How to Become a Life Coach in Missouri

Working as a life coach is a great option if you are just starting out, looking for a career, but also if you are interested in a career change. In Missouri it’s easy to get the training you need to start working as a life coach. Depending on the program you choose, you could be a working life coach in just a few weeks but definitely in less than a year.

Do you have what it takes to be a life coach? While there are no strict requirements for this industry, you do need to be someone who is patient, a good listener and leader, empathetic and good at organization and communication. You have to enjoy working with and helping people. With these traits and a little training, you can become a life coach and enjoy a satisfying career.

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What is Required to Be a Life Coach in Missouri?

The state of Missouri does not have any official requirements for working as a coach. There are no training, education or certification requirements. Most coaches, however, do have training and many are certified. The right training program will teach you the skills and give you the mentorship and practice that helps you become a successful coach. And certification proves to potential clients that you take your career seriously and will be able to help them.

Life Coach Programs in Missouri

You can choose from online courses, in-person training, and programs for coaches that offer a mix of distance and on-site learning. Because there is little oversight in the industry, look for programs that are approved by the most widely-recognized life coaching organization, the International Coach Federation (ICF).

  • Avila University, Kansas City. Few universities offer academic programs in coaching, but in Kansas City you can earn a certificate from Avila University in leadership coaching. Approved by the ICF, this program can prepare you for a career as a life coach, an executive coach, a spiritual coach or a consultant. Learn in person with an eight-week campus program.
  • Crossroads Solutions Coach, St. Louis. Crossroads offers a unique training program conducted entirely in sign language. If you are deaf or hope to work with deaf clients, this is a great opportunity. The program is ICF-approved and takes 10 weeks to complete.
  • Academy of Creative Coaching. For an online option you can access from anywhere, consider the Academy of Creative Coaching. The ICF-approved programs include a three-month and a six-month track depending on the level of certification you hope to achieve. The classes meet virtually on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Certification for Life Coaches

Certification is not a requirement of working as a coach, but it is a good way to show potential employers and clients that you have the training and education necessary to be a successful coach. ICF certifications are recognized internationally and are available at three different levels:

  • Associate Certified Coach
  • Professional Certified Coach
  • Master Certified Coach

Each level requires an increasing number of training hours and hours spent working with clients to achieve.

Life Coach Salaries

There is a lot of variation in salaries for life coaches, because some people work full-time but many others work part-time as coaches while working other jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average national salary for life coaches was $61,900 per year in 2015. Ziprecruiter.com reports that Missouri life coaches earn $54,714 per year on average.

Beginning a Life Coach Career in Missouri

As a certified life coach in Missouri, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a job or clients. You have a lot of options for how you want to work, including finding a job as an employee, starting your own coaching business and working full- or part-time as a coach. Companies that hire coaches include consulting or coaching companies but also larger businesses that want to offer life coaching as a benefit for employees.

Start your search anywhere in the state, but you will probably find the most openings and clients in larger population centers: in and around Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia.