Finding the Right Life Coach for You: Understanding Accreditation and Certification

In today's wellness-driven world, it seems everyone knows someone who's a "life coach." The term has become so common that it's easy to assume all coaches go through the same training or hold the same qualifications. However, that's not always the case.

If you're considering hiring a life coach, it's worth pausing for a moment to understand what accreditation and certification really mean. More importantly, you should know what matters when it comes to finding the right coach for you.

Accreditation vs. Certification – What's the Difference?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things.

Accreditation refers to the approval of a training program by a governing organization. Think of it as the program itself being recognized for meeting certain professional standards. Examples include the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Achieving accreditation typically involves completing mentoring hours, submitting recordings of actual coaching sessions, and accumulating 100 or more coaching hours, depending on the accreditation level. Additionally, the accreditation process requires passing a challenging final examination that evaluates best-case scenarios.

Certification, on the other hand, refers to the individual coach who has completed a specific course or program. Some certifications are backed by accredited organizations, while others are not. In other words, a person can be a "Certified Coach" without having completed an accredited program. Certification programs can range from intensive weekend sessions to more extended durations, depending on the specific certification type. However, certifications generally do not offer the same level of training or practical coaching experience as accreditation does.

This distinction matters – but only to a point.

Why Credentials Don't Tell The Whole Story

Here's where my personal view comes in. After more than three decades of working with clients in the health and wellness world, I've learned that credentials alone don't define a great coach or personal trainer.

Life coaching isn't about who's the most talented, credited, or licensed. It's about who you connect with the most.

This service is an intimate, trust-based relationship that requires honesty, vulnerability, and mutual respect. You are opening up areas of your life that may never have been discussed out loud before. For that reason, chemistry and compatibility matter far more than the name of the school on someone's wall.

Consider These Facts

• There are more practitioners worldwide in 2025, up from about 190,000 in 2022 – a 13% increase in just a few years.

• Coaching and therapy serve different purposes: therapy helps clients heal, while coaching helps clients grow. Coaches focus on personal development, accountability, and goal setting, not mental health diagnosis or treatment.

• In the US, there is no law requiring life coaches to be licensed. Unlike therapists, who must be licensed, trained, and regulated to diagnose or treat mental health conditions, life coaching remains largely unregulated.

  
  

With so many people now entering the coaching field, understanding these distinctions can help you make a more informed choice about who you let into your inner world.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Life Coach

Rather than solely emphasizing credentials, consider posing questions that provide insight into a coach's methods and values. Here are some questions you might ask:

• What kind of training or background do you have?

• How do you approach goal setting and accountability?

• What types of clients or challenges do you typically work with?

• What does success look like in your coaching process?

• How do you continue to grow in your own personal and professional life?

  
  

Their answers will tell you far more than a title ever could.

The Right Coach For You

There's no universal standard for what makes someone the right coach. Some people want a structured, goal-oriented approach. Others need a safe space to process life transitions, loss, or reinvention.

My philosophy has always been simple: you are the expert of your own life – my role as a coach is to help you uncover what's already within you.

So YES, credentials are important, but they're only one piece of the puzzle. What truly matters is how you feel in the room or on the screen with your coach. You should feel both comfortable and challenged, guided yet empowered.

When connection clicks, transformation naturally follows.

A Final Thought

Before you commit to working with any coach, it's a good idea to ask yourself one very important question: Am I coachable? Because no matter how skilled, experienced, or intuitive a coach may be, they can't do the work for you.

True growth happens when you show up willing to reflect, take action, and stay open to change. That's when the magic of coaching becomes life-changing.

If you're ready to explore what a supportive, growth-centered coaching relationship could look like, I'd be honored to connect.

Angelese 🌺