How can you become a professional coach. What are the requirements for coaching education and certification. Which accreditations are available for aspiring coaches. How to choose the right coaching program for your career goals.
The Importance of Coaching Education in Your Professional Journey
Embarking on a career as a professional coach requires dedication, continuous learning, and a commitment to excellence. Coaching education plays a pivotal role in shaping your skills and expertise. According to the 2020 ICF Global Coaching Study, an overwhelming 99% of coach practitioners have completed some form of coach-specific education or training. This statistic underscores the significance of formal education in the coaching profession.
Why is coaching education so crucial? It provides you with:
- A solid foundation in coaching principles and methodologies
- Insight into ethical practices and professional standards
- Opportunities to develop and refine your coaching skills
- Credibility in the eyes of potential clients and employers
- A pathway to professional certification and recognition
ICF Accreditation: The Gold Standard in Coaching Education
When choosing a coaching education program, accreditation by the International Coach Federation (ICF) is a key factor to consider. The ICF is globally recognized as the leading professional organization for coaches, and its accreditation process ensures that educational programs meet rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness.
What makes ICF accreditation so valuable? ICF-accredited programs:
- Align with the ICF definition of coaching, Core Competencies, and Code of Ethics
- Undergo a thorough review process to demonstrate curriculum quality
- Help you meet the requirements for ICF Membership and Credentialing
- Provide a comprehensive foundation for your coaching career
While the ICF doesn’t directly offer coaching education, it accredits organizations that do. This ensures that aspiring coaches have access to high-quality training options that meet industry standards.
Understanding ICF Accreditation Levels and Their Benefits
The ICF accreditation structure has recently evolved to provide a more comprehensive model for coaching education. As of January 10, 2022, the following accreditation levels are in effect:
Level 1 Accreditation (formerly ACSTH)
This accreditation level requires between 60 and 124 contact learning hours and is designated as ACC-accredited Education. Graduates from a Level 1 program may apply for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential using the Level 1 application path, provided they meet the credentialing requirements.
Level 2 Accreditation (formerly ACTP)
Level 2 accreditation requires between 125-175 contact learning hours and is designated as PCC-accredited Education. Graduates from these programs may apply for the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential using the Level 2 application path, subject to meeting the necessary requirements.
Level 3 Accreditation
This is a new accreditation level introduced by the ICF. It requires 75 contact learning hours and is designated as MCC-accredited Education. Graduates from Level 3 programs may apply for the Master Certified Coach (MCC) Credential using the Level 3 application path if they meet the credentialing application requirements.
Continuing Coach Education (CCE): Enhancing Your Coaching Skills
For coaches who have already completed basic training or hold ICF Credentials, Continuing Coach Education (CCE) programs offer opportunities for ongoing professional development. These programs may include:
- Advanced coach training related to ICF Core Competencies
- Personal development courses
- Training in coaching assessments and tools
- Business building skills for coaches
- Other professional development areas outside of the ICF Core Competencies
CCE accreditations are designed for supplemental and continuing education, with no single program exceeding 40 clock hours. It’s important to note that CCE-accredited education should not be used for initial learning or original credential applications.
Choosing the Right Coaching Education Program for Your Goals
Selecting the appropriate coaching education program is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your career trajectory. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating your options:
- Accreditation level: Determine which ICF credential you’re aiming for and choose a program that aligns with that goal.
- Program format: Consider whether you prefer in-person, online, or hybrid learning environments.
- Specialization: Look for programs that offer training in your area of interest (e.g., executive coaching, life coaching, health coaching).
- Faculty expertise: Research the qualifications and experience of the program’s instructors.
- Alumni success: Investigate the career outcomes of previous graduates from the program.
- Cost and duration: Evaluate the program’s fees and time commitment in relation to your budget and schedule.
- Support services: Consider what additional resources the program offers, such as mentoring or career placement assistance.
The Role of Coaching Skills in Management and Leadership
While many individuals pursue coaching as a full-time career, coaching skills are increasingly valued in management and leadership roles across various industries. The 2020 ICF Global Coaching Study revealed that 93% of managers and leaders using coaching skills have received some coach-specific education or training.
How can coaching skills benefit managers and leaders?
- Improved communication with team members
- Enhanced ability to develop and motivate employees
- Increased emotional intelligence and empathy
- Better conflict resolution skills
- More effective goal-setting and performance management
For professionals in leadership positions, investing in coaching education can lead to more effective management practices and stronger team performance.
