3 Most Trusted Life Design Coach Certification Programs

How do you become a successful life design coach?

You’re in the right place. Today, you’ll learn how to create a fulfilling career for yourself by helping others design lives they truly love.

We’ll cover:

• What it means to be a life design coach
• The 3 best certification programs
• How to launch your own life design coaching business

Want to get started? Read on!

Quick overview:

• 👉Starting your own business is the best way to hit 6+ figures as a life design coach
• 👉Niche down to attract your target audience
• 👉You don’t need a certification to be successful, although you have several options if you choose to get one – and here below, we look at three of them
• 👉Learn skills like design thinking and positive psychology to maximize your results

What is life design coaching?

A life design coach helps people understand what they really want from life—and then guides them to take real, actionable steps to achieve those dreams.

Your clients could be at a turning point in their careers. They feel stuck, unsure of what to do next, and the weight of other people’s expectations is holding them back. A life design coach helps them cut get clarity, make decisions that feel right for them, and build a life that aligns with their values.

Take Jasmine Katatikarn, for example:

As a certified creative life design coach and strategist, Jasmine works with clients to refocus on what truly matters to them. She helps them silence the pressure of what society expects and rediscover their own voice. With her guidance, they find clarity, confidence, and purpose.

What does a life design coach do? 

As a life design coach, your job is to help people unlock their full potential and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. Here’s how:

• Uncover their true values and passions: Help clients identify what truly matters to them.
• Set meaningful goals: Guide them to create goals that align with the life they genuinely want to live.
• Break through barriers: Provide actionable strategies to overcome challenges standing in their way.
• Design a personalized roadmap: Create step-by-step plans tailored to their unique dreams and needs.
• Boost their confidence: Empower clients to believe in their ability to reshape their lives.

💡 Life design coaching is a broad field, so you can choose to specialize even further.

For example, you could focus on helping people land their dream job or find a life partner. While the ultimate goal is always to help them design a life they’ll love, your niche determines the specific challenges you’ll address and the solutions you’ll offer.

No matter your focus, mastering a few essential concepts can make you a better coach:

• Design thinking: Teach your clients to approach problems creatively and find innovative solutions.
• Positive psychology: Help clients tap into their strengths and develop happiness and fulfillment.
• Adult learning theory: Understand how adults learn to ensure your coaching resonates and drives results.

These principles will help you create a powerful learning experience that inspires transformation for your clients—and sets you apart as an exceptional coach.

Now, let’s talk about certifications.

How to choose a certification 

Do you need a certification to become a life design coach? No. You don’t need a certification to succeed as a life design coach. But if you’re considering getting one, the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming.

So, how do you choose the right certification for YOU?

Here’s what to look for: 

• Accreditation: Is the program backed by a respected accreditation body like the International Coaching Federation (ICF)?
• Program length: Do you have the time to commit to studying and completing the coursework?
• Course instructors: Who’s teaching the program? Check their credentials and experience—are they someone you’d want to learn from?
• Cost: Is the investment manageable for you, and does it align with your goals?

Alright, now you know some things to check before deciding on a certification. Next, let’s look at some top program options.

The 3 best life design coaching certifications 

Before diving into the programs, here’s an important note: There aren’t many accredited certification programs specifically for life design coaching.

The good news? Life coaching certifications are a close alternative and can equip you with the skills you need to succeed. Here are three excellent options!

(Note: I haven’t enrolled in these programs myself so I’m not speaking from personal experience. I’m basing these recommendations on available online information and reviews. This is a good starting point, but always do your research before selecting a program.)

1. Designing Your Life Virtual Coach Certification 

Looking to coach individuals or small groups? This program from Designing Your Life offers a focused, comprehensive workshop designed for maximum learning in a short timeframe.

What’s Included: A 12-hour program with pre-recorded lectures to study on your own, paired with live Zoom classes for in-depth discussions and Q&A.

