Last updated on July 30, 2024
If you feel like God intended that you guide and help others make meaningful changes in their life through faith, Christian life coaching can be the right path for you. However, coaching is a unique field that demands special skills—ones that life coaching programs will help you attain.
Join us as we explore the best Christian life coach certification programs that can ease your transition to this field or upgrade your life coaching capabilities.
- Life Coach Training Institute – Best for Hybrid Learning (Self-Paced and Live)
- Christian Coach Institute – Best Comprehensive Training
- Light University – Best for Niche Christian Life Coach Certification
- Center for Christian Coaching – Best for Building a Christian Coaching Business
- National Association of Christian Counselors – Best for Beginners
- Transformation Academy – Best Budget Option
Table of Contents
What Is a Christian Life Coach?
A Christian life coach provides support rooted in faith and guides clients through personal or professional roadblocks. They use Biblical teachings, Christian principles, and insightful conversations to help clients understand God’s vision for their lives and overcome obstacles that are holding them back from reaching fulfillment and peace.
Christian life coaches can help clients with:
- Building self-confidence
- Finding and reaching goals
- Strengthening relationships
- Learning how to be accountable for their actions
- Making decisions that are aligned with their desires and purpose
- Reducing stress
- Discovering their life purpose
They can work with clients in various areas of life, including
- Spiritual well-being
- Relationships
- Trauma
- Career growth
- Divorce
- Finances
- Grief
How To Become a Certified Christian Life Coach
You don’t need a degree or license to work as a Christian life coach. Not even a certification is necessary; however, most coaches opt to hone skills and adopt Christian coaching principles through coach certification programs.
In addition to learning how to conduct sessions and guide clients through their transformations, certification programs also contribute to your professional status. According to the 2022 Global Consumer Awareness Study, 85% of clients expressed that it’s important for them that a coach holds a certification or credential. Certification lends you instant credibility and helps clients trust in your abilities.
Since there are no specific certification requirements, you can either choose a specialized Christian coach certification program or general coach certification and apply your own values and beliefs to your coaching approach.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Christian Coaching Certification
The selection process can be challenging if you don’t know what to focus on when choosing the best certification for your aspirations. Here are a few crucial factors that can refine your options.
Program Cost
Don’t let the difference in pricing surprise you as there are numerous factors that define the cost of the certification programs. Prices depend on how long the course lasts, whether mentorship is included, whether the certification is ICF-accredited, and so on. Choosing an online Christian life coach training will offer more flexibility than in-person training and also enable you to find a course that aligns with your budget.
Course Length
The duration of the programs varies based on their intensity, type of lessons, and curriculum extensiveness. The courses can last from a few days to over a year. Self-paced programs are quite popular as they are flexible and allow even those with hectic schedules to explore life coaching as a career path.
Accreditation
Accreditation can increase the credibility and recognition of certification, so even though it’s not an indicator of the program’s validity, coaches often opt for accredited programs. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered to be the gold standard of coaching accreditation, but accrediting bodies such as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standards Agency also carry weight and recognition in the coaching industry.
Best Christian Life Coach Training Programs
Hybrid Learning Option: Life Coach Training Institute’s Christian Life Coach Certification
The Christian Life Coach Certification by LCTI is structured around the IIPP Transformational Christian Coaching Model (Intimacy with God, Identity in Christ, Promises of God, and Purpose & Calling).
The program emphasizes that real transformation in Christian coaching comes from an experiential knowledge of God, shaped by personal encounters rather than just theoretical knowledge.
It involves interactive elements like live sessions, role-playing, and practical application scenarios, all designed to equip you with the skills to facilitate deep spiritual and personal growth.
For more details about this program, check out this guide.
- Course Length: 6 weeks
- Program Cost: $495 for a combined life and Christian coaching certification, or $195 for those with prior coaching credentials
- Accreditation: ICOES
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Comprehensive Training: Christian Coach Institute
This ICF-accredited, comprehensive, and Christ-centered program has a very practical approach. The program is a blend of self-directed learning and weekly live webinars, and it also includes coaching practicum and mentor coaching.
The well-rounded curriculum delves into personal growth, professional development, and business building. Some of the techniques you’ll learn about are the DISC Assessment, Prochaska’s Change Model, and the Christian Coaching Model. You’ll also receive continual support and encouragement through a private alumni group on social media.
- Course Length: 16 weeks
- Program Cost: $5,200
- Accreditation: ICF
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Niche Christian Life Coach Certification Option: Light University
As a Christian life coach, you can opt to build a foundation in general life coaching or general Christian life coaching, and then niche in specific areas. Light University has a great diversity of Christian life coach training that will allow you to specialize in the field that interests you.