Building a Successful Coaching Career: Beyond Education
While a solid educational foundation is essential, building a successful coaching career requires more than just completing a training program. Here are some additional steps to consider as you embark on your coaching journey:
- Gain practical experience: Seek opportunities to practice your coaching skills, whether through pro bono work, internships, or coaching peers.
- Develop your niche: Identify your target market and the specific coaching services you want to offer.
- Build your network: Attend industry events, join professional associations, and connect with other coaches and potential clients.
- Invest in marketing: Create a professional website, develop a strong social media presence, and consider content marketing to showcase your expertise.
- Pursue continuous learning: Stay updated on industry trends, attend workshops, and consider advanced certifications to enhance your skills.
- Seek mentorship: Find an experienced coach who can guide you in your professional development.
- Maintain ethical standards: Adhere to the ICF Code of Ethics and prioritize professional integrity in all your coaching relationships.
The Future of Coaching: Trends and Opportunities
As the coaching industry continues to evolve, staying informed about emerging trends and opportunities can help you position yourself for success. Some key trends to watch include:
- Increased demand for virtual coaching services
- Growing interest in wellness and holistic coaching approaches
- Integration of technology and AI in coaching practices
- Rising importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in coaching
- Expansion of coaching in corporate settings and organizational development
By staying attuned to these trends and continuously developing your skills, you can adapt to the changing landscape of the coaching profession and create a rewarding, impactful career.
Embarking on a coaching career is an exciting and transformative journey. With the right education, commitment to professional development, and a passion for helping others achieve their potential, you can build a fulfilling career as a professional coach. Remember that your growth as a coach is an ongoing process, and each step you take in your education and practice brings you closer to becoming the impactful coach you aspire to be.
Find Coaching Education – Become a Coach
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Find Coaching EducationStephanie Wright2021-11-17T15:51:23+00:00
Building upon your skillset is an integral part of your coaching journey.
We understand – it’s important for you to become the best coach you can be. By choosing educational opportunities from ICF-accredited coaching organizations, you can be confident that you are getting high-quality coaching education. Though ICF does not directly offer education for becoming a coach, we accredit organizations that deliver coaching education and offer professional development for practiced coaches.
Begin your ICF-accredited education search today.
Find Education
Coach-specific education
Nearly all coach practitioners (99%) report that they have completed some coach-specific education or training. Increasingly, that is through programs or organizations accredited/approved by a professional coaching organization.
Managers and Leaders
93% of managers/leaders using coaching skills have received some coach-specific education or training.
ICF-accredited Education
We are dedicated to accrediting top-notch coaching organizations. Any organization that is accredited by ICF has gone through a rigorous review process and demonstrated that its curriculum aligns with the ICF definition of coaching, Core Competencies and Code of Ethics. ICF-accredited coaching organizations will also help you meet the requirements for ICF Membership and Credentialing.
*Data from the 2020 ICF Global Coaching Study and COVID-19 and the Coaching Industry snapshot survey.
Please Note: ICF’s accreditation structure is currently evolving, creating a more comprehensive model to continue moving coaching education into the future. Please review the information below in accordance with your education needs. On January 7, 2022, the Legacy Accreditations will retire, with the Updated Accreditations effective January 10, 2022.
Want to Know More about ICF’s Accreditation Process?
Earning an accreditation from ICF Coaching Education means the accredited organization adheres to rigorous education standards and thorough curriculum review.
Learn More
Legacy Accreditations
Retire January 7, 2022
Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP)
From Mentor Coaching, observed coaching sessions and a comprehensive final exam that will evaluate your coaching competency, ICF ACTP is considered an all-inclusive coach training program!
It includes a minimum of 125 hours of coach-specific training, including comprehensive instruction around the ICF Core Competencies, Code of Ethics and the ICF definition of coaching.
Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH)
Often considered an a la carte coach training program, an ICF ACSTH program includes a minimum of 30 hours of coach-specific training, including instruction around the ICF Core Competencies and observed coaching sessions.
Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
Intended for coaches who already have ICF Credentials or who have completed basic coach training, a CCE program may include advanced coach training that directly relates to or expands upon the ICF Core Competencies!
A CCE program may also include training in skills that contribute to your professional development, such as personal development, coaching assessments, tools, business building, or other materials falling outside of the ICF Core Competencies.