Price: $2,100

Accreditation: ICF

Format: Online

2. NLP-Integrated Life Coach Training

Prefer a flexible program that lets you work at your own pace but still offers live support when you need it? The iNLP Center program could be the perfect fit.

What’s included:

• 70 hours of ICF coach training
• 10 hours of ICF mentor coaching
• Unlimited live training sessions
• Unlimited marketing support to attract clients
• Lifetime access to keep your skills sharp

Price: $3,900

Accreditation: ICF

Format: Online

3. Life Coach Certification Program

The Life Purpose Institute offers multiple paths to certification, so you can choose what works best for your schedule and learning style. Options include:

• A 3-month program
• A 6-month program
• A 5-day intensive with 8 hours of continuing coursework

This program provides:

• Access to an alumni group for networking and support
• Small class sizes for personalized attention
• Marketing guidance to help you grow your business

Price: $4,995

Accreditation: ICF

Format: Online

Okay, now that we’ve looked at a few certification options, let’s answer a key question you probably have…

How do you become a certified life design coach? 

Becoming a life design coach can help you build an impactful and fulfilling career, while creating more freedom and flexibility for yourself.

But maybe you’re wondering…Wait, what about certifications? Are those important to have? 

I’ll get to that in just a moment.

Let’s start with the first key step: Defining your niche.

1. Define a niche 

As a life design coach, you can work with all kinds of clients—but to stand out and truly make an impact, you need to narrow your focus.

Here’s why: Specialization leads to expertise. When you choose a specific niche, you become the go-to expert for solving the unique challenges faced by that group of people.

The result? Your clients will achieve their goals faster, and your coaching will create deeper, more meaningful transformations.

To find your niche, start by looking at these three areas:

• Your Experience: What life or career experiences can you draw on to help others?
• Your Skills: What are you naturally good at that could benefit your clients?
• Your Interests: What topics light you up and keep you engaged?

Take Jasmine, for example. With a decades-long career in the animation industry and a history of personal reinvention, she turned her unique experience into the foundation of her coaching business.

Want more guidance on choosing a niche? Watch this video:

Next up? Your brand.   

2. Create a life design coaching brand  

Why should people work with YOU rather than another coach?

That’s the question your brand helps answer.

See, branding isn’t just about choosing a particular logo or theme color for your website. 

Ultimately, it’s about helping your ideal clients stop and pay attention because you offer exactly what they’re looking for, and you do it better than the competition. 

So, ask yourself: What makes me different? (Think about your work experience, life experience, hardships, triumphs – anything that would be relevant to your dream clients).

That’s what Brandy Deornellas does: 

As a former lawyer, she shares how she transitioned into a more meaningful career in coaching to have a bigger impact. 

And since her clients want to create that kind of life themselves, her story strikes a chord with her target audience.

Now, we can talk about certification!

3. Get certified  

Let’s clear something up: You don’t need a certification to be a successful life design coach.

Here’s why: Coaching is different from therapy. It’s not about meeting strict licensing requirements—it’s about helping people transform their lives. If you can do that, certifications are optional.

How do I know?

Because I’ve helped thousands of people start their own coaching businesses—and their clients care about results, not certificates.

I don’t have an MBA or a business coaching certification. But I do have over 10 years of experience building successful coaching businesses. And I help my clients achieve real, measurable results, like these:

Getting a certification is entirely up to you. Certifications can add credibility and give you confidence, but they’re not the key to success. What truly matters is your ability to help clients achieve the outcomes they want.

Why? Because at the end of the day, a certification is just a piece of paper. What people really care about is this: Can you help them get what they want?

Now that we’ve covered certifications, it’s time to talk about designing your coaching package.

4. Create and price a life design coaching package 

When it comes to pricing your services, you’ve got a few options: 

• ✅Hourly
• ✅Retainer
• ✅And package 

Which one’s the best?

I always recommend packages to my students.

