.
This training program is among the most innovative personal development coach training programs in the world. To achieve this excellence, HPA combines cutting-edge research, experiential learning, and guidance by experienced coaches and human potential teachers.
- Program Cost: $4,297
- Course Length: 18 weeks
- Accredited by: AC
Our Recommendation: HPA’s Certified Human Potential Coach program is best for coaches who want to master human potential coach training or implement these innovative practices into their career coaching practice, transition coaching, or another relevant coaching field.
Where to Learn More:
- Visit the Certified Human Potential Coach page
- Read our in-depth Human Potential Academy review
- Download the curriculum guide
How to Choose a Coaching Program
Choosing a coaching program is a decision that can be influenced by a number of factors. Your budget, past coaching experience, personality, and coaching goals are likely all factors that will play a part.
For example, if you’re interested in the Law of Attraction, then joining a community of like-minded coaches with the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy might be the program for you. If that’s not your thing, you may be interested in a more traditional coaching program like Coach Training Alliance. And if you’re looking for something more affordable to get started, then Transformation Academy might have the program you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for other courses that aren’t certification programs, check out our list of courses to help you get coaching clients.
In choosing a coach training and certification program, we recommend that you find a reputable and respected organization with good reviews that aligns with your specific coaching goals and values. Here’s a recap of our top choices for the best coach training and certification programs.
- Coach Training Alliance – Best for Building a Coaching Business
- Transformation Academy – Best for a Budget
- iPEC – Best Advanced Coaching Certification
- The Life Coach School – Best for Mindset Coaching
- iNLP Center – Best for NLP Coaching or Hypnosis
- Nickerson Institute – Best for Holistic Health Coaching
- Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy – Best for Law of Attraction & Money Mindset Coaching
- iACTcenter – Best for ADHD Life Coaching
- Relationship Coaching Institute – Best for Relationship Coaching
- Life Energy Coaching – Best for Energy Coaching
- Human Potential Academy (HPA) – Best for Human Potential Coaching
We hope this article has helped you to find the best coaching program for you, and we sincerely wish you all the best on your coaching journey!
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This article was written by the Life Coach Magazine staff. We cover everything from personal development, to coaching tips, to how to grow your coaching business.
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