Updated Accreditations
Effective January 10, 2022
Level 1 (formerly ACSTH)
This accreditation requires between 60 and 124 contact learning hours and is designated as ACC-accredited Education. Graduates from a Level 1 education and training program may apply for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential using the Level 1 application path if they meet the credentialing application requirements.
Level 2 (formerly ACTP)
This accreditation requires between 125-175 contact learning hours and is designated as PCC-accredited Education.
Graduates from a Level 2 education and training program may apply for the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential using the Level 2 application path if they meet the credentialing application requirements.
Level 3
This accreditation is brand new. It requires 75 contact learning hours and is designated as MCC-accredited Education. Graduates from a Level 3 education and training program may apply for the Master Certified Coach (MCC) Credential using the Level 3 application path if they meet the credentialing application requirements.
Updated Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
CCE accreditations are designed for supplemental and continuing education for those wishing to acquire new learning and professional development. No singular program may exceed 40 clock hours. CCE-accredited education should not be used for initial learning or original credential applications.
Begin your education search today.
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How to Become a Life Coach: 7 Steps for Success
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If you enjoy helping others reach their full potential, life coaching may offer a satisfying career.
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Caroline Goldstein
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Assigning Editor | Small business
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If you have a zest for life, enjoy helping others reach their full potential, and want to start your own business, you may want to consider learning how to become a life coach. The profession is becoming more and more mainstream. Over the past few years, you might have seen a Facebook page for a life coach promoting their services or noticed that your yoga instructor has taken on the role of a personal, spiritual, or professional advisor to some of your classmates.
According to a study by the International Coach Federation, there are over 53,000 coach practitioners globally and over 17,000 in North America alone. Clearly, life coaching is resonating with clientele, and there is a real market for it. But what does becoming a life coach entail, and how do you know if you’re qualified to help change people’s lives?
In this guide, we’ll provide you with seven crucial steps you’ll need to take before becoming a life coach, and the potential costs involved in the process.
7 steps to becoming a life coach
Although it may seem that learning how to become a life coach requires little more than stellar listening skills and outsized compassion, in reality, becoming a life coach is a business decision. Once you’ve decided that this is your calling, take at least the following seven steps to ensure your business and services are legitimate.
1. Find your niche
Before becoming a life coach, you might find it helpful to find your niche and build up your reputation from there.
Most life coaches focus on people’s professional, personal, or romantic lives. Others drill down further and help them make changes regarding health, such as nutrition and exercise plans, or to uncover their spiritual side.
Undoubtedly, as a life coach, you’ll touch on more than one of these areas regardless of your central focus. For instance, Plotline Leadership offers three distinct service lines—careers, specific projects, or personal stories—but Tim Toterhi, founder and life coach, says that there is certainly some overlap.
“It’s almost impossible to talk to someone about their career without touching on other aspects of their life,” Toterhi says. “Maybe it’s a family-work life issue or it’s a leadership quality that’s holding them back.”
Once you find your specialty—which will probably be obvious to you, based on your background and what you feel comfortable talking to clients about—you’ll be in a better position to market yourself and your business accordingly.
2. Get a life coach certification
Technically you don’t need to get a life coach certification to work as a life coach. Becoming a life coach is not like becoming a psychologist or a medical doctor, which by law requires years of intense training before you can practice. But according to the ICF study mentioned above, 89% of coach practitioners receive training that was accredited or approved by a professional coaching organization.
While learning how to become a certified life coach isn’t required to launch your business, it can certainly be helpful and something much of your competition will have done.
“When you’re a certified coach, you’re bound by an ethical guideline,” says Toterhi. “There’s a little more rigor to it. You know you have to get training every year, so there’s much more discipline with someone who brings that to the table as well.”
But that isn’t to say that all successful life coaches are technically certified. “I know and have worked with coaches who have zero official certifications and regularly make six figures in a month,” says Chelsea Quint, a spiritual health and happiness coach. “It is a case-by-case basis.”
For her part, Quint took a health coach-specialized training program with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which provides nutrition and diet education as well as business basics. She says that training and accreditation is just as important for the life coach as it is for the client.
“I do think that it can be helpful internally to make you feel legit,” she says. “And it helps having some kind of base-level certification where you can hone your skills and start to figure out what areas you want to focus on.
