Before You Decide on an ICF Credential, Here’s What You Need to Know 

Understanding An ICF Credential And What To Consider

If you’re considering becoming a Life Coach and doing your research, you will hear a lot about the ICF (International Coaching Federation) credential, and you’ll also read a lot about a Life Coach Certification. 

You may question, do I need both?  Are these requirements of the profession? What’s the difference between them? 

The Importance of a Life Coach Certification 

A Life Coach Certification is important in learning the professional skills of coaching, gaining tools to help your clients, and supporting you in starting your coaching business and learning how to market it. A Life Coach Certification is not required in any state or country but those coaching that haven’t been trained are not providing the same quality of coaching or necessary equipped to start and succeed in their business. 

What is an ICF Credential? 

An ICF credential is in addition to getting a certification. It’s important to keep straight the term certification and the credential. You can obtain a Credential after you complete a 60-hour certification and attend a school that has a Level One or Level Two ICF accredited program. 

Note: If a school just gives you CE’s (continuing education) your training will not be eligible to obtain an ICF Credential. You need to go to a program that has 60-hour foundational training with 80% core competencies and 20% or less resource development. Core competencies are the essential skills that the International Coaching Federation has determined people need to become a professional in the coaching field.   

Resource Development are tools and resources to use as a coach. 50% or more of the training needs to be live training with an instructor giving you feedback. You can’t just listen to recordings to obtain an ICF credential. Beware as some schools will tell you the school is ICF accredited. CE programs are often ICF accredited but do not offer Level One or Level 2 Programs. 

The Advantages of an ICF Credential 

Also, some other things to know about an ICF credential. Jobs and opportunities are almost always offered to those who obtain an ICF credential. The ICF is the most powerful, worldwide organization that has set industry standards, so the ICF credential is most often asked for with these jobs and special opportunities.  Jobs include jobs for platforms like Better Up, coaching jobs within a corporation, health care centers, social service agencies and government. Opportunities are things like contracting with real estate companies to provide sales coaching, contracts for government, working with insurance companies to offer coaching to employees, and other unique opportunities. 

Real-Life Examples of Success with an ICF Credential 

One woman got the opportunity to coach people from the United Nations because of her ICF credential.  Another woman worked with a team in Cuba to restore the power grid after a bad hurricane.  More and more jobs and opportunities are showing up now that coaching is more popular.   

Do You Need an ICF Credential for a Private Practice? 

Most coaches though continue to stay self-employed (usually by their choice). For building a private practice, you don’t necessarily need an ICF credential. Private clients rarely know or care about a credential. Plus, getting an ICF credential requires more training and expense. 

The Growing Importance of an ICF Credential 

Word of the ICF credential is spreading quickly, and most people in the coaching industry believe that eventually an ICF credential will be asked for and possibly required. Industry experts don’t know when this will happen but often foresee that trend will happen within the next 5 years. 

Cost and Time Considerations 

Another thing to remember is you wait to get your ICF credential is that both schools and ICF keep increasing their prices. The school will give you the training to get your credential. You apply to the ICF once you meet their training requirements, and they have you take a test and then award you a credential. ICF has continued also to add more requirements over the years to obtain credential.   

Making the Decision: Pros vs. Cons 

Evaluate your goals –are you wanting a private practice or jobs and opportunities or both? Consider your budget, timeline for reaching your goals, and review the pros and cons of getting a credential then make your decision about obtaining one.  

The cons are you don’t need it right now, clients aren’t necessarily asking for it and it costs more money. You will still have a certification which lets potential clients know you are trained and skilled.   

The pros are that jobs and opportunities are almost always offered to those with an ICF credential. It is a growing trend and where the industry Is going, so you might want to get ahead of the curve and before the expense and training requirements go up for getting your credential. 

Need Help Deciding? 

If you still feel confused about the ICF credential and whether it’s right for you, you are not alone. There is a lot of misleading and confusing information about the ICF credential. If you want to discuss your particular needs and situation, as well as ask questions, you’re welcome to reach out to Life Purpose Institute at 858-484-3400. 

Fern Gorin, P.C.C., L.M.F.T. is the founder and Director of Life Purpose Institute. Life Purpose Institute offers Level One and Level Two packages to obtain your ICF credential as well as 60-hour Certification Programs you can take as a stand-alone to become certified and be able to start your private practice. 

Fern is the Founder and Director of the Life Purpose Institute, Inc. Before working as a coach; she was a mental health counselor, social worker, and career counselor. She developed her unique coaching method in 1984 and has assisted thousands of people in her coaching practice in making positive life and career changes. Fern developed a strong and compelling vision to help people discover their purpose, move forward in all areas of their life, and create a life they love.

After serving for many years as a Life Coach and licensed therapist in her private practice, she began training coaches internationally to perform this important work. Fern wrote and developed comprehensive manuals and materials for the Life Coach Certification and Spiritual Coach Training Programs.

Want to learn more about the programs at Life Purpose Institute? Schedule a Free Consultation to speak one-on-one with a Program Specialist and get all your questions answered.