A recent ICF survey estimated life coaching to be a $1.979 billion industry/year. As the awareness and need for coaching continue to increase, this figure will continue to grow over the years. The notable thing about the survey was the bulk of the income reportedly came from 47,500 certified life coaches from across the globe. To put it simply, if you want to run a highly profitable Christian life coaching business, then you need to consider getting an ICF Accredited Christian Life Coach Training.
According to the Journal of Practical Consulting, one of the biggest challenges of life coaching today is the numerous individuals who have branded themselves as life coaches but lack the professional training from ICF accredited institutions. The ICF is a non-profit organization that was set up in 1995 to regulate the life coaching industry, and it now has chapters all over the world, including Asia and Africa. Even though the ICF doesn’t offer training, it helps to regulate the institutions that do in order to ensure life coaches are getting the best training. When you take an ICF accredited Christian life coach training program, you rise above the pack of the other Christian life coaches who have not received certification.
The Role of Certification and Credentials
Without certification and relevant credentials, you will have no way of proving that you have attained the competency required to be a competent life coach. The following are some notable advantages of getting certification and corresponding credentials:
- Being certified helps you to prepare for a given level of skill proficiency. For instance, the ICF certification has three different levels, each of which require a predefined minimum number of training hours.
- Although credentials are voluntary, they are a great way of validating your skills, abilities, and knowledge as a Christian life coach.
- Certification can help to measure your skill development against a predefined criterion.
- Certification proves that you have met the minimum requirements as set out by the certification body—in this case, the ICF.
- ICF certification is offered by a third party, so it is almost like receiving an unbiased accolade.
- The ICF has a presence in almost every country on the globe, which means that the ICF certification is recognized globally.
- Your certification level also gives you a good measurement tool against industry standards.
Research also shows that ICF certified coaches earn more than those who are not. This is because ICF certification helps a life coach gain credibility and assures the coachee they are hiring a qualified and competent coach.
Important Questions to Ask When Looking for Life Coach Training
Are you ICF accredited?
It is highly recommended that you take an ICF certified Christian life coach training program. Even though the credentials you obtain from the training are great to have, getting an ICF certification is more important. Make sure the institution is ICF accredited before signing up for their program.
How many mentor hours are offered?
The three levels of ICF certification require at least 10 mentor hours. However, what most people do not realize is these 10 hours are actually not equal because the certification level of the mentor is important. If you receive 10 mentor hours from a level 1 ICF certified mentor, you can qualify for level 1 ICF certification. Getting level 2 would require 10 mentor hours with an ICF certified life coach who has PCC or MCC certification level. To get to level 3, the 10 mentor hours must be from an MCC certified life coach.
Does the training offer CEU?
Apart from getting your ICF certification, it is also important to continue developing your skills over time through other educators and mentors. To make this progression easy, it would help if the program you take supports Continuing Education Units (CEU) or can offer guidance as to where to obtain CEU credits. Ongoing CEU are necessary for ICF recertification, and will help to maintain your credentialing as you grow in the coaching journey and continually improve your credibility.
Live or virtual sessions?
Some schools offer both virtual and live sessions, while others only offer one of the two. It is important to clarify this from the very beginning so that you can decide your preference, which will go a long way to determine how successful you are in completing the program. For instance, if you are a busy professional and looking to take an ICF accredited Christian life coach training in a condensed time period, live training will work best for you. Be sure you are getting into a program that will work for your unique situation.
Does the program cover ICF certification requirements?
There are four important ICF certification requirements: training hours, coach-client overviews, mentor hours, and coach knowledge assessment. Not all programs offer these modules in their training, so be sure that you know exactly what is offered. Also, the four requirements differ depending on the level of certification you want to obtain. If the program does not offer the certification requirements, ask about how they help their students to prepare for it.
Ask about the alumni
Institutions that have good programs almost always have a strong network of alumni for purposes of networking. When you finish your Christian life coach training, you might need some help navigating the life coaching space, and it is helpful to have a community of other life coaches who have traveled the path you are on. This community can help you know where to start, how to properly set up your Christian life coach business, how to find clients, where to go for networking, and more.
Ask about the instructors
It is also important to inquire about the instructors who will be facilitating the training sessions. Keep in mind that only ICF certified instructors can teach the 11 core competencies mandated by the ICF. However, it takes more than an ICF certification to be a good instructor. A good instructor should have some relevant instructing/coaching background. And be sure to ask for permission to reach out to previous clients.
Also, ask about the teaching methods used by the instructors. For example, is a full curriculum provided? Business training? In-class coaching practice? Is there only one coach or multiple coaches? These are just a few of the questions that will help you determine the right training program for you.
Taking an ICF accredited Christian life coach training will set you apart. Prospects will know you obtained the highest standard, giving them value for their money, and will be more inclined to pay a premium rate for your coaching services.
Are you ready to become an ICF accredited Christian life coach?
Contact Aim Higher to get started today!
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