Do I need to be certified to become a coach? Episode 61

Hello friends, welcome to this episode of She Coaches Coaches.

How are you doing? When this episode goes live, we’ll be well into fall. I haven’t had a chance to ask you how your summer was? Did you have fun, did you do some fun things?  I’d love to hear from you, share your summer memories.

We spent a few weeks up on the coast at our cabin. And my private clients were treated to some coaching sessions in a new space, with the wood walls in my cabin as the backdrop. Yes, we’re on the ocean and I get to see whales, and deer and tons of birds. Ravens, eagles, hummingbirds and squirrels too.

Yes, we had a good summer, and my son got married! It’s pretty exciting for us. 

Hey, if you haven’t already, I’m continuing my experiment. Since, this podcast sometimes feels one directional with me talking to you. I want to turn it into more of a discussion so, I want to hear from you.

Here’s how.

I’ve made it as easy as possible.

DM me @candymotzek on Instagram and tell me what you want to learn more about.

Share your ideas with me for podcast episodes.   

Tell me where you could use some guidance. Share with me where you’re stuck or confused, where you need clarity.

And I’ll respond.

Yes, I’ll read every DM, personally and respond.

And if your topic is something that I think will help a larger audience I will do a podcast episode on it.

Then I’ll dedicate the episode to you. I’ll be sure to do a shout out on social and in the episode and dedicate to you! 

So that’s it. Send me a DM @candymotzek and tell me what you’d like to hear.

Ok that’s it for updates now let’s dive into today’s episode. 

Here’s a question I’ve received: 

Do I need to be certified to be a coach?

Do I need to have special courses or certifications to have a coaching business and get clients?

If I don’t have a certification, will it stop me from getting clients? 

Is this a question you’ve wondered about…Well that means today’s episode is just for you!

Ok I have to tell you I do believe fully in coach training, but I don’t think you need to have a certification. 

I know coaches who started their business right after the first day of training and have never looked back

And 

I know coaches who have spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours and still don’t have a client.

In my experience, and I’ve been coaching for years…. I’ve never once had a client ask me if I’m certified.

I do hold certifications. I hold a CPCC since I was trained and certified with CTI – CoActive Coach Training and I am a PCC (those letters that mean I’m a professionally certified coach) with the ICF – the international Coaching Federation. 

But no one, NOT ONE PERSON has ever asked me about my certifications.

As I said at the start, I believe in training. That’s because being a coach is a skill, learning how to hold space, listen ask questions, be curious, use your intuition / metaphors and physicality to support your client’s growth doesn’t just come naturally and training supports this skill.

If you knew you wanted to be an accountant, of course you would be taking accounting courses, right? 

Of if you wanted to be a tradesperson, maybe a plumber, you would expect to take training. 

Well coaching is no different.

I also believe that being a coach means you are signing up for a lifetime of learning and personal development

I can only take my clients as far as I have gone myself. And the more I learn and grow the more I can help them learn and grow. 

But certification…. nope it’s not needed. 

Now some of you like those letters behind your name. Those BA, MA, MBAs and PHDs…and they are wonderful. If you are motivated by achieving these milestones by all means get certified.

I’m not saying don’t get a certification…. just that you don’t have to get a certification.  And you don’t have to wait to complete a certification to get started.

It’s not going to be the reason you succeed or fail.

This is the double-edged sword of the coaching industry right now. They are highly trained coaches and people who call themselves coaches working side by side in the industry and no one know who is who.

Since there are multiple associations and NO ONE governing body there is freedom.

Clients have options, coaches have options, and each individual gets to do their own research and make an individual decision based on their values and ethics.

At this time, in the coaching industry, it’s a personal choice.

Perhaps the question is do you want to be certified? 

You’ll know what’s right for you.

I hope this gives you some perspective.

And in the meantime, if you’ve been wanting to become a coach, start your training and beginning inviting people to work with you.

Alright that’s it for today – let’s wrap it up

I so appreciate that you’re here as part of my community and I trust that you’re applying this stuff too. Don’t let the decision about where you take coach training and whether to be certified hold you back from becoming a paid coach who helps their clients.

And remember I want to hear from you, send me a DM with ideas for future episodes and I’ll dedicate the episode to you and give you a shout out too on social.

My clients are go-getters, and many of them wanted to become a coach for weeks, months or even years before they got started. If this is your time sign up for my free resource library. The Coaches Online Business Academy, there’s lots of free help waiting for in there right now.

The link is in the episode notes waiting for you to sign up for free.

And if you want more help, maybe you want to work more closely with me. Click the link in the episode notes to find out how to apply to work with me.

I’ll be back to talk with you next week. 

Featured on The Show: 

• Coaches Online Business Academy – free resource library
• Click here to learn how to apply to work with me

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