5 Most Trusted Accountability Coach Certifications for 2024

What are the best accountability coaching certification programs?

If you’re thinking of becoming an accountability coach, read on.

Today, you’ll learn:

• What an accountability coach is (and why they’re so effective)
• The best accountability coaching certifications
• How to start your own accountability coaching business

Let’s dive in.

What is an accountability coach?

An accountability coach is someone who helps clients stay on track with their goals.

Because being accountable cuts down time wasted on distractions. It ensures clients take consistent action towards their goals. 

Accountability is key in ANY coaching relationship, and all coaches work on this to some extent. But accountability coaches make it their main goal.

So, are accountability coaches worth it?

Definitely! You’ll be the person who makes sure clients stick to their plans. You help them make real progress towards the goals they might have wanted to achieve for years. 

For example, one study showed that people who participated in a health coaching program and were accountable were more likely to keep off their weight than those who weren’t.

Another study found that those who have committed to someone they will do something are 65% more likely to achieve their goals.

What’s more, if they have an accountability appointment with someone who they’ve committed to, they’re 95% more likely to achieve it.

Accountability coaches can work with different types of people, including:

• People who want to improve their health
• Entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses
• Executives who want to become better leaders
• People who want to improve a skill
• Athletes who want to perform better

…And so on.

But how do accountability coaches help their clients?

Let’s take a look.

What does an accountability coach do?

Accountability coaches help their clients:

• Identify goals: You help your clients understand what areas they need to improve and how.
• Set priorities: You and your clients set milestones they work towards.
• Create a plan for clients to follow: Every goal needs a plan and that’s what you help your clients create.
• Make sure clients do what they say they will do: You keep clients accountable and help them problem solve and get back to it whenever they get stuck.

Typically, a coaching program includes both coaching sessions and support in-between calls. Accountability coaches might also schedule alerts to keep clients on track.

Okay, so that’s what an effective coach does.

But can YOU become an accountability coach?

Let’s start by looking at the top certification programs.

What are the best accountability coaching certification programs?

With that, let’s take a look at the five best accountability certification programs.

Note: I didn’t personally go through these programs myself, but my recommendations are grounded in their reviews and reputation.

Program	Organization	Price	ICF accreditation
Life Coaching Certification	iPEC	$11,950	Yes
Professional Coach Training Program	Coach U	$10,090	Yes
The Certified Coach Program	Coach Training Alliance	$3,897	Yes
Professional Coach Certification	Co-Active Training Institute	$6,499	Yes
Organizational and Leadership Coaching Certification	Northwestern University	$20,420	No

Life Coaching Certification

iPEC Coaching

iPEC’s Life Coaching Certification Program is one of the first organizations to have been accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).The program focuses on a unique method called Core Energy Coaching. 

Here’s what it offers:

• Learn to guide clients toward meaningful goals and better lives
• Master scientifically-backed coaching techniques
• Earn three certifications: Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), and COR.E Dynamics™ Specialist

The program is 7-9 months long. 

Price: $11,950

ICF-accredited: Yes

Professional Coach Training Program

Coach U

Coach U’s Professional Coach Training Program is a comprehensive online course. It’s designed to help you develop essential coaching skills.

Through live Zoom classes, you’ll learn the core foundations of coaching.

The course has two main parts: Core Essentials and Professional Essentials that focus on coaching strategies and methods. 

The course is highly flexible. You can complete it in 14 to 23 months, depending on if you do the intensive track or self-paced one.

Price: $10,090 (Or $11,190 for the fast track)

ICF-accredited: Yes

The Certified Coach Program

Coach Training Alliance

Coach Training Alliance helps you become a certified coach in six months. You’ll learn important coaching skills, along with business and marketing tips. 

Some of the key aspects of this program are: 

• Learning with a group
• Practicing coaching for real
• Getting hands-on feedback

There’s a weekly call for about one hour. Plus, plan for two to five hours of homework and studying on your own each week. By the end of the program, you’ll know the techniques to be an effective coach. You’ll also understand the basics of business and marketing.

