Therapy

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• applying directly
• specialist courses offered by a professional body

University

If you already have a degree, you could study for a postgraduate award in coaching.

Courses at this level tend to focus on sport, performance management within organisations, coaching and mentoring in education or coaching psychology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

College

You'll have an advantage if you've got qualifications and membership of a professional organisation. A good starting point would be to choose a course that is approved by an independent coaching body.

It's important that you gather as much information as possible before choosing a course, as costs vary widely. Courses are available through online and face-to-face learning, so you can choose the one that suits you best. Apart from your studies you would need to make time for practical coaching sessions and preparation activities.

Check that a course offers:

• contacts with coaching and mentoring bodies
• testimonials from coaches who have attended the course
• good resources for developing skills
• practical training, like workshops and seminars
• some supervised work with a practising life coach or assessor
• advice on setting up a business
• opportunities for continuing professional development

Apprenticeship

If you want to work within organisations coaching individuals and teams to improve their work performance, you could do a coaching professional higher apprenticeship.

This typically takes 14 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct application

Life coaching is not regulated in the UK, so anyone can work as a life coach if they feel they have the necessary skills and qualities.

You may be able to work towards accreditation from a coaching professional body to improve your job prospects.

Other routes

You could take training through the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which offers a range of courses in coaching methods.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

More information

Career tips

You may find it useful if you have experience in psychology, management, counselling or teaching.

Further information

You can get more advice on coaching and mentoring from the:Coaching and Mentoring Network; Life Coach Directory; Association for Coaching; International Coaching Federation

View all vacancies in this region

You could specialise in a particular type of life coaching like business executive, spiritual or health and wellbeing coaching.

Many life coaches begin work part-time, sometimes alongside another job, building their hours as they grow their caseload of clients.

You could set up your own business and employ other coaches.

You could use your skills and experience to train or supervise people new to coaching.

Find out more about becoming a Life Coach