- Life coaching is a creative, interactive process between client and coach which inspires clients to maximize their full potential. Common life coaching focus areas include personal relationships, career transition, retirement planning, parenting, starting or expanding a business and other personal or business topics. The life coaching process involves the client and coach communicating (either face-to-face, via telephone or through on-line interaction) to determine the client's goals and creating specific action steps to ensure the client meets those goals.
- Life coaching is not regulated by any governmental agency, so legally anyone can call herself a life coach. Normally, life coaches possess a college degree in fields such as psychology, counseling or other social sciences, but this is not a requirement. Many life coach training programs are taught in traditional education institutions, but online programs are also available which provide courses and related materials over the Internet.
Training program hours can vary widely, with most programs in the 40 to 80 hour range, depending on how specialized or broad the specific coaching program. The training programs focus on improving the coach's communication skills and providing tools to assist the coach in motivating his clients to take actions toward their goals. The program culminates in a certificate of completion. Continuing education is not required for program graduates, unless they become credentialed. - Life coaching is a self regulated industry with no government oversight. Several private organizations issue independent professional certifications, or credentials. The most prominent accrediting organization is the International Coaching Federation or ICF.
The ICF provides three levels of coaching certification (associate, professional and master) based on a specific set of coaching training hours and coaching experience, along with other requirements such as written or oral exams and professional references.
The Associate Certified Coach credential requires 60 hours of coach-specific training and 100 hours documented coaching. The Professional Certified Coach credential requires 125 hours of training and 750 documented coaching hours. The Master Certified Coach requires 200 hours of training and 2,500 hours documented coaching.
Other accrediting organizations include the Institute for Life Coach Training and the Spencer Institute. Continuing education is required for credentialed coaches, typically 10 to 12 hours per year to be reported on a two to three year cycle. - A qualified life coach assists clients to transform their current circumstances and improving the quality of their professional or personal lives. Life coaches provide the perspective, knowledge and challenge needed to create positive results. They are expert motivators and communicators who are passionate about helping their clients succeed. If you have the strong desire to help people overcome obstacles and maximize their results, then you should consider a life coach career.
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