Price: $3,897

ICF accredited: Yes

Professional Coach Certification

Co-Active Training Institute 

The Co-Active Training Institute offers many different coaching programs.

After finishing their basic and intermediate courses, you can try for the Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) certification. This is a specialized course that focuses on improving your coaching skills.

The program is six months long and takes place entirely online.

The goal of this certification program is to boost your practical knowledge while also providing supervision and valuable feedback. Each week, you’ll engage in sessions that deepen your coaching mastery. 

Price: $6,499

ICF-accredited: Yes

Organizational & Leadership Coaching Certificate

Northwestern University 

Northwestern University’s Organizational & Leadership Coaching Certificate is a one-year course. It consists of four parts.

The program uses research to teach coaching skills. 

It focuses on executive and professional coaching – so this program works well if you want to be an accountability coach in the corporate world. You’ll:

• Learn about teamwork, communication, and how to support and guide others 
• Understand how you can help organizations change and improve
• Connect and learn with other professionals with expertise in change leadership

Price: $5,105 per credit ($20,420 for all four courses)

ICF-accredited: No

How do you choose an accountability coaching certification program?

First things first: 

Do you need an accountability coaching certification before you start working with clients?

No.

Here’s why:

Being certified is not a legal requirement. (In most niches – some coaching niches, mainly in the health coaching industry, do require a certification.)

The coaching industry is not strictly regulated, and what matters for your clients are the outcomes you offer. 

Also, because the certification industry isn’t regulated, many programs are a waste of time and money. 

That’s why you should go for programs that are either:

• Accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) – this organization is the closest to being a regulatory authority in the coaching industry 
• Offered by reputable universities

Remember, coaching is about getting results for your clients.

Certifications can give you confidence and extra tools. But the ability to make a difference in your clients’ lives is what makes you a GREAT coach.

That’s also why a certified accountability coach salary isn’t always higher than that of a non-certified coach.

Because the coaching certification industry is so unregulated, every program gets to set its own criteria. If you’re thinking of going the ICF route, they offer three main credentials:

• Associate Certified Coach (ACC): Great for beginner coaches. You’ll need 100 coaching hours (75 paid) with 8+ clients and 60 hours of coach-specific training.
• Professional Certified Coach (PCC): Requires 500 coaching hours (450 paid) with 25+ clients and 125 training hours.
• Master Certified Coach (MCC): Requires 2,500 coaching hours (2,250 paid) with 35+ clients and 200 training hours.

Finally, you’ll also need mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and a written examination.

Now you know how to choose your certification. But how do you start an accountability coaching business? 

Next, let’s take a look at how you can become a successful accountability coach.

How do you become a certified accountability coach?

So, how do you become a certified accountability coach?

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

I’ve put together this six-step plan for you.

Let’s dive in.

1. Choose your accountability coaching niche

Accountability coaching is a coaching niche, but I recommend you specialize even more.

You see, choosing a coaching niche isn’t just about the kind of coaching you do. It’s also about focusing on specific areas.

Here are some ways in which you could specialize:

• What you want to help people with (like career, family, health and fitness)
• Who you want to help (like a certain age group and/or gender)
• Specific problems (like bad time management or procrastination issues)
• Specific goals (like finding a healthy relationship or starting a business)

For example, you could coach aspiring authors by helping them keep a regular writing schedule to finish their novels.

Or, you could teach young professionals to manage their finances, so that they follow their budgets and income goals.

By niching down, your services become unique and targeted.

You:

• Stand out from the crowd
• Attract clients who need your specific offer
• Offer more impactful coaching thanks to your specialized skills
• Can charge more because of your unique expertise

Often, you don’t have to create something completely new. Rather find where your skills meet what people need.

I explain how to find your niche here:

2. Create an accountability coaching offer

Step two is about creating your accountability coaching program.

Start by defining the specific outcomes clients can expect from your coaching.

Next, set up your packages. These are the tools you use to deliver these outcomes.

Why work with packages?

