The Best Emotional Intelligence Coach Certification Programs

Last updated on July 30, 2024

Global demand for emotional intelligence (EI) skills is projected to grow 6 times by 2024. In addition, this set of skills ranks among the top ten vital skills for the future workforce. As a result, emotional intelligence coaching is becoming increasingly sought-after by individuals and companies alike.

For those striving to enhance their emotional intelligence and demonstrate their EI coaching expertise, an emotional intelligence coach certification is a game-changer. Discover the top certification programs that can give you an edge in this competitive market. 

• Beyond EI – Best for Comprehensive Learning
• Coach Transformation Academy – Best for Beginners
• Transformation Academy – Best Budget Option
• Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence Courses –  Best for Personal and Professional Development
• Six Seconds – Best for Practical Learning and Graduate Credit

What Is an Emotional Intelligence Life Coach?

An emotional intelligence life coach is a professional who helps individuals develop and improve their emotional intelligence. They work with clients to enhance their ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions, leading to better personal and professional outcomes. 

The benefits of emotional intelligence coaching include:

• Improved self-awareness
• Enhanced interpersonal skills
• Effective stress management
• Better decision-making
• Increased leadership and management capabilities
• Greater emotional well-being

EI coaches work with individuals seeking personal growth, improved relationships, and increased emotional well-being. They can also be hired by companies, leaders, and entrepreneurs as EI has become a highly valued skill in the business world.

How To Become an Emotional Intelligence Coach

To become an emotional intelligence coach, you don’t need a specific certification as life coaching is an unregulated field. However, pursuing an emotional intelligence coaching certification can be highly beneficial. 

An emotional intelligence coaching program provides specialized training and boosts your credibility. The training can enable you to better guide clients in developing their emotional intelligence skills and position yourself as an EI professional.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification

As you begin your research, you’ll discover many emotional intelligence coach training options for becoming an emotional intelligence coach. Key factors to consider include program cost, duration, and whether you prefer accredited EI training.

Program Cost

Your investment in a training program largely depends on choosing between online or in-person study. Online emotional intelligence coach training provides a diverse range of options which leads to varying prices that can suit different budgets. The cost of the investment in emotional intelligence coach training typically ranges from $200 to $15,000.

Course Length

Emotional intelligence courses can come in the form of intensive programs of just a few days or even year-long programs. There are also self-paced programs or hybrid options that combine scheduled lessons and self-directed study. Consider your certification goals and coaching business timeline to choose the program style that suits you best.

Accreditation

While there is no centralized licensure body in the life coaching industry, several entities evaluate and approve coach training academies. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the most renowned of these.  Opting for an accredited certification program can increase your confidence in the training’s quality and instructors, as they are assessed and endorsed by a third party. A certificate can be convincing to certain clients, but in the end, the decision to choose an accredited program is up to you.

Best Emotional Intelligence Coach Certification Programs

Comprehensive Learning Option: Beyond EI

The Emotional Intelligence Coach Certification (EICC) by Beyond EI is a comprehensive program comparable to graduate and professional-level studies. It incorporates the latest neuroscience research to understand perceptions and emotions at a brain-body level and teaches effective coaching techniques.

The complete EICC program covers the following modules:

• BEI Masterclass I: Build Your EI
• EI Coaching Theory and Practice
• EICC Remote Residency (virtual residency)
• BEI Masterclass II: Leading with EI 
• EI Coaching Practicum

You can take modules separately, but each module is the prerequisite for the next one. 

Through this course, you’ll learn to develop and apply up-to-date emotional intelligence coaching techniques so you can empower yourself and your clients to achieve personal and professional success. The program provides practical knowledge, interactive sessions, coaching by EI experts, and a community of peers for support and networking. You’ll also engage in real coaching sessions for practical experience.

• Course Length: approximately 7 months 
• Program Cost: $13,500
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Beginner Option: Coach Transformation Academy

If you seek a program that begins with the basics and advances toward EI mastery, the Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification can be the ideal choice. The online training is organized into weekly classes for 12 weeks, but there is also the option of a 4-day intensive classroom training.

