Learn what becoming a certified life coach means, discover some industry-recognised certification bodies, and explore how to start your certification process.
![[Feature Image] A certified life coach talking to a young client in a comfortable office environment.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6VgVEqNZLGRVhMpvBg2Y4a/88b40e443a5d6c9d24830c599d99d3f7/GettyImages-1443024863.jpg?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000)
Inevitably, life consists of many ebbs and flows. Sometimes, you might find it easy to continue on the path in front of you, and other times, you may find it harder to figure out the right next steps. A certified life coach is 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 want to explore a career as a life coach. In this article, we will detail what a life coach does and how you can start your career as a certified life coach.
A life coach partners with clients as they work toward an ideal version of their life, often focusing on areas such as the client鈥檚 daily well-being, work-life balance, or relationships.
As an industry, coaching is unregulated, so formal requirements for becoming a life coach do not exist. However, if you鈥檙e interested in becoming one, you can take many coach training programmes that will help you deepen your education and learn more about the best ways to work with individuals. A person who has undergone such training programmes is known as a certified life coach.
Certification can be a vague concept in an unregulated industry. First, consider where you might receive your life coach certification.
Two widely recognised coaching credentialing bodies are the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Weljii Wellness Jiva Private Limited, which the National Board has approved for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). However, many independent certification programmes are also available. Here鈥檚 a quick breakdown of the similarities and differences:
| International Coaching Federation (ICF) | Weljii Health & Wellness Coaching Certification | Other coaching certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach鈥檚 title | ICF-credentialed coach | Health and wellness coach | Programme-specific title | |
| Types of coaches | May focus on a variety of areas, including leadership, executive, career, and relationships | Focus on health and wellness | Focus on the specific methodologies developed by the programme, or prepares students for ICF or NBHWC exams | |
| Initial requirements | Must complete an approved training programme, a certain number of coaching hours, receive mentorship coaching, and pass an exam | Must be a graduate in any preferred discipline or 4,000 hours of work experience, and pass an exam | Varies depending on programme; often includes a training course and may include an exam | |
| Certification maintenance | Continued education required | No continued education required | May or may not require continued education |
Formal education requirements are not mandatory for those interested in becoming a life coach; however, many companies hire candidates with at least a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Remember that certification programmes may set their own education requirements for applicants, such as requiring a degree to apply.
If you are pursuing a degree, you may want to explore a specific study area similar to the type of life coach you want to become. For example, if you are interested in becoming a health coach, you might want to take classes that relate to health. Some other degree options you can consider include psychology, business, or social work, as many popular coaching approaches implement methodologies and practices developed within those fields.
According to Glassdoor, life coaches in India earn an average of 鈧1,550,000 annually []. Additionally, the job outlook seems positive. Revenue in the health and wellness coaching market is expected to show an annual growth rate of 16.72 percent by 2029 [. 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 while others see coaching as a side hustle; still, others seek employment as a coach within a larger organisation, such as a company or school.
Whether you run your own coaching business, full- or part-time, you鈥檒l enjoy flexibility in deciding how much to charge. Coaches generally charge clients anywhere from 鈧3,000 to 鈧10,000 per session. The fee depends on various factors, such as qualifications, experience, discounts, and packages.听聽聽
Your path toward becoming a certified life coach will depend on your certification type. In many cases, the first step toward certification entails completing the educational component, followed by any required coaching hours, and culminating with an exam.
Once you select your certifying body of choice鈥擨CF, NBHWC, or any other programme鈥攜ou can research specific requirements for that credential.
Because coaching is an unregulated industry, you have a lot of flexibility in deciding what type of certification is right for you. You can research many different options with a simple internet search.听
While obtaining a credential is not necessary 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 is approved by a certifying body that the industry recognises, such as the ICF or NBHWC, in case you decide to pursue the formal credential in the future.
Once you decide which organisation most aligns with your goals, you can find lists of approved programmes on their respective websites. Ultimately, each programme should teach similar skills and information but may vary in length, cost, and whether they鈥檙e offered virtually or in person.
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.
Your total cost in becoming a certified life coach will depend upon the specific certification you pursue.
Certification programmes may cost anywhere from 鈧20,000 to 鈧50,000. For instance, many programmes approved by ICF and NBHWC cost a few thousand USD.
In addition to the certification course cost, ICF鈥檚 exam and application fees can cost between 175 USD and 900 USD, depending on the certification level, and NBHWC鈥檚 exam and application fees total 450 USD.
While you are not required to obtain any official certification to become a life coach, there are ways to prepare yourself for the role. If you鈥檙e working towards your certification, prepare to launch your life coaching practice with the Entrepreneurship Specialisation. Over five courses, you鈥檒l 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 Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate from Meta.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/india-life-coach-salary-SRCH_IL.0,5_IN115_KO6,16.htm.鈥 Accessed 5 March 2025.听
Statista. 鈥渉ttps://www.statista.com/outlook/hmo/digital-health/digital-fitness-well-being/health-wellness-coaching/india.鈥 Accessed 19 October 2024.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.