As an accountability coach, your goal is to create a transformative experience for your clients.

Which takes time.

By working with packages you can deliver these results over a series of well-structured sessions. Packages also offer clients a clear idea of what to expect and when.

Now, how much does accountability coaching cost, and what is the average accountability coach salary?

According to the latest ICF report, part-time US coaches have an average salary of $67,800.

But here’s the thing:

In the coaching world, pricing is extremely flexible. It mostly depends on the value and transformation you provide.

The aim isn’t to clock hours but to create genuine change.

I recommend my students to start with three-month packages priced at $1,500.

This could include 90-day plans with weekly 45-60-minute sessions. Couple these with consistent email support and check-ins.

As your experience grows and you get more testimonials, you can then gradually raise your rates — to $2,000, $3,000, $5,000, or more. 

As a coach, earning six figures or more is completely possible. In fact, it’s what many of my students make with their coaching business.

If you want to learn more about getting there, check out this video:  

3. Get your accountability coaching certification 

You know by now what the best certifications are and how to choose one.

But what does the process look like? 

Here’s a simplified overview: 

1. Pick a certification program
2. Practice coaching
3. Finish the program
4. Get certified

For instance, if you decide to get certified with the ICF, be prepared for steps like:

• Pay application fees
• Submit coaching logs
• Undergo mentor coaching
• Go through a performance evaluation process
• Take an exam

Remember, certification isn’t a must-have to kickstart your coaching career.

It’s completely optional.

Your clients value outcomes far more than formal certifications.

So, if you prefer diving directly into the coaching practice to gain hands-on experience, feel free to skip this step.

Now, let’s take a look at getting your first paying clients.

4. Get your first paying accountability coaching clients

Getting your first clients might seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.

My tip:

Don’t rush into trying to get a bunch of clients all at once.

Start with just one — it’s more manageable, and their feedback will improve your coaching. 

Plus, one happy client helps you get more clients through word-of-mouth.

Now, how do you find your first accountability coaching client?

Here are two beginner-friendly ways:

• Reach out: You might already have potential clients in your circle. Talk to people you know. They could become your first clients or connect you with potential clients.
• Attract: Join groups where your potential clients might hang out. Answer questions and share your knowledge on social media platforms or in podcasts. They’re both great options for building relationships and showing people how you can help them.

For a more detailed guide on getting your first coaching client, check out this video I’ve created for you:

With a few clients onboard, consider expanding your business (step six). But first, onto step five.

5. Build your email list 

You want to start by getting your first client quickly but also plan for the future.

Ideally, you’d have a steady flow of potential clients.

An email list can help with this – you build trust and relationships over time by sharing valuable content. 

Even if someone doesn’t need coaching now, they might want it later. 

Some ways to build your email list include: 

• Tapping into your existing network 
• Pitching podcast interviews 
• Building relationships on social media 

Next up is our last step: scaling your business.

6. Scale your business

Have you increased your rates but want to earn even more?

Then scaling your business is a good idea.

Here’s a simple plan:

After you have about ten clients, think about starting group sessions or online courses.

• Group coaching: Working one-on-one with clients is great to gain more experience. But group sessions allow you to earn more without working extra hours. Plus, it lets more people join in and learn from each other.
• Online courses: You’ll learn many valuable things from coaching. Why not share that in an online course? Clients can learn anytime they want, and you earn money without needing to be there in person.

These scaling techniques grow your business and let you reach more people.

They also pave the way toward a life of freedom and flexibility. 

And to me, that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about.

Next steps

That’s everything you need to know on how to become an accountability coach.

The value of your coaching doesn’t depend on whether you have an accountability coaching certification or not. Instead, it’s about the transformative impact you make in your clients’ lives.

If done right, your business can be both fulfilling and offer freedom and flexibility.

But to build a business of true abundance, you need the right strategy.

What is that strategy?

Get my blueprint for building a six-figure coaching business today.

Read more:

How to Become a Life Coach

The Best Coaching Certification Programs

How to Become a Motivational Coach

How to Become a Performance Coach