The road to becoming a certified life coach is filled with dozens of hours of learning and even more hours of practice and training. It requires both a mental and financial investment, both of which are rewarded handsomely once you have your certification in hand and are ready to begin serving clients.
But the question remains: how much does it cost to become a life coach? With so many programs available both online and in-person, getting a sense of how much life coach training costs can be daunting. Below is a breakdown of the most popular certification programs based on what they offer and how much they charge for their training materials and coursework. All programs below offer a course load and training hours that are sufficient to satisfy ICF certification requirements, so these are some of the most prestigious certifications on the market.
Let’s run through some of these programs one by one.
iPEC
This ICF-accredited life coach training program has 20 in-person locations worldwide, as well as a virtual learning program. The cost for enrollment is $11,495, which includes seminars, more than 320 hours of training, workbooks, mentorship sessions, business and marketing training, and so much more.
Coach Training Alliance
Through live teleconference seminars and a plethora of online materials, this online life coach training program offers you access to private learning forums, educational software, more than 340 pages of online resources, 8 hours of audio training, and more. The low investment cost of $3,797 includes all of the materials and is payable in either a lump sum or in 3, 7, or 9 payment installments billed every 30 days after your initial enrollment.
Due to its affordable price point, quality of education, and industry-wide reputation for excellence, we think CTA offers the most bang for your buck of all the coach certification programs available today on the market.
CoachU
CoachU offers a self-paced, ICF-accredited training program for students looking to learn the foundational elements of coaching. All courses are offered remotely via Zoom by live instructors. The program is broken down into two Phases, depending on your desired level of education and/or previous experience. The programs range in cost from $4,495 to $8,090, depending on whether you complete one or both phases. Course materials are included in the enrollment fees and early-bird discounts may be available.
New Ventures West
Accredited by the ICF, this ACTP (Accredited Coach Training Program) certified life coach program offers both all-virtual and blended options and provides students with more than 180 hours of learning, complemented with mentorship and other valuable resources. The cost of tuition is $13,400, $500 of which is a nonrefundable deposit and the remaining balance is payable in full one month before the program begins or via a payment plan.
Institute for Life Coach Training
This virtual life coach training program also has an ACTP designation from the ICF. The 30-hour program, the 60-hour program, the 80-hour program, and the 130-hour program all count toward your eventual certification. Program costs average between $4,180 – $7,700 depending on the individual courses and electives you decide to enroll in, and payment plans are available upon request.
Life Purpose Institute
Starting with a free consultation and culminating with the ICF accredited hours needed to obtain a coaching certification, this program offers live training sessions as well as in-person learning so you can select the program type that best fits your needs. The basic certification costs $2,500, while advanced courses and program add-ons cost between $1,000 and $2,500, all of which are payable via a lump sum or in pre-set payment installments.
Co-Active Training Institute
Formerly named the CTI, the Co-Active Training Institute offers online and in-person entry-level coaching programs as well as advanced programs geared toward those looking to gain professional life coach certification. ICF approved programs range in price from $975 to $12,970. The advanced Leadership Program costs $16,500 and provides students with a comprehensive, well-supported and mentored learning opportunity.
Coach Academy International
www.coachacademyinternational.com
The CAI offers many valuable life coaching programs, from entry-level certification programs to advanced trainings and mentorships. These are all contained in 69 hours of training designed to provide students with access to Neuro-Lingual Programming (NLP) technique training via in-person and virtual lessons (mentorship is included). Enrollment costs range from $5,995 and $6,995, with payment plans available if needed.
Rice University
Rice University offers an incredible in-person coaching program put on by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders. The programs range in price from $5,950 – $7,425 based on whether or not you want to take part in the standard or advanced program, and they both offer more than 60 hours of ICF approved training (the cost does not include the price of textbooks and other materials).
University of Texas at Dallas
This in-person life coach certification course covers both personal and professional coaching and has a hefty list of prerequisite requirements as well. The cost varies depending on if you want to pursue a standard degree and an advanced or Master’s degree, but on average it costs between $7,821 and $19,176 per semester to attend the program.
Columbia University
The Columbia Coaching Certification Program is an in-person training program built on top of a prerequisite foundation of courses. The course costs $1,768 per credit (with a full course load costing close to $17,000 per year, including additional registration fees) and offers marketing education as well as the option to obtain a certificate in business excellence as well as a coaching certification once the program is completed.
Fielding Graduate University
This Evidence Based Coaching program (EBC) is a fully accredited one-year ICF program that can be counted toward a graduate degree and is taught in person at the University. The cost is approximately $720 per credit, with an additional $750 fee per term, and must be completed as part of a full degree program at the University.
Georgetown University
Available as both an online and an in-person training program, this executive-level life coach certification course is comprised of 8 courses delivered over 8 months and tuition is $13,995. The program is an ACTP certified by the ICF and all training hours are eligible to go toward applying for certification once the program is complete.
Newfield Institute
This Australia-based Ontological Coaching Program harnesses the power of moods, language, and conversations to support the life coach training material. There are several program levels and focus areas available, all spanning approximately 3 days to 29 days of in-person training and costing between $1,320 to $15,840 AUD.
iNLP Center
This low cost ICF accredited and self-paced online learning program features over 150 hours of training and enables you to become eligible for three different life coach certifications. There are two program levels available costing between $2,400 and $3,200 with installment plans available and a generous 7-day money-back guarantee.
Factors that Affect Certification Cost
There’s a lot that goes into pricing a coach training program, and some of it is exactly what you’d expect: length of program, method of delivery, course accreditation, and reputation.
While it is true with most purchases in life that you get what you pay for, don’t feel like you need to reach as deep as possible into your pockets to receive a quality education. Among the four factors mentioned above, there is one that you absolutely cannot compromise on, and that is accreditation.
As long as your program is ICF-accredited, it meets the highest standards available for a coaching program as dictated by the International Coaching Federation, which is the most respected governing body in coaching in the world.
Conclusion
It is important to note that comparing program pricing can be difficult, since no two programs offer exactly the same training format, certification options, and coursework. Often programs will provide students with a range of prices so that each student can customize their learning format and financial investment based on their unique needs. When deciding on a program, you will also want to make sure that they offer the mentor coaching hours needed to obtain a certification. If they do not, you will need to supplement your learning plan with another program to meet those requirements, which will add to the overall cost of your training.
Getting certified as a life coach is more affordable than ever before, and you can choose from in-person training, blended virtual and live events, and completely online programs. No matter your goals or budget, there is a program out there that is right for you.
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