This is a great course for beginners because the robust curriculum begins with foundational topics such as what is EI and the evolution of EI, but it also dives into practical tools and insights such as coaching using the KASH quadrant and the listening spectrum for EI coaching. Overall, the program is a dynamic blend of foundational and relationship skills of emotional intelligence, along with practical applications, tools, and micro-techniques. 

• Course Length: 4-day in-person course or 12-week online course
• Program Cost: $1,900
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Budget Option: Transformation Academy 

Transformation Academy’s Emotional Intelligence Life Coach Certification can give you a lot of bang for your buck. This affordable and robust training program ​​sets you up with a blueprint to assist clients in mastering their emotions, reducing stress, and developing emotional intelligence. 

The curriculum covers both INTRApersonal intelligence (understanding your own emotions) and INTERpersonal intelligence (understanding others’ emotions). A huge advantage of TA programs is that you can start coaching immediately using their complete package of done-for-you templates, intake forms, worksheets, and questionnaires. 

Learn more about Transformation Academy and what makes them stand out against the competition in our in-depth review. 

• 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.

Personal and Professional Development Option: Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence Courses

Daniel Goleman introduced emotional intelligence to popular culture in the 1990s through his books. Today, he is the most well-known emotional intelligence expert.

In his emotional intelligence courses, he incorporates positive psychology, mindfulness, compassion training, and neuroscience. There are two courses in the bundle, foundational and relational skill courses, both released weekly online.

The Foundational Skills Course provides practical knowledge for applying emotional intelligence skills, properly responding to emotions, increased flexibility under stress, and improved resilience when facing challenges and setbacks. While the foundation course focuses on personal EI, the Relational Skills Course revolves around guiding others in mastering EI skills.

• Course Length: 12 weeks
• Program Cost: $845
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Practical Learning and Graduate Credit Option: Six Seconds

The EQ Coach Certification (PCC) from Six Seconds is one of the few programs in North America that grants graduate credit. The credit is the equivalent of nearly 1/3 of an MBA or a Masters in Nonprofit Management or a Master of Human Services Administration at Antioch University. 

Through this program, you’ll earn 4 different certifications across 6 courses. The certifications include:

• Practitioner Certification
• Assessor Certification
• Certified EQ Coach
• Professional Certified Coach status 

The format is a hybrid of virtual learning and live classes (either online or in-person). The course combines ICF competencies with cutting-edge neuroscience and emotional intelligence research. You’ll gain comprehensive coaching skills through intensive training with experienced faculty, access to a global community, and a complete toolkit for measuring progress and development.

• Course Length: Self-paced (220 instructional hours)
• Program Cost: around $10,000—pricing varies based on selected options and package discounts. Specific details are available upon request.
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Alternatives (non-niche)

If you want a well-rounded foundation in life coaching in addition to your EI specialty, there are numerous programs that cater to diverse coaching niches. 

Coach Training Alliance is our top recommendation for life coach certification due to its comprehensive curriculum, ICF accreditation, and practical approach. If you want a complete rundown of CTA, you can find more details (including how it compares with other popular programs) in our review.

FAQs

• How much does an emotional intelligence coach make?

Emotional intelligence coaching is a life coaching niche, and the salary varies from $62,500 per year to $245,000 per year.

• Do you need a certification to be an emotional intelligence coach?

Certification isn’t mandatory, but as the demand for EI coaches rises, the need for professionals meeting rigorous coaching standards with reputable credentials also increases.

• How much does an emotional intelligence coach certification cost?

The investment depends on numerous factors and can be anywhere from $200 to over $10,000.

• Does accreditation matter in an emotional intelligence coach certification program?

Accreditation matters as it adds credibility and ensures certain standards are met, but it’s not required, and reputable programs may still lack accreditation.

• What is the most recognized coaching certification? 

In the sea of certification programs, when it comes to recognition, accreditation holds more weight than the name of the certification. Accrediting bodies like ICF and CPD are well-known in the coaching industry, so they can enhance the certification’s recognition.

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence coaching is an increasingly popular niche which makes this the right time for pursuing this career. With super affordable options like Transformation Academy and comprehensive training such as the EQ Coach Certification, you’ll be able to find your way to the program that aligns with your objectives and learning preferences. I

f you want to work on your life coaching skills as well, be sure to check out our list of the best life coaching certifications, which features our top pick Coach Training Alliance and many other popular coaching academies.

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