All the Facts About Certification and Accreditation

[Dr. Shad Helmstetter]

This forum is an open discussion about "certification" and "accreditation" in life coaching. The Life Coach Institute has shown that what counts most, is the training you receive, and the life coaching program you learn and use.

Because there is no officially sanctioned or authorized "accreditation" in the life coaching field, (all of the popular accrediting organizations are privately owned, are self-directed, and have no official sanction of any kind), life coaches, worldwide, are often confused by so-called "accreditation" requirements to become a life coach.

In this forum you have the opportunity to ask any question you want, and to add your ideas and input.

[Nova Yeoman]

Before deciding to utilize the life coaching certification program offered by Dr. Shad, I did thorough research, reviewing many of the programs out there.

I came accross programs that provided ICF certifications, which were very costly and time consuming. I can't personally say anything bad about those programs. I'm sure they are comprehensive in their approach. I feel that many of these programs that are certified through ICF can provide great tools and training in the field of life coaching.

However, once I began to study the course work provided by the Life Coach Institute, I realized that I had made the best choice for the best foundation for preparing myself to become the best life coach I can be! The program is simple, it is concise and it is something that can be incorporated into anyone's life. I feel that Dr. Shad's approach is nurturing and positive every step of the way.

At some point, I may take additional course work courses because I am always excited about learning and would like to stay continuously immersed in this new field. However, I am glad that I started here and believe that I have found the best way to help others by becoming certified through the Life Coach Institute!

Thank you Dr. Shad!

[Sue Bond]

For those who want to work as corporate, executive or internal coaches for a company, it may be beneficial to find out if a specific training or certification is required and/or preferred. You can also ask established coaches what they have found when applying for jobs or replying to request for proposals.

[MaryAnn Diorio]

Originally Posted by Dr. Shad Helmstetter

This forum is an open discussion about "certification" and "accreditation" in life coaching. The Life Coach Institute has shown that what counts most, is the training you receive, and the life coaching program you learn and use.

Because there is no officially sanctioned or authorized "accreditation" in the life coaching field, (all of the popular accrediting organizations are privately owned, are self-directed, and have no official sanction of any kind), life coaches, worldwide, are often confused by so-called "accreditation" requirements to become a life coach.

In this forum you have the opportunity to ask any question you want, and to add your ideas and input.

Hi, Everyone,

There has been discussion among life coaches that some states are considering requiring a license for a coach to practice within the state. Have any of you had experience with this?

Thanks!

Dr. MaryAnn

[Walter Boyd]

Originally Posted by MaryAnn Diorio

Hi, Everyone,

There has been discussion among life coaches that some states are considering requiring a license for a coach to practice within the state. Have any of you had experience with this?

Thanks!

Dr. MaryAnn

Hi Dr. MaryAnn,

This is an important topic, thanks for mentioning it as I have had a good bit of experience in the matter.

I have been actively life coaching since 1998 and I have been certified as a life coach since 2002. And at least once a year, I hear through the internet and various coaching message boards that there is talk or rumors of state "regulation" or "licensing" of life coaching, however, so far, no articles or documents have been produced to support the rumors from any official sources, which triggers serious doubts.

Over the years, each time I hear about these types of discussions, I typically will do an amount of extensive research on my own throughout the internet and, at times, I have even corresponded by email and telephone with various state legislature representatives, and have been told in every case that they have no information on the topic and that life coaching is not a real concern on a State or National level. After doing some more searching on the topic via the internet, most recently, the closest thing I have found so far is this statement relating to the licensing of life coaching in the same respect as psychotherapy in the state of Colorado (the information below is from within the “Colorado Digest of Bills,” this reference was also recently posted on the Wikipedia listing for Life Coaching : http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_d...index.htm#Note)

"Some assert that life coaching is akin to psychotherapy without restrictions, oversight, or regulation. The State legislature of Colorado, after holding a hearing on such concerns, disagreed, asserting that life coaching is unlike therapy because it does not focus on examining nor diagnosing the past. Instead coaching focuses on effecting change in a client's current and future behavior. Additionally, life coaching does not delve into diagnosing mental illness or dysfunction".

Again, because of the lack of any State documentation or confirmation anywhere regarding the subject of the proposed regulation of life coaching, many veteran life coaches I have spoken with tend to agree that using the fear of regulation is one major way for self-appointed accrediting bodies to continue to market themselves, as it would certainly be a logical reason to fuel or even spread these types of rumors – of course this would be a possible speculation only.

In every case that I have spoken to State representatives on the matter, in multiple States from around United States, the information I receive is always very similar to Colorado's position and stance on the matter -- that as long life coaches are not giving personal advice or medically diagnosing their clients, the general concern regarding life coaching is extremely low, as liability and health problems caused by life coaches have remained consistently non-existent for the last 30+ years.

I have no personal worries whatsoever because of the research I have done, and plan to keep all of my focus on helping people until I see official evidence to prove otherwise.

Thanks.

Walter Boyd
Certified Life Coach

[glenfoxman]

i know i am about to repeat myself for the umptiest time: why seek for a certification on a topic which you have no experience with - at least with the SAP-part of it? i echo count and i assure you, he gave your good advice. first search this forum on the topic of certification, then follow his lead ... _______________________________________Website I designed for instant payday loan company.