In addition to the Professional Christian Life Coaching program, the available specialty certifications are:
- Crisis Pregnancy Coaching Specialization
- Mental Health Coach Life Recovery Specialization
- Mental Health Coach Marriage and Family Specialization
After you obtain the Professional Christian Life Coaching certification, you can enhance your credentials with a Diploma in Professional Christian Life Coaching Program and the Master’s Diploma in Professional Christian Life Coaching Program.
Even though Light University isn’t accredited, it is recognized for continuing education (CE) with the APA, NBCC, and BCPPC.
- Course Length: Self-paced
- Program Cost: $634—Professional Christian Life Coaching Program
- Accreditation: None
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Building a Christian Coaching Business Option: Center for Christian Coaching
If you’d like to learn the ins and outs of building and marketing a Christian coaching practice so you can attract clients and help as many people as possible, the Center for Christian Coaching can be an excellent choice.
This Life Coach Training Program is based on Biblical principles and Christian faith, but besides theoretical knowledge and coaching teachings, it will also tackle business development and how to develop a personal marketing strategy. The business and marketing topics it delves into are developing your brand and marketing message, creating a unique professional online presence, designing workshops and classes that sell, automating your business, and much more.
You can sign up for their Intro to Christian Coaching Live Webinar for free if you’d like to learn more about this center and its approach.
- Course Length: 6 months
- Program Cost: $3,795
- Accreditation: ICF
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Beginners Option: National Association of Christian Counselors
The National Association of Christian Counselors starts from the very basics of Christian life coaching and progresses to advanced techniques, so it can be well-suited for aspiring Christian life coaches.
You will begin with the foundations like what makes a good coach and then dive deeper into the realms of coaching by adopting the necessary skills, tools, and strategies. They will also introduce you to advanced questioning skills and the six human needs of psychology and how they bring fulfillment.
- Course Length: Self-paced
- Program Cost: $700
- Accreditation: NACC
- Mode of Delivery: Online
Budget Option: Transformation Academy
Despite not being Christian-focused, Transformation Academy’s Professional Life Coach Certification can be ideal for those who seek inexpensive certification. You can incorporate your own spiritual beliefs and values into your coaching sessions while boosting your credibility with this credential.
The Professional Life Coach Certification will equip you with everything from life coaching tools and best industry practices to popular techniques like neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). One of the biggest advantages of this course is that it includes done-for-you coaching questionnaires, templates, and worksheets that you can use in your practice.
- Course Length: Self-paced
- Program Cost: $197
- Accreditation: CPD
- 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.
Alternatives (non-niche)
Each life coach’s style should be a reflection of the coach, and there’s no one coach training that will be a perfect match. As spirituality is something that comes from within, you have the freedom to align your coaching with your own beliefs to make your efforts true and powerful.
If you can’t find a Christian life and business coach program, Christian relationship coach training, or Christian trauma coach certification course that resonates with you, there’s a solution. You can earn a general relationship coach certification, career coaching certification, or trauma-informed coach certification and incorporate Christian principles into your coaching approach.
The same applies to life coaching. One great route to building a Christian life coaching program is an all-around robust program like Coach Training Alliance. This course is our top pick for a life coaching course, and you’ll understand why after reading our CTA review.
FAQs
- How much does a Christian life coach make?
Christian life coach’s salary is on average $39,028, but this depends on the location, whether the work is part-time or full-time, and expertise, among other factors.
- Do you need a certification to be a Christian life coach?
Certification isn’t required, but it’s beneficial as it provides credibility.
- How much does a Christian life coach certification cost?
On average, the cost of Christian life coach certification is a couple of thousand dollars. However, you can find much more affordable alternatives like Transformation Academy.
- Does accreditation matter in a Christian life coach certification program?
Though not mandatory, accreditation boosts the recognition of certification. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference.
- What is the most recognized coaching certification?
The certification programs available are so diversified that ranking them according to reputation is practically impossible. For added recognition, we recommend enrolling in an accredited program, as accrediting institutions like ICF and CPD are globally recognized and valued.
Conclusion
Christian life coach certification programs will help you learn how to guide clients toward embracing God’s direction for their lives and refocusing their efforts toward building the life, career, or relationship that they dream of.
With such diverse opportunities, you can opt for the path that best aligns with your desires and goals. Whether you opt for a life coaching program and incorporate your own beliefs, or pursue a dedicated Christian life coaching certification course, these comprehensive programs will ensure that you gain training and credentials for success in this field.
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