Eight Reasons to Become a Certified Professional Coach
Learn more about coaching and fast-track ICF-accredited coach training.
Are you a mental health professional, HR leader, consultant, recruiter, educator, or retiring executive looking for a career shift that offers a mission-driven, deeply satisfying next-stage career? If you've ever felt the pull to make a more profound impact, experience greater professional fulfillment, or crave a change that aligns with your expertise and values, becoming a certified executive coach or wellness coach may be a wise career path.
Why Shift to Professional Coaching?
Make a Broader Impact
As a professional coach, you'll work with highly motivated clients, often successful leaders, helping them to achieve their highest potential and their most important "next chapter" goals. Your influence will extend beyond individual sessions, affecting entire teams and companies. Research by the International Coach Federation (ICF) found that 80% of coaching clients reported improved self-confidence, and 73% reported improved relationships, indicating the far-reaching impact of coaching.
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Find Deep Fulfillment
Imagine the satisfaction of witnessing your clients' breakthroughs and growth. Coaching allows you to create significant, lasting change in people's lives, providing a profound sense of purpose. A study published in the International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring revealed that both executive coaches and well-being coaches experience high levels of work engagement and job satisfaction, with most reporting a strong sense of personal accomplishment.
Embrace Continuous Learning
Professional coaching is engaging, dynamic and ever-evolving. A coaching career is characterized by a commitment to continuous learning, ensuring you never stop growing and evolving professionally. A survey by the ICF showed that 85% of coaches engage in coach-specific training, demonstrating the profession's commitment to ongoing education.
Enjoy Autonomy and Flexibility
Say goodbye to rigid schedules and hello to flexibility. As a coach, you'll have the autonomy to design your workday, allowing you to balance your personal and professional life effectively. The 2020 ICF Global Coaching Study found that 75% of coaches reported high levels of job satisfaction, with work-life balance being a significant contributing factor.
Apply Your Expertise in New Ways
Leverage your background and skills in mental health, HR, consulting, leadership, education, or recruitment to become a trusted advisor and coach. Your background and perspective, combined with mastering coaching competencies through accredited coach training, will be invaluable to your clients. Research published in the Journal of Workplace Learning indicates that coaches with diverse professional backgrounds bring added value to their coaching practice, enhancing their effectiveness with clients.
Reap Financial Rewards
Professional coaching is not only fulfilling but also financially rewarding. This career path can significantly enhance your earning potential, providing a lucrative return on your investment. The ICF Global Coaching Study reported that the average annual revenue for coaches with high-level experience and well-developed practices is in the six figures.
Achieve Work-Life Balance
Coaching allows for a healthier work-life balance, letting you dedicate time to both your career and personal interests. A study in the International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring found that coaches reported higher levels of well-being compared to other professions, attributing this to the flexibility and personal growth opportunities inherent in coaching.
Experience High Job Satisfaction
Research consistently shows that professional coaches report high levels of job satisfaction. A study published in the Coaching Psychologist journal found that 96% of coaches were either satisfied or very satisfied with their coaching work, citing factors such as autonomy, personal growth, and the ability to impact others' lives positively.
Take the First Step
When embarking on a career shift as a professional coach, aspiring practitioners often focus on two primary paths: executive coaching and wellness coaching. These specializations offer unique opportunities and require specific certifications to establish credibility and expertise. For those interested in executive coaching, obtaining a credential from the International Coach Federation (ICF) is widely recognized as the gold standard in the industry. The ICF offers various levels of certification, including Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC), each requiring different levels of training and experience. On the other hand, individuals drawn to well-being or wellness coaching should consider pursuing certification from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). This organization offers their credential in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners, the same board that licenses physicians. Their National Board Certified Health and Wellness credential demonstrates proficiency in wellness, behavior change, motivational interviewing, and holistic well-being principles. These credentials require one to complete accredited, coach-specific training such as that offered by the College of Executive Coaching. Both credential paths provide coaches with the necessary skills, ethical guidelines, and professional recognition to excel in their chosen field, whether working with managers and executives to enhance their career success or helping individuals achieve their health and well-being goals.
Are you curious about how to make this transformative career shift? The next step is to learn more about comprehensive accredited coach certification programs designed specifically for professionals like you. You will learn how a structured educational program, rooted in a blend of practical tools and practice, will enable you to achieve your potential and make a lasting impact.
By becoming a certified professional coach, you're not just refining your career—you're embracing a fulfilling profession that allows you to grow, impact lives, and achieve personal satisfaction. The research clearly shows that coaching offers a unique combination of professional autonomy, personal fulfillment, and the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of others.