”
How to become a certified life coach
Whether you find your life coach certification course via Google or word of mouth, and whether it’s online or in-person, before you enroll, make sure that the course is credentialed by an association like the International Coach Federation, which sets industry standards for ethical coaching. You can use ICF’s Training Program Search Service to find a legitimate course that aligns with your life coaching goals.
During your life coach training, you’ll learn fundamentals like active listening skills and creating a trusting environment for your clients. You’ll also learn the business of becoming a life coach and ethical concerns you may need to navigate during your practice. Becoming a certified life coach can be an intense process, and you’ll likely need to fulfill a certain amount of hours of training before you can earn your certification. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you’re serious about becoming a life coach before you take on this workload.
Note that most life coach certification programs will earn you a general credential. If you want to earn a certification in a specific aspect of life coaching, like the niche you’ve identified above—such as wellness, career, spirituality, or relationships—gear your search toward a specialty program.
Then, of course, there’s the price to consider. Life coach certification courses are almost never free. In fact, becoming a certified life coach may cost you upwards of $5,000. That said, many of the accredited courses we’ve come across cost within the $1,000 to $3,000 range.
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3. Set up your life coaching business
As you become a life coach, you’re not just becoming a professional, personal, or spiritual advisor—you’re also becoming a small business owner. So, you’ll need to do some of the due diligence that all small business owners have to perform to be successful, including:
Register your business
When setting up your life coaching business, you’ll first need to determine your business entity type—a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation are popular options.
Then, unless you decide to become a sole proprietorship (which doesn’t require registration), you’ll need to officially register your business with your state. A secretary of state business search will be a helpful resource as you navigate this step.
Plan your startup costs
Next, assemble a business plan that addresses your startup costs—from the cost of your certification program to any overhead costs associated with renting a space and outfitting it, assuming you’ll meet people in person. Another expense you may consider is business insurance—specifically liability insurance in case you are sued over providing bad advice.
Luckily, becoming a life coach doesn’t necessarily require high upfront costs. Quint has an all-digital business, and she credits that decision with helping her get her business off the ground: The upfront costs when you don’t have a physical space are negligible.
“A lot of coaches want or end up having digital businesses, which means you don’t need business cards, a printer, paper, toner, folders, and handouts,” says Quint.
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Create a marketing plan
You can’t become a life coach without any clients to coach. That’s why it’s crucial to have a comprehensive marketing plan in place right from the start of your efforts to become a life coach—and if you’re squeamish about self-promotion, then becoming a life coach might not be right for you.
As is often the case for service-based businesses, the best referrals come through word of mouth. Start by offering free, mini, or discounted sessions to people already in your network, like your friends, family, and friends of family. If they’re happy with your services, ask them to spread the word to people in their network, and even provide a customer testimonial that you can post on your website.
Some other strategies for attracting clients may include networking with other life coaches in your area, upping your visibility by participating in conferences and hosting free webinars, and considering pay-per-click and other online advertising methods.
Beyond that, you’ll need a strong social media presence to attract clients. At a minimum, you should have an Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn page, blog, and business website, all of which you’ll update regularly. Sign up for a professional business-branded email account for your life-coaching communications, too.
4. Create your digital footprint as a life coach
If you have an all-digital business, your digital presence becomes paramount. For example, you need a strong business domain name and a decent computer and camera to take photos of yourself, record videos, and conduct sessions.
Quint says that what may be helpful, though not required, are branding courses that come “with a little bit of coaching around creating [your] brand, and how to infuse it in [your] website, how to use different colors and fonts, how to style things for social media, how to write copy.
.. which is helpful when you have an online business. There’s literature out there about how someone needs to interact with you seven times before they even start to enter their purchase-consideration mindset.”
5. Decide how you’ll work with clients
As you learn how to become a life coach, you’ll also refine your approach to working with clients and decide exactly what types of services you’ll offer. Both Toterhi and Quint have different packages, levels of service, and areas of focus that they offer their life-coaching clients.
According to Toterhi, whether he’s working with a client on their story, career, or a specific project, being clear and setting a goal upfront is a priority. “I like to work in three-month increments, long enough to get a meaningful change—either an entire project or enough to create a habit if it’s a small thing,” he says.
Even before charging his clients, he makes sure to “spend a lot of time talking with people before they sign up—almost everybody I work with I talk to for free first to make sure they’re actually looking for a coach and not something else.
