Are Life Coaches Just People Who Can't Get Any Other Job?
It seems like anyone with a few marketing skills can be a life coach. Am I wrong?
Thank you for being here! I write from lived experience to help others navigate life after 5. That’s right, 5 years old. Yes, it was supposed to say “50”, but 5 is funnier. I’m also in the process of getting diagnosed with early onset dementia, so there’s my excuse. Bite me.
Do you need a license or certification to become a life coach?
My very deep and lengthy research (two seconds on ChatGPT) reveals that “No mandatory license or government regulation is currently required in many countries (including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia) to call yourself a ‘life coach.”
Here’s the thing
The coaching industry isn’t regulated by any government authority (like medicine or psychology), which means anyone can technically call themselves a coach without formal training or oversight.
If you want to be taken seriously, however, it’s best to have a credential. If you’re a registered nurse, physician, lawyer, or have proven education in any particular field, there’s a pretty good chance someone can trust you.
Or can they?
What if you were a really bad nurse or an unethical lawyer? How do we, the public, know the difference?
I guess what I’m trying to say is that just because you have earned a credential or a degree doesn’t necessarily mean you’re trustworthy. You know?
Be Careful Where You Spend Your Money
In most countries, “life coach” isn’t a protected title in the same way that “therapist,” “psychologist,” “MD,” or “social worker” are.
That means:
You don’t need a license
There’s no legal definition
Anyone can call themselves a life coach, with or without training
A clever life coach who wants to be seen as an authority in any particular field could market themselves in ways that fly under the legal radar.
Below is a list of commonly used but deceptive or misleading terms that some life coaches use to sound more authoritative, qualified, or medically competent than they are.
Certified Life Coach
Sounds official, but without context, it’s often meaningless—many online “certifications” are unaccredited and can be completed in a few hours.
Board-Certified Coach
Only valid if granted by the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). Many use the phrase to sound medically or professionally licensed when they’re not.
Master Life Coach
An unregulated title that suggests advanced expertise but is usually self-assigned or issued by non-accredited programs.
Accredited Coach
Unless tied to a recognized body like the ICF, the word “accredited” is often used vaguely or falsely to create a sense of legitimacy.
Trauma-Informed Life Coach
This should only be used by someone with clinical trauma training. Without that, it falsely implies the coach can safely handle trauma-related issues.
Certified NLP Practitioner
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) isn’t scientifically validated and is often marketed as neuroscience or psychology when it’s not.
Anxiety Coach / Depression Coach
These terms sound like therapy. Using them without a mental health license is unethical and may be illegal in some jurisdictions.
Addiction Recovery Coach
Unless the coach has real training in addiction support or peer recovery, this title misleads clients into thinking they’re getting medically informed help.
Mental Wellness Expert
“Expert” is entirely subjective, and this phrase creates the impression of psychological or clinical expertise without any accountability.
I Help People 10x Their Life
Sounds great, but it’s vague and unverifiable. It promises transformation without defining what “10x” actually means.
High-Performance Coach
Unless backed by training in areas like sports psychology or executive development, this title is often used to imply elite-level expertise without basis.
Behavioral Specialist
Used without clinical training or a psychology background, this implies a therapeutic skill set that the coach may not possess.
Holistic Therapist
“Therapist” is a protected term in many places. Using it without a license can be illegal and can confuse clients about the coach’s scope of practice.
Clinical Coach
“Clinical” implies a medical or therapeutic background. Coaches using this term without healthcare credentials are misrepresenting their authority.
Licensed Spiritual Counselor
Unless there’s actual licensure from a governing body (rare), “licensed” is often completely made-up.
Functional Health Coach
Used to sound medical or evidence-based. Some coaches use this to give dietary or diagnostic advice, which can dangerously cross legal lines.
What to do if you suspect someone is earning money based on false claims
If you suspect someone is making false claims to earn money, start by documenting their statements and verifying their credentials through official registries or licensing boards.
If you want to hire a life coach, start by checking with the International Coaching Federation to make sure that the business/person is on their list.
Report suspicious claims
Report any fraudulent claims to the relevant certification bodies, professional regulators, or consumer protection agencies.
Not every life coach is doing anything illegal!
I want to make it clear that not every life coach is doing anything illegal. They could be considered unethical, in some cases, but I suspect it’s more of a “buyer beware” situation.
Here are some questions to ask before spending your hard-earned cash:
What certifications or training do you have?
Are you licensed to provide any therapeutic or mental health services?
How many hours of coaching experience do you have?
How do you measure progress or success in coaching?
Are you insured or bonded?
(While not always required, it shows professionalism.)Do you work with clients who have mental health concerns, or do you refer them elsewhere?
(Coaching should not replace therapy if mental health is involved.)
This is going to hurt your brain, but…
If the life coaching industry is unregulated, then what authority does an organization like the ICF (International Coaching Federation) have?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a private, nonprofit organization.
They are not a government regulator. They are the most recognized professional body in coaching worldwide. However, they don’t have the legal authority to license or enforce laws.
Okay, but what gives the ICF any authority in the matter?
The ICF sets widely respected ethical guidelines and competency standards that many coaches voluntarily follow.
Its rigorous certification programs require extensive training, coaching experience, mentorship, and ongoing education, establishing a high-quality benchmark.
Coaches who hold ICF credentials commit to a strict Code of Ethics, with possible sanctions or credential revocation for violations.
Because of this, ICF certification is recognized by clients, companies, and coaching schools as a trusted mark of professionalism and serves as a de facto industry standard.
But ICF Can’t:
Legally stop untrained or uncertified people from calling themselves life coaches.
Enforce laws or impose fines like a government body.
Police the entire coaching industry worldwide.
The ICF’s authority is voluntary and reputational rather than legal. It helps raise coaching quality and protect clients through standards and ethics, but it doesn’t replace formal regulation.
Be careful out there!
Not everyone is a scammer, but it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before you shell out your hard-earned cash.
If you’re facing mental health challenges, please seek help from a licensed psychologist or mental health professional.
Talking to your doctor can also guide you to the right care. Life coaches aren’t trained to treat mental health issues, so professional support is essential for safe and effective help.