How to Become a Life Coach in Maine
Do you have special skills or wisdom you enjoy sharing? Did you know you could earn a living by using your expertise to help others find success? A career as a life coach will allow you to do exactly that.
Life coaches are hired by clients who are looking to make changes in their lives or achieve specific goals. Working as a life coach can take various forms, and many within the profession choose to fulfill specialized niche areas based on their experience and abilities. These can include specialties like building a social media presence, beginning a new business endeavor or improving social skills, among a plethora of other options. If you want, you can even invent your own life-coaching specialty based on your knowledge and area of expertise.
Maine Requirements for Life Coaches
Life coaching remains largely unregulated, and those in the state of Maine do not need to meet any official requirements to become a coach. Regardless of the state’s lack of oversight, it is important to seek proper training and credentialing both to ensure the quality of your work and to instill a sense of trust in potential clients. Life coaches need to adhere to a strict code of professionalism due to the nature of the work. Education and oversight provide an external moral framework for those in the field.
Training in Maine
Life coach training comes in all forms. Some programs are strictly web-based, while others provide in-person training or a combination of the two. A few of the programs available within the state of Maine are:
- American Life Coach Academy offers courses both online and with in-person training. Certification courses range from 32.5 hours to 60 hours of coursework and are accredited.
- Coaching Changes Lives offers a program based on the principles of neuroscience, psychology and linguistics. Training is available both in-person and online.
- National Associations of Colleges and Employers offers programs to allow for career services members to become board-certified career coaches. Various teaching methods are used including virtual training, roundtable discussions and case study reviews.
Credentialing for Life Coaches
Seeking and holding credentials allows coaches to maintain an ongoing level of professional standards. It is important for those looking for credentialing to find a reputable organization with which to align themselves. One popular program is the International Coach Federation (ICF), which offers three levels of certification based on training hours and coaching experience as follows:
- Associate Certified Coach: at least 60 hours of training and 100 hours of experience
- Professional Certified Coach: at least 125 hours of training and 500 hours of experience
- Master Certified Coach: at least 200 hours of training and 2,500 hours of experience
Job and Salary Expectations
The job and salary prospects for life coaches living and working in Maine are quite promising. According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a life coach in Maine is approximately $56,000 annually. Furthermore, according to the same report, job growth for life coaches in Maine is expected to increase by 10% between 2019 and 2029.
Where to work as a Life Coach in Maine
If you are looking to work as a life coach in Maine, there are many opportunities available. You can find life coaching therapists in Maine through Psychology Today, or search for life coaches on Noomii’s Life Coach Directory. You can also find life coaches near you on Yelp, or become certified through CTEDU’s Life Coach Training Program. Additionally, you can look for local life coaches like Kimberly Coville Transformational Life Coaching in South Portland, Maine, or Thriveworks Portland Life Coaching. Other local options include Elle Darcy and Integral Alignment in Portland, ME and Psychic Spiritual Coach & Reiki Master/Teacher also in Portland. With so many options available to you, finding the right fit for your needs should be easy!