”
Quint offers a variety of packages, including the Breakthrough (one 30-minute session), the Makeover (a dozen 50-minute sessions), and the Quickstart (one 90-minute session). How you break down and price your services is entirely up to you.
Have a clear goal in mind when you start out with your client. If you reach your goal, you can set up another one. But give both sides a chance to move on if the fit isn’t right.
6. Price your services
If you’re considering becoming a life coach, it’s natural to wonder, “How much do life coaches make?”
It’s difficult to put a value on helping people change their lives. But this is a business all the same, and you have to figure out what your time is worth in order to charge people accordingly.
In terms of what to actually charge, Toterhi says that it depends on how you approach working with clients. Will you do it by project? Is travel involved? Do you feel more comfortable charging an hourly or day rate, like a lawyer or psychologist? Is this a one-time session or an ongoing relationship? Once you figure that out, you can price out what your hour is worth and go from there.
For some guidance, know that some life coaches may charge between $75 and $1,000 per hour, depending on their services and qualifications. But your pricing will also depend on whether you charge for sessions separately or if you price by packages.
7. Invest in continuing education
Just as doctors are required to continue their education to maintain competence and learn about new practices, life coaches should seek out skill-building opportunities to ensure they stay at the peak of their powers and deliver the best service possible to their clients.
Depending on your area of focus, the amount of continuing education will vary, but all life coaches should keep up on their reading and attend seminars, workshops, and retreats that speak to their expertise. The best way to find out about continuing education opportunities is to be active in the life coach community. Ask other coaches what they do to learn new skills and techniques, or find communities on Facebook or LinkedIn.
The better you are at delivering your services, and the more tools in your coaching arsenal, the more you can help your clients. So treat continuing education as a business expense and a way to scale your business. But if you’re a life coach, investing in personal growth should already come naturally to you.
How much does it cost to become a life coach?
As we mentioned above, it does cost money to become a life coach, whether you decide to get a certification, attend training sessions, or not. You’re going to have various things to invest in to get your business off the ground. First, a certification can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000, which can be a significant overhead cost to start out. Secondly, if you join a professional network, like the International Coach Federation, you’ll have a monthly fee to pay as well.
Other costs to consider are whether you’ll be paying for a location to meet with clients or if you’ll be an online operation.
Having an office space will be a significant cost to consider. Besides the rent, you’ll have to furnish the space as well, potentially pay for parking, and more.
Then there are marketing costs to consider. While there are plenty of free marketing ideas to help spread the word about your life coaching business, you may also opt for some paid advertisements, especially when you’re first starting out and looking to grow your client list. When it all comes down to it, the initial costs of becoming a life coach don’t have to be high, but they can vary greatly depending on how you plan to offer your services.
The bottom line
Becoming a life coach can be an incredibly rewarding yet difficult career path. You need the personality for it (Quint says she’s been described as a “human can opener” for the way she gets people to open up), the background in coaching and business, and the mindset that helping people is a way to earn income, just like any other job.
“Plenty of people out there really just want to make money to get rich… I realized that if I’m going to be doing something to earn income, I would so much rather do something that helps people,” says Quint. “That feels so much better.”
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On a similar note…
How to become a coach? Qualification requirements for the education and personality of a coach – read the article online at ANPOO “NSPK”
Choose a program
Specialties
To train athletes in a particular sport and prepare them for performances and competitions, a competent and qualified mentor is needed – a coach. This is an interesting and in-demand profession. More than 9,000 vacancies for specialists in various sports are posted on the HH.
RU website.
Next, we will talk about what kind of education a coach should have and where to get it.
Educational requirements for the position of a coach according to the professional standard
The coach must have a higher education (HE) or secondary vocational education (SVE) in the field of physical culture and sports or pedagogy in the field of training in the field of physical culture and sports.
The specific requirements for the qualification of a trainer depend on the direction of his activity and are described in the professional standard.
In the same place you will find employment conditions depending on the length of service.