Here’s why: Packages not only help you set clear boundaries, but they also allow you to work less while still delivering the support your clients need. It’s a win-win!

Want to learn more about these pricing options? Click here to learn more about each one.

And to create your package, offer a three-month package priced at $1,500.

Here’s why: This price is approachable enough to make it an easy “yes” for your clients, while still allowing you to build a solid income.

As you gain experience and collect a few testimonials, you can confidently raise your rates—and start charging what your expertise is truly worth.

Once you’ve created your coaching package, it’s time to tackle the next big question: How do you find clients?

5. Find your first client 

You might think getting clients means running a bunch of ads or sending out 100 cold emails a day.

It doesn’t.

Instead, the best approach is to go where your ideal clients are and show them the value you bring.

Where should you start?

Look for online communities like:

• Facebook groups
• Reddit threads
• Quora discussions

Find platforms where people are actively talking about topics related to your coaching offer.

Once you’re there:

Once you’re there:

• Engage with the community.
• Answer questions thoughtfully.
• Pay attention to recurring problems or questions—these are gold for understanding what your audience truly needs.

At this stage, don’t sell anything. Focus on proving your value by being helpful and authentic. If you do this well, you won’t have to convince anyone to work with you—they’ll already see your worth.

How do I know?

That’s exactly how I got my first client. By showing up in the right community and providing real value, I landed a $5,000 client.

Want more tips on finding clients? Watch this video:

Once you’ve connected with your audience, it’s time to keep the momentum going—and grow your coaching business even further.

6. Work with your clients 

You’ve landed your first clients—congratulations! Now comes the most important part: Helping them achieve the life-changing results they’re looking for.

Here’s how to make that happen:

• Clarify their goals: Start by getting crystal clear on what your clients want to achieve. Without a clear goal, it’s impossible to measure success—or know when they’ve reached it.
• Set milestones: Break the big goal into smaller, achievable steps. This keeps your clients motivated and ensures they stay on track.
• Plan your sessions: To deliver the best results, structure your coaching sessions in advance. Not sure how to do that? I cover the details here.

Prefer to watch a video? I’ve got that, too:

By focusing on clear goals, strategic milestones, and well-planned sessions, you’ll not only help your clients achieve their dreams—you’ll also set the foundation for long-term success as a coach.

How much can a life design coach make?

According to Glassdoor, the average life coach salary in the U.S. is $57,453 per year.

But here’s the thing: Your earnings as a coach can vary widely depending on factors like your location, experience, and how you structure your business.

Want to maximize your income potential?

The best way to do that is by starting your own coaching business.

As a business owner, you’ll have the freedom to:

• Earn more: Running your own business allows you to set your rates and scale your income beyond the average salary.
• Enjoy a better work-life balance: You can design a schedule that works for your lifestyle and priorities.
• Diversify your income streams: Offer courses, ebooks, workshops, or other products to supplement your coaching services.

Bottom line: If you want financial stability and the freedom to work on your terms, building your own coaching business is the way to go.

Next steps 

Alright, there you have it! Now you know what the best life design coach certification programs are–and how to become a life design coach. So you can live the life you want and make more money doing it. 

Since you’ve made it to the end, I’m assuming you’re ready to take action.

👋High five to that! 👋

The thing is: There is only so much I can teach in a blog post. And building a coaching business can be overwhelming…How do you get to a point where you can quit your job safely without risking everything you’ve built up? How do you build your business as fast as possible while in a busy 9-5?

That’s why I created my coaching business program, Employee to Entrepreneur, to help you skip the mistakes I made and build your business a lot faster. It’s a roadmap for those who don’t want to spend years figuring things out on their own.

And the results speak for themselves:

Want these kinds of results too? Learn more in my FREE PDF. 

Read more:

Top Life Coaching Skills of the Most Successful Coaches 

How to Choose the Right life Coaching Insurance

How to Become a Transformational Coach

The Top Spiritual Life Coaching Certifications

How to Become a Life Coach