The Best Mindfulness Coach Certification Programs

Last updated on July 29, 2024

You’ve mastered mindfulness, you’ve absorbed loads of knowledge about it, and you feel ready to turn this into a business—what else can you do to become a great mindfulness coach? 

By earning a mindfulness coach certificate, you can build your credibility and further hone your skills. A certificate can also help you attract more clients, so you can think of it as more of an investment than a cost. 

However, finding a legit and credible mindfulness coach certification online can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack—but don’t fret! We’ve picked the best mindfulness coaching certification programs so you can choose the one that matches your interest and your budget. 

• Transformation Academy Mindfulness Coach Certification – Best Overall
• iNLP Mindfulness Certification Training – Best for NLP Coaching 
• Mindfulness Coaching Certification by the Mindfulness Coaching School – Best for Learning about both Mindfulness and Business 
• Mindfulness Coach Certification by Happiitude – Best for Workshop-Type Learning
• Quality Mind – Best for a Personalized Program
• Human Potential Institute –  Best for Building a Coaching Business
• NeuroMindfulness® Coach Certification – Best for Neuroscience & Mindfulness

What Does a Mindfulness Coach Do?

Mindfulness coaching belongs to a broader practice known as life coaching. Skilled mindfulness coaches use various coaching tools to teach their clients how to practice, achieve, and remain in a mindful state. 

You might wonder, “Is a certificate or degree a prerequisite to becoming a mindfulness coach?” No, you don’t need any certification or degree to embark on a mindfulness coach journey. However, as you might already know, there are a lot of people out there with the same goal as yours—becoming a coach. As a certified coach, you will stand out and have proof that you adhere to the high standard of mindfulness coaches and that you know how to convey your knowledge to your clients. 

You’ll also benefit from a structured learning path, and you’ll learn from mindfulness experts who have already developed a successful mindfulness coaching business. Plus, getting trained in new mindfulness techniques allows you to offer your clients more variety. 

Even though there are no required qualifications for coaching, some traits that make a successful mindfulness coach are:

• Authentic connection with clients
• Patience
• Supportiveness
• Self-confidence
• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Peace of mind
• Attention to detail

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mindfulness Coaching Certification

How can you know which program is legit and which is a scam? How can you spot the best program for your needs when there are so many of them? Here are some of the key factors that can help you to weed out the programs that don’t suit you.

Program Cost

The costs of mindfulness coach programs differ, but what can make the biggest difference is whether you take study online or in person. Online programs give you more variety and tend to be less expensive. If you want a budget-friendly option or you want to skip the hassle of traveling, getting your mindfulness coach certification online is the way to go. 

Course Length

The course of your choice should fit into your timetable. Luckily, the diversity of mindfulness programs allows you to choose from courses as short as a week-long program and as long as an immersive one-year learning journey. Depending on your coaching business goals, you can pick a program that complements your plans. 

Accreditation

We’ve already established that you don’t need certification to become a mindfulness coach (or any form of a life coach for that matter). However, accreditation by recognized entities can give your business credibility. In the coaching world, the best-known accreditation is that of the International Coach Federation (ICF). 

Receiving certification from an ICF-accredited program indicates that you have met the high standards and requirements designed to develop and improve your coaching skills. This can make you feel more confident in the quality of the course and make your services more appealing to some clients. In the end, whether you’ll choose an accredited certification program or not is completely up to you. 

Best Coaching Certifications for Becoming a Mindfulness Coach

We’ve reached the most anticipated part: the list of ​​the best mindfulness coach certification programs. Let’s take a look at what’s available.

Top Pick: Mindfulness Coach Certification by Transformation Academy

When it comes to excellence in online training, Transformation Academy never disappoints. For the full scoop on Transformation Academy and their varied programs, head to our review. 

All of Transformation Academy’s programs take place in the virtual world, so they’ve mastered how to best pass on the knowledge via an online format. 

Their Mindfulness Coach Certification is accredited, affordable, and designed to give you all the skills you need to become a professional coach. What makes this course stand out is that it is very focused on helping you learn how to work with clients. 

• Course Length: Self-paced
• Program Cost: $197
• Accreditation: Continuing Professional Development Standards Agency
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Special Offer: Get 50% off all certification programs at Transformation Academy by clicking our link or entering code LIFECOACHMAG at checkout.

NLP Option: Mindfulness Certification Training by iNLP 

If you want a neuro mindfulness coach certification, iNLP is the most credible source. We’ve covered all you need to know about iNLP in this article. 

Their mindfulness certification training center offers the Mindfulness Practitioner Course, Mindfulness and NLP Practitioner program, and Practitioner 3-Pack (a combination of three certifications: NLP Practitioner, Hypnosis Practitioner, and Mindfulness Practitioner). 

