Top 7 Free Online Life Coaching Certifications for New Coaches Ranked

Top 7 Free Online Life Coaching Certifications for New Coaches Ranked

Are you looking to become a certified life coach without spending a dime? 

In this guide, I have highlighted the top seven free life coach certification courses and tips on selecting the right certification for your needs.

Additionally, I also discuss the pros and cons of free certifications and how you can start a coaching business even without a formal certification.

We picked the top 7 free online life coaching certifications for 2024 by checking what past students and experts say and looking at important details from each program. 

We make sure our reviews follow a strict no-conflict-of-interest policy. In this way, we are able to maintain our editorial independence and provide objective, honest, and fair reviews.

We were not able to add customer reviews for all courses, but we tried our best to include as many as possible.

Let’s dive in!

Do you need a life coaching certification?

The life coaching industry is largely unregulated. Technically, anyone can call themselves a life coach without certification. 

To put it simply, you do not need a life coach certification to start your own coaching business.

However, having a certification enhances your credibility and shows commitment to professional development.

Getting an online free life coach certification can provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to kick-start your coaching career without the financial burden. 

These courses offer a comprehensive introduction to life coaching principles, tools, and techniques.

But they have their own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Pros and cons of a Free Life Coach Certification

Let’s explore the specific advantages and disadvantages of opting for free life coach certification.

Benefits of Free Life Coaching Certification

Drawbacks of Free Life Coaching Certification

My Top 7 Picks for Free Online Life Coaching Certifications

Here's a table summarizing the top 7 free online life coaching certifications for new coaches:

Program Name	Best For	Our Review	Learn More
Life Coach Certification Online Mini Course	A comprehensive introduction for beginners	4.5/5	Learn More
4 Steps to Become a Life-Changing Life Coach	Practical tools and foundational methods	4.5/5	Learn More
Life Coaching 101: Complete Guide to Becoming a Life Coach	Growing a coaching business	4/5	Learn More
Professional Life Coach	CPD-accredited, structured learning	4/5	Learn More
Life Coaching Skills in a Nutshell	A quick, concise introduction to coaching	3.5/5	Learn More
Free Life Coaching Course	Flexible and thorough introduction	3/5	Learn More
Life Coaching Free Course	Foundational coaching skills	3/5	Learn More

1. Free Life Coach Certification Online Mini Course by Life Coach Training Institute - Best for a Comprehensive Introduction.

The Life Coach Training Institute offers a free mini course designed to introduce you to the basics of life coaching. This course includes key concepts and skills essential for effective coaching, preparing you to decide if a career in life coaching is right for you.

Course Content

The course covers the core principles of life coaching and how it differs from other helping roles. It provides insights into the coaching process through demo sessions and emphasizes mastering active listening to build trust with clients. 

You'll learn techniques for asking powerful questions, tools for setting and achieving goals, and steps to launch your own coaching practice.

Duration

The mini course is self-paced, consisting of seven sessions that you can complete at your convenience.

Speciality: Offers the option to upgrade to a full certification course with additional training and a certificate.

CoachFoundation’s Score: 4.5/5

2. 4 Steps to Become a Life-Changing Life Coach by Inner Life Skills - Best for practical tools.

The InnerLifeSkills free life coach certification course, named "4 Steps to Become a Life-Changing Life Coach," offers a sample of their paid certification programs. 

The course is designed by Colleen-Joy, a successful MCC (ICF Credentialed Master Coach) with over 35 years of experience. 

It includes real coaching lessons and methods from their ICF-accredited programs to provide a foundational understanding of life coaching.

Course Content

In this course, you'll learn their ILS 3-Step Coaching Method, a foundational process applicable in various coaching contexts.. 

This course includes insights from real case studies across diverse coaching niches, including wellness, lifestyle, and executive coaching. 

They introduce the “Disney Strategy Process”, a popular method based on Walt Disney’s brainstorming technique, and download the process for your use.

They help understand three key metrics essential for building a successful coaching business through marketing success tips. It also touches upon how to attain professional coaching credentials with the ICF Credential Guide.

Duration

The course provides immediate access to 16 video tutorials and several downloadable resources, which can be completed at your own pace. Estimated time to complete varies based on individual schedules but is designed to be concise and focused.

Speciality: Offers downloadable coaching worksheets and audio guides.

CoachFoundation’s Score: 4.5/5

3. Life Coaching 101: Complete Guide to Becoming a Life Coach by Udemy - Best for business growth.

The "Life Coaching 101: Complete Guide to Becoming a Life Coach" course by Udemy provides a comprehensive guide to becoming a life coach. It covers essential topics such as the fundamentals of life coaching, the future of the life coaching industry, and practical strategies for building a successful coaching practice. The course aims to instill confidence in participants, enabling them to create a thriving life coaching business.

Course Content

The course covers core coaching skills, such as effective listening, powerful questioning, and creating impactful coaching sessions. You'll learn about the ethical considerations and boundaries within the coaching philosophy. 

The course also provides marketing strategies to attract clients and build a successful coaching business. 

Additionally, it also offers practical tools such as the Wheel of Life, goal-setting techniques, and mindset shifts are also included.

Duration

The course includes 1 hour and 42 minutes of on-demand video content, allowing learners to complete it at their own pace.

Speciality: Provides actionable strategies and tools to start and grow a coaching practice.

CoachFoundation’s Score: 4/5

4. Professional Life Coach by Alison - Best for CPD-accredited learning.

The Alison Professional Life Coach course provides a solid foundation in life coaching principles and techniques. 

The course covers the fundamentals of life coaching, including the differences between life coaching and therapy, core coaching skills, and ethical considerations. 

Course Content

In this course, you'll learn strategies for increasing motivation and overcoming obstacles like lack of confidence and self-doubt.

It includes insights into various coaching formats, including one-on-one, group, and online coaching, will be provided.

 Additionally, you'll receive step-by-step guidance on starting a life coaching practice and develop core coaching skills, including communication, emotional intelligence, and ethical practices.

Duration

The course consists of 6-10 hours of learning material, which can be completed at your own pace. There are no deadlines, allowing for flexible study schedules.

Speciality: Offers option to obtain a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate for a small fee.

CoachFoundation’s Score: 4.0/5

5. Life Coaching Skills in a Nutshell by Udemy - Best for a quick, concise introduction to coaching essentials.

The "Life Coaching Skills in a Nutshell" course is designed to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of key life coaching skills. 

The course aims