How to Become a Life Coach in Texas
Is a career helping people and making a real difference in the lives of others appealing? If so, consider learning to become a life coach. This career is growing as people become more aware of what life coaches can do and how they can help them improve their lives.
As a coach in Texas you’ll work with clients to help them set goals, stay accountable and meet goals to improve their careers, health, relationships and more. Training to become a coach doesn’t take long and can lead to a rewarding, flexible career.
Life Coaching Requirements
Whether you are in Texas or anywhere else, there are no official regulations for life coaching. You do not need to go through training, earn a degree or be certified or licensed. However, for a successful career, you should follow these steps:
- Finish high school or earn your GED.
- Complete a training program approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
- Get certified through the ICF, although this can be done after you start working as a coach.
Life Coach Training in Texas
Becoming a life coach can be as easy as taking an online course, but there are reasons to consider in-person training as well. There are a few options for this in Texas that are approved by the ICF:
- Academy of Creative Coaching, Houston. The Academy of Creative Coaching offers self-paced study and online programs but also an intensive, in-person program that prepares students for entry-level coaching certification. There are several locations for the four-day program, including regularly scheduled sessions in Houston.
- University of Texas at Dallas. For a more traditional academic experience, U of T Dallas offers a few options. If you have a bachelor’s degree you can apply for the master’s program here. Otherwise, you can complete a shorter certificate program in executive and professional coaching. It includes a mix of virtual classes, collaborative work, study groups and expert forums.
How to Get Certified as a Life Coach
While you don’t have to hold a certification to work as a coach or even to be a good coach, it’s wise to achieve this status. Certification tells clients that you have the skills needed to help them and that you keep up with training and continuing education. ICF is a great choice for certification that is recognized around the U.S. and internationally:
- Associate Certified Coach. ICF’s first level of certification requires 60 hours of training, which you can get from most approved education programs, and 100 hours of coaching.
- Professional Certified Coach. To become a professional, you must continue training and get 125 hours and work as a coach for at least 500 hours.
- Master Certified Coach. As a master, you prove that you have 200 or more hours of training and at least 2,500 hours of coaching experience.
Life Coach Salaries in Texas
Reported salaries for life coaches can be a little bit misleading. Coaching is a flexible career, which means that many choose to work full-time and hold down other jobs. And, because many work independently, their rates vary a lot. With this in mind, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an average annual salary of $61,900 for life coaches across the country in 2015, while Ziprecruiter.com reported $55,294 as the average salary in Texas.
Starting a Life Coach Career in Texas
With such a flexible career choice, you have options. Some companies hire life coaches to work with their employees, wellness clients or community members, but many coaches start small businesses. The latter gives you the option to choose your clients, your hours and your rates, but is less stable.
If you’re starting your career in Texas, you should find plenty of clients in and around major cities like Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. In these areas, you’ll find eager clients and large companies that hire staff coaches.