Professional requirements for the personality of a trainer
Functions of a trainer:
| Prepare athletes for competitions and performances | Form groups according to age and level of training | Identify gifted athletes and develop an individual development program |
| Conduct training according to the plan of sports competitions and performances | Track the results and achievements of athletes | Analyze the results of performances and competitions, discuss the pros and cons with athletes |
| Know the legislation in the field of physical culture and sports | Know the legislation in the field of physical culture and sports | Provide first aid |
| Ensure the safety of life and health of athletes during training |
Personal qualities of a coach:
| Communication skills and friendliness allow the coach to find an individual approach to each athlete and gain confidence | Demandingness and authority are necessary to motivate athletes to achieve high results | Composure and restraint help the coach to make the right decisions in unusual situations |
| Honesty and fairness to evaluate athletes objectively | Energy and purposefulness – for professional growth and development | Confidence and determination to become a leader and gain authority |
Where to study as a coach
No VO or SPO | Availability of VO or SPO |
At the university in the field of physical culture and sports | Undertake professional retraining at a center for additional professional education (CPE), at a university or college with CVE programs. |
In college after 9th or 11th grade:
|
You can go to college after 9th or 11th grade to become a coach. After graduating from it, you will immediately begin to work in your specialty and earn seniority.
College graduates can enter the university without passing the exam. After graduating, you will be able to work as a head coach or coach of a national team, prepare athletes for performances at international competitions.
Start your coaching journey by studying at the National Socio-Pedagogical College (NSPK) .
Students receive secondary vocational education in the specialty “Pedagogy of additional education (in the field of sports and recreational activities)”.
In the last year after passing the professional retraining program, the qualification of a trainer is assigned depending on the direction.
NSPK trains coaches in various areas of sports:
Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health activities) + Athletics coach
Teacher of additional education (in the field of sports and health activities) + Coach in skiing
Teacher of additional education (in the field of sports and health activities) + Coach in karate
900 21 Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical education – health-improving activities) + Judo and Sambo coach
Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health-improving activities) + Football coach
Teacher of additional education (in the field of sports and recreational activities) + Fitness coach
Teacher of additional education (in the field of sports and recreational activities) + Volleyball coach
9002 1 Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health-improving activities) + Coach in adaptive physical culture and adaptive sports
Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health-improving activities) + Swimming coach
Teacher of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health activities) + Basketball coach
You will definitely find what you like!
After graduating from the NSPK, you will have two documents of education:
- a state diploma of secondary vocational education;
- diploma of FVE.
Two diplomas are a demand in the labor market and a successful start to a coaching career!
Benefits of studying at NSPK:
Easy to apply.
To enroll in the specialty “Pedagogics of additional education (in the field of physical culture and health activities)” you must pass an entrance exam and provide a certificate for grade 9/11. The results of the OGE and the USE will not be needed, there is no competition for certificates.
Distance learning* e.
No need to travel to another city to take sessions, spend money on hotels and rent. The form of study is not indicated in the diploma.
Find out how NSPK training works here.
Two diplomas.
In the final year, students take a free professional retraining program without an increase in the term of study. Graduates receive two documents on education – a state diploma of secondary vocational education and a diploma of further vocational education.
The shortest possible training time.
After grade 9 – 3 years 11 months, after grade 11 – 2 years 11 months. Only one month longer than face-to-face training!
Quality of education.
In addition to the compulsory disciplines required by the Federal State Educational Standard, the trainer’s training program includes additional subjects. Students receive more in-depth knowledge and master the skills necessary for employment.
Dispersed practice.
Students choose their own internship schedule. The required number of hours is indicated in the personal account. The main thing is to meet the deadlines and work out these hours.
For more information on internship at NSPK, click here.
It is easier to enter a university.
Some universities accept college graduates without USE scores. It is also possible to credit previously studied disciplines and reduce the training period.
Students study on a convenient educational platform in their personal account.
All textbooks and teaching aids are free .
you yourself set a comfortable pace for studying materials. Access to your personal account is around the clock.
Support of curators and teachers throughout the entire learning process.
Start your coaching career at NSPK and become a sought-after specialist with two diplomas in the shortest possible time!
If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Specialist at
8 (800) 707-30-78 or leave a request here:
Educational programs are implemented using e-learning, distance learning technologies.
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How to become a fitness trainer, where to study
So fitness.
