Life Coach Requirements: What You Actually Need

Here's the straightforward answer: no U.S. state currently requires a specific license to practice life coaching. Unlike therapy, which requires a state-issued license, coaching remains an unregulated profession. Anyone can legally call themselves a life coach.

That said, "unregulated" doesn't mean "no rules." You still need:

A business license or registration. If you're operating a coaching practice (and you probably are — most coaches are self-employed), you'll need to register your business with your state's Secretary of State office. Requirements vary by state but typically involve filing a DBA ("doing business as") or forming an LLC.

Compliance with scope-of-practice boundaries. While there's no coaching license to revoke, coaches who venture into therapy territory — diagnosing conditions, treating mental illness — can face legal liability. Some states have laws protecting the title "therapist" or "counselor" that could apply if a coach overstepped.

Tax compliance. Self-employed coaches must pay estimated quarterly taxes, including self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare). You'll need an EIN from the IRS if you form a business entity.

No formal degree is required to become a life coach. This is one of the most attractive aspects of the profession for career changers — you don't need to go back to school for a master's degree.

There are two exceptions:

NBHWC health coaching certification requires either an associate degree or higher, or 4,000 hours of documented work experience as an alternative (NBHWC).

CCE Board Certified Coach (BCC) requires a graduate degree in any field.

ICF certification — the most widely recognized coaching credential — has no degree requirement. It requires completion of an ICF-accredited training program, which is professional education, not a university degree.

That said, background education in psychology, counseling, business, organizational development, or human resources can be helpful context knowledge. Many successful coaches bring relevant professional experience from previous careers rather than specific educational credentials.

While no training is legally required, professional certification requires specific training hours from accredited programs:

ICF training programs are accredited at three levels, which replaced the older ACTP and ACSTH designations. Level 1 programs prepare you for ACC, Level 2 for PCC, and Level 3 for MCC. The mentor coaching hours must be spread over at least 3 months.

For a complete overview of each certification, see our certification comparison guide.

For the most common path — ICF-ACC certification — here's exactly what you need:

1. Complete 60+ hours of coach-specific training from an ICF-accredited Level 1 program. Programs range from $2,000-$4,000 and can be completed online or in-person in 2-6 months.

2. Log 100+ coaching experience hours. At least 75 hours must be paid coaching (25 can be pro bono). Start coaching clients while you're in training.

3. Complete 10 hours of mentor coaching over at least 3 months — 7 hours group, 3 hours individual. Some programs include this; if not, budget $1,000-$2,700.

4. Pass the Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA). A written exam on ICF core competencies and ethics. The exam fee is included in your application.

5. Submit your application to ICF. Fee: $175 (ICF members) or $325 (non-members). Processing takes several weeks.

6. Maintain your credential. ICF credentials must be renewed every 3 years. Renewal requires 40 hours of continuing education (24 in core competencies) and costs $175 (members) or $275 (non-members).

Most coaches are self-employed, which means you'll need to set up your business properly:

Business structure. Most coaches start as a sole proprietorship or LLC. An LLC provides personal liability protection and is generally recommended. Filing fees vary by state ($50-$500).

Business license. Check with your city and county for local business license requirements. Many jurisdictions require one even for home-based businesses.

Professional liability insurance. Not legally required in most cases, but strongly recommended. Covers claims of negligence, harm, or breach of duty. Typically $200-$500/year for coaches.

Client contracts. A coaching agreement should cover scope of services, fees, cancellation policies, confidentiality boundaries, and a disclaimer clarifying that coaching is not therapy.

For more on the business side, see our guide to starting a coaching business.

Requirements aren't just about credentials. Successful coaches develop these core skills:

Active listening. Coaching is at least 80% listening. You need to hear what clients are saying — and what they're not saying.

Powerful questioning. Open-ended questions that help clients think differently are the coach's primary tool. ICF's core competencies are built around this.

Business acumen. Marketing, sales, networking, pricing, client management. If you can't find and retain clients, your coaching skills don't matter.

Emotional intelligence. Managing your own reactions, reading client emotions, navigating difficult conversations.

Boundary-setting. Knowing when you're coaching versus when you're veering into therapy, advice-giving, or friendship.