Additional Information
Coaching is unregulated. That means there are no rules about who can call
him or herself a coach. There is no education required to enter a career as
a coach. But there are some recommended paths for success in the field.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) did a survey of coaches around
the world in 2006. The survey was completed by 5,415 coaches from 73 countries.
It found coaches were highly educated overall.
Over 80 percent of coaches had at least a bachelor's degree. And 53 percent
had a master's degree or PhD.
To be successful, most coaches find training important. There are several
specialty programs designed to teach coaching skills. These skills complement
people's previous education and experience.
The ICF approves certain coaching schools. These schools agree to the ICF's
code of ethics.
There is no formal accreditation process for training programs. This makes
choosing a coaching school a "buyer beware" situation. You have to investigate
any potential program carefully before handing over your money.
"Research the coach training schools to find one that fits with your values
and learning style, and to ensure that the program is accredited by the International
Coach Federation. There are not too many very young people in coaching yet,
but there are some very successful ones," says Beth Garrish.
Garrish is a certified professional coach. She completed her coach training
through the Coaches Training Institute. She worked in real estate for 17 years
before starting a coaching business.
"Coaches come from various backgrounds and life experiences and often coach
people with similar experiences," says Ally Wieser. She is a life coach for
personal and professional development. She trained through Coach U. She also
has a bachelor's degree in finance. She worked in marketing and advertising
before transitioning to coaching.
She suggests hiring a coach to help you map out a strategy to become a
coach yourself. "...plan for the coach you would like to be, where you are
now and how you're going to get there," she says.