Life Coach Certification VS ICF Certification
There’s a lot of confusion about the difference between Life Coach Certification and an “ICF certification”. People often refer to an ICF certification, but it’s actually called an ICF credential.
A Life Coach Certification is the first step towards obtaining an ICF credential. A Certification Program must meet specific criteria to count toward an ICF credential.
Life Coach Certification Program Requirements:
- It must consist of at least 60 training hours.
- It should teach foundational coaching skills and the ICF core competencies.
- It must be part of a Level One or Level Two ICF path.
- It should be offered by an ICF-accredited school that offers a Level One or Level Two Program.
After students complete their Life Coach Certification, there are additional requirements to obtain an ICF credential. To obtain an ACC (Associate Certified Coach), a student should take a Level 1 Program.
Level 1 Program Requirements:
- Obtain 100 hours of coaching experience, of which 25 can be voluntary and 75 must be paid.
- Complete 10 hours of mentor coaching, which involves working one-on-one with a mentor to receive feedback on coaching recordings. The goal of mentoring is to advance skills aligned with the ICF core competencies.
- Undergo a performance evaluation with a performance evaluator after the 10 hours of mentoring. The performance evaluator provides detailed feedback on one of the recordings and verifies the demonstration of skills at the ACC level.
For Level Two Programs and to obtain a PCC (Professional Certified Coach), additional steps are necessary.
Level 2 Program Requirements
- Depending on the school attended, various courses totaling a minimum of 125 hours must be completed to finish a Level 2 Program.
- Part of the program includes mentoring and a performance evaluation.
At Life Purpose Institute, an Advanced Practicum is available to practice coaching and learn the 63 different skills comprising the ICF core competencies. Additionally, an advanced coaching program teaches how coaches can generate over six figures in their coaching practice. Students also learn skills for providing executive and leadership coaching, health and wellness coaching, spiritual coaching, and group coaching. Preparation for the ICF exam is also covered in the program.
To obtain additional coaching hours of experience, students may choose to seek a coach and have their own practice, either with just a Life Coach Certification or by pursuing an ICF credential.
Life Coach Training and Certification are essential as they provide the necessary skills and tools to serve clients in a coaching practice. Currently, you are not required to have an ICF credential to operate a coaching practice; however, obtaining a credential is a growing trend in the coaching industry, and it may become necessary in the future. Moreover, most jobs and opportunities in the field are offered to ICF credentialed coaches.
Deciding to obtain a credential is an individual decision based on your budget, goals, and the level of skill you aim to attain.
For more information, contact Life Purpose Institute at 858-484-3400.
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.Â