How Long Does It Take to Become a Professional Coach?

Becoming a professional coach is no small feat. It requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to learning the necessary skills and knowledge. Depending on the route you take, it can take anywhere from 20 hours to 8 years to become a certified coach. If you're looking to get started quickly, you can take a basic training course that lasts from 20 to 120 hours.

This will give you the basic knowledge and skills needed to start coaching. However, if you want to become a certified coach, you'll need to complete more advanced credentials such as the ICF Professional Training Certification. This can take six to twelve months and requires at least 500 hours of coaching experience. If you include the normal education requirements for a college degree, it takes 6 to 8 years to become a professional coach. The Co-Active Training Institute (formerly called CTI) offers a combination of online and face-to-face learning.

This is an excellent way to learn specific coaching skills and gain experience with different clients. The Coach Training Alliance (CTA) is one of the most popular coach training programs. It offers intimate training programs with a maximum of 12 participants each. CTA has trained more than 10,000 students through life coaching, professional training, and personal development coaching. The INLP Center is an internationally accredited neurolinguistic programming training center that offers weekly training workshops, practice partner sessions, Coaching Buddies groups, and direct mentoring opportunities. The Columbia Coaching Certification Program is another face-to-face training program that is based on college degrees. Coach Training Alliance, iNLP Center, and CoachU are all virtual life coach certification programs that are fully accredited.

They offer more than 60 hours of ICF-approved training. The CLCI has trained nearly 10,000 coaches during its more than 11 years of operation and remains a favorite among coaches looking to start working right away. No matter which route you choose, it's important to remember that becoming a professional coach requires dedication and hard work. With the right training program and commitment, you can become a successful coach in no time.