In order to clearly understand whether this is your field of activity, whether you have a predisposition to become a good instructor, try to answer the following questions:
1. How physically strong are you?
This question is ridiculous only at first glance. In this article, we look at your professional path with a long-term focus. The group program instructor is busy with active physical exercises for several hours a day. The instructor in the gym gets less physically tired, but from long, close communication with the people he provides services to, psychological fatigue occurs. At the same time, both of them are obliged to radiate positive, regardless of mood and well-being. Today, as a hobby, such a load brings you pleasure, but will it be so in 5 or 10 years? Try to evaluate your state of health and your capabilities. And honestly answer this question for yourself. Especially if you are no longer 20-25 years old. Or behind the shoulders of the championship past with almost inevitable serious injuries .
.. After all, in fitness you can be not only an instructor.
It is with endurance, as well as some psychological moments, that the desire of the employer to hire young instructors is connected – usually not older than 30-35 years.
2. Are you ready to provide services?
Fitness is a service industry. One of the first places of the true reasons for buying a club card by a client is his urgent need for communication and attention. This means that the instructor must be initially sociable (ready to provide services with pleasure), sociable, non-conflict, be able to easily find a common language with strangers. Often the instructor has to perform the functions of a personal psychologist, for example, listening to the client’s problems, which is actually not easy. If you love fitness, but at the same time versatile and constant communication does not bring you pleasure, you are a deep introvert and do not intend to break yourself, it is better to think about a different professional path.
These two conditions for success in the position of a fitness instructor are due to nature and are not subject to correction. Further, we will talk about what can and should be acquired on the path of a professional instructor ALWAYS.
3. Do you look athletic and fit?
They are greeted by clothes – everyone knows. It is unlikely that an instructor who could not bring himself into proper physical shape will be a success with clients. Muscle hypertrophy is not at all necessary. Your figure should be taut, slender, it is desirable to represent the ideal that a client can achieve by studying with such an instructor.
4. Does a “salesman” live in you?
The majority of a personal trainer’s salary is a percentage of personal trainers sold. A part (very small) will be provided to you by their minimum included in the club card. And you will have to earn money for the main “piece of the pie”: independently solve the “rebus” about the real motivation of the client and apply active sales skills.
Unfortunately, for many novice instructors, this moment weighs heavily, and sometimes it is the reason for leaving our industry. “I can’t impose myself!” are the usual responses of such failed specialists. Who did not bother to learn that sales are nothing more than a banal technology with its secrets, with the development of which – and, of course, the desire – you can become an instructor with a decent salary.
We have come to a very important, often defining condition for success in an instructor’s career –
5. Are you ready to get a specialized education, to constantly improve?
The minimum with which instructors are hired today is licensed courses. Such as in FPA.
Higher (secondary special) specialized education is often a condition for the admission of an instructor to elite clubs. In fact, today they practically DO NOT train fitness instructors. Fitness instructor and coach – skier, gymnast, physical education teacher at school, etc.
– DIFFERENT specialties. To work in a fitness club you need SPECIAL knowledge and skills. So, in fact, this education does not have the value that many employers attach.
Some fitness clubs still give preference to former athletes, indicating in the requirements for applicants: “a sports title not lower than CCM”. The logic, at first glance, is clear: he himself has achieved a lot – he will teach others. But not every athlete can understand the motivation of an ordinary club client, be able to explain to him the intricacies of the training process, and competently answer numerous questions. A coach and an athlete are different goals, different professions! Related, but still different. The tendency of the growing distance between the fitness industry and sports is justified.
Until recently, not just an “instructor” – practically a guru – was considered an experienced jock who was able to build muscle mass for himself and a couple of comrades. Today, clubs come not only for the size of the triceps – rather, not even for this.
For health. Behind the beauty of forms, which is not always expressed by hypertrophied pumped up muscles. For communication and attention. And the instructor MUST provide all this in order to be a sought-after specialist.
There are many girls among the clients who came for a “Brazilian” booty, a flat tummy and a flexible camp. Office employees suffering from hypodynamia and with a bunch of deviations in health. Moms-to-be were drawn in. During the day in the clubs you can meet teenagers and older clients. Major clubs have kids cards available…
And each client needs an individual approach! Written once for all (or for a group of clients) training program is an atavism! After all, the club (and the instructor in the first place) is responsible for the safety of training, at least. Ideally, for their result. This means that a quality education is a necessary element for a successful career as a fitness instructor.
For competent work with a huge number of DIFFERENT clients, deep, versatile knowledge is needed in the methodology of fitness training, and the psychology of clients, and sales skills.
Today, getting them is no longer a problem. At least in the capitals. The fitness education market is saturated with a variety of narrow thematic seminars, for example, FPA offers more than 20 of them.