The basic mindfulness certification course has a very hands-on approach and embodies a variety of learning methods: video, audio, journaling, and live mindfulness training sessions.

• Course Length: Self-paced
• Program Cost: $499
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Mindfulness & Business Option: Mindfulness Coaching Certification by the Mindfulness Coaching School

If you’d like to learn about successfully growing a business alongside tapping into your mindfulness coaching skills, we suggest the Mindfulness Coaching Certification by the Mindfulness Coaching School. 

You’ll get a full-on university feel from this program as it comes in three levels (similar to college degrees). In the first level, you’ll learn the ins and outs of being an effective coach and how to set up a profitable business. 

• Course Length: Self-paced
• Program Cost: $5,800 (Level 1 tuition, plus potential additional costs: fees associated with ICF’s credentialing process, books and materials for classes, and personal coaching sessions)
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online 

Workshop Option: Mindfulness Coach Certification by Happiitude

Mindfulness Coach Certification by Happiitude will be your first choice if you want to launch your own mindfulness program and need some insight into how to deliver it effectively. According to Happiitude, 73% of participants have delivered their 1st workshop within a week of completing the course.

In this course, you’ll learn modern methods of teaching and training while diving deeper into mindfulness practices. The course covers Atmasthi (higher vision and meaning), Manosthiti (internal mental and emotional environment), and Paristhiti (external situation and circumstances). 

• Course Length: 6 weeks
• Program Cost: $1,085
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Yes

Personalized Program Option: Mindfulness Coaching by Quality Mind 

Quality Mind’s model combines neuroscience, positive psychology, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), practices adopted from HeartMath institute, and wisdom of ancient philosophies. 

The program is designed to help you reach an understanding of the human brain, our emotional patterns, our belief system, and how these factors come together to dictate our behaviors. Quality Mind customizes the program according to your needs and interests after you have the initial call with their team to explain your goals. 

• Course Length: Can vary between ten weeks, three months, six months, and a whole year
• Program Cost: Available upon request (after booking a free discovery call)
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online 

Building a Coaching Business Option: Human Potential Institute

If you feel absolutely confident in your mindfulness skills and you want to strictly focus on your coaching abilities, the Human Potential Institute will help you shape your knowledge into the best coaching practice possible. 

The program covers how to achieve self-mastery as a coach, how to coach your clients effectively, and the intricacies of the business of coaching. What we like about this program is that it offers plenty of practice and support from experienced coaches. 

• Course Length: 18 months
• Program Cost: $3,997 (one-time payment) or 4 payments of $1025
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Neuroscience & Mindfulness Option: NeuroMindfulness® Coach Certification

NeuroMindfulness® Coach Certification is for those who want a blend of neuroscience and mindfulness to be their niche. 

What you can expect from the course is 80% of neuroscience and 20% of mindfulness content. The instructors have varied backgrounds (Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, MBAs, HR, IC certifications, etc.) so you’ll learn from reputable individuals about the science behind mindfulness as well as how to run a successful business. 

• Course Length: Self-paced (20 hours of learning material)
• Program Cost: $995
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online 

Where to Look for Non-Niche Alternatives

If you’re still deciding on which direction to take your life coaching business, we suggest looking into courses offered by credible organizations like Coach Training Alliance that provide an apprenticeship-style program. They are focused on teaching you how to make an earning from what you love, which is the ultimate goal. 

With inexpensive courses (like the ones that Transformation Academy offers) you can accumulate knowledge and skills before you choose your path. 

FAQs

• How much does a mindfulness coach make?

According to ZipRecruiter statistics, the average mindfulness coach salary in the US is $49,086 a year. 

• How much does a mindfulness coach certification cost?

The cost can vary from a hundred to thousands of dollars. It usually depends on how elaborate the course is, what it covers, and how long it lasts. 

• Do you need a certification to be a mindfulness coach?

Anyone can become a mindfulness coach, so no, you don’t need a certification. But, if you want to learn more about coaching and have a certification as proof of your coaching abilities, it does come in handy and can help you attract more clients. 

• Does accreditation matter in a mindfulness coach certification program?

Accreditation isn’t a requirement, but it is helpful as it inspires confidence and shows that you’ve been trained according to the standards of a reputable institution.

Conclusion

While you may be an exceptional mindfulness practitioner, learning and practicing are not the same as teaching. Going through a certification program allows you to pay closer attention to how the experts explain the mysticism of mindfulness and employ similar techniques in your teaching. In addition to learning how to coach and boosting your credibility, these certifications can also teach you how to actually earn money as a mindfulness coach.

If you want to expand your own mindfulness practice before diving into a certification program, we recommend this Mindfulness and Well-Being course by Rice University and Coursera.

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