I would like to separately mention former professional athletes who ended their careers on this path and are looking for work in a similar industry. There are many such people in fitness: former skiers, swimmers, gymnasts… The undoubted advantage of such specialists is often the presence of a sports education, which means knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. An important point is to be able to switch from the nuances of training with athletes to working with ordinary fitness club clients. They usually have much less motivation to achieve goals and a variety of deviations in health. The automatic transfer of experience from the field of sports to the field of fitness can be not only unproductive, but also dangerous for the health of clients. Therefore, in this case, specialized instructor courses are also needed.
Attitude towards education is a litmus test of a person’s success in the present and future. Only the willingness to conquer more and more peaks, delve deep into professional skills, investing material and time resources in your education can make a pro out of a beginner. And that is years later. If someone hopes that in fitness and their experience is enough, if anything, YouTube fitonies will help, and you can always earn money by quietly sitting out duty hours in the gym, they are deeply mistaken.
In order to achieve maximum client results, sooner or later the instructor becomes crowded within the same direction, for example, strength training. Or stretching. Or cycle. Yet each of them solves a limited range of problems. I would like to replace all such “or” with “and”, to have in my luggage at least several directions with a good theoretical base and honed in practice. Otherwise, the client goes to other trainers – and money from personal trainers is lost.
And the client himself wants variety: today he is attracted only by simulators, and tomorrow he wants to try himself in something else. And we must be prepared for such a turn in advance. Therefore, good instructors are constantly learning new techniques and related disciplines: functional training, massage, various types of stretching and relaxation …
The most prepared and experienced eventually become the so-called. universal instructors who are ready to solve almost any client’s tasks, not only in a fitness club, but also at home or in the office, with a minimum set of equipment. They can provide the services of a trainer, and a masseur, and a nutritionist, and practically a rehabilitator … Ideally, they have a higher specialized (or medical) education and a huge range of specialized programs on narrow training problems. There are still few such station wagons, but the demand for them is constantly growing. Their income is comparable (and sometimes even higher) to the income of top managers of a fitness club.
There were agencies recruiting such specialists. They are truly personal trainers. They are valued, passed on by recommendation, which is the highest mark of professional excellence.
To classify instructors by their experience, education, most clubs use a category system. And the client pays for personal training according to the category of the instructor, and the specialist himself receives a salary based on his category. An instructor usually receives one or another category based on the results of certification (approximately once a year). In our opinion, this is an honest system of remuneration and staff assessment: you get a new education, you improve – and the salary grows accordingly.
Within the framework of our Association, certification of gym instructors has been developed with the title of “Master Trainer” and “Elite Trainer”, which gives their owners additional weight when assessed by employers and clients.
It should be noted that training is not always paid by the instructor himself.
Network clubs almost always provide employees with corporate training, incl. in order to bring the entire instructor corps to the same company standards. Many clubs are ready to train their specialists in third-party educational companies partially or even completely.
6. Are you available to work evenings and weekends?
Of course, this is not as important a factor in choosing a profession as the previous ones. But it is worth imagining the future work schedule. It can be called “free”, but you need to be prepared for the fact that the lion’s share of the work still falls on the evening hours, when the rest, as a rule, are already finishing work. Weekends are also busy. Accordingly, the time to communicate with relatives and friends living in five-day mode from 9up to 18, it will be more difficult to choose.
If you were able to answer yes to all 6 questions, welcome to one of the most sought-after and most noble professions today – helping people stay healthy, improve their quality of life and achieve their goals.
And now to practice: how to become a personal trainer?
Option 1. You are new to fitness and strength training
- Complete the Gym Instructor program.
- Get a minimum experience as a gym instructor (at least a few months).
- Complete the Personal Fitness Trainer or Personal Fitness Trainer course. Note. What is the difference between the “Gym Instructor” and “Personal Fitness Trainer” programs?
- In the future, we recommend visiting in-depth seminars in this area, for example, Functional Training, Visual Posture Assessment and others.
- Within the framework of our Association, certification of gym instructors has been developed with the title of Master Trainer, Elite Trainer, which gives their owners additional weight when assessed by employers and clients.
Option 2. You have sports experience / experience of your own training and / or higher / specialized secondary specialized education
- Complete the Personal Fitness Trainer or Personal Fitness Trainer course.
