Best Career Coach Certification Programs

We chose World Coach Institute (WCI) as the best overall career coaching certification program because it is well-recognized, available in 35 countries, and provides multiple niche certifications in addition to the Career Coach Certification (CCC).

For those striving to earn a career coaching credential while working or starting a business, WCI offers an affordable price around $2,500 with payment plans as low as $104 per month.

WCI also allows you to earn unique certifications such as Life Coach, Spiritual Coach, Family Coach, and Christian Coach. The curriculum includes content to help you launch and run a coaching business if this is your goal.

Students take part in lectures twice a week along with discussions and receive a textbook, coaching tools, forms, and the ability to observe up to 25 coaching sessions as well as get feedback on their own coaching. Students become part of a community with buddy coaches and peers. The 80-page Business Builder Program manual is a bonus for those wishing to launch and grow a coaching business,

WCI has been around since 2006 and provides individual assistance and support. It receives positive user reviews for its hands-on training, noting features like its positive learning environment, superb instructors, and career services. Additionally, its training programs meet International Coaching Federation (ICF)/BCC-approved coach-specific training hours (ACSTH).

The Career Coach Certification Program (CCCP) is our runner-up due to its robust curriculum, affordability, and open enrollment–no bachelor’s degree required.

The CCCP program is 100% online and available to participants in over a dozen countries worldwide. Its $1,200 program is all-inclusive, meaning you’ll receive the training you need to become certified by the end of the course. You’ll also get resources to use with your clients and tools to launch your own coaching business.

Because of its affordability and comprehensive nature, career coaches across industries from business to academia have completed this course and certification. Online reviews praise the soup-to-nuts approach, the coaching blueprint, and the holistic coaching format.

IAP College is best for those on a budget as well as those who wish to sell the idea of coaching certification to their corporate manager for reimbursement.

IAP College provides training and a career coach certificate you can use during job interviews or to secure a promotion at work. Note that it’s a certificate in name only and not recognized by any of the major career coaching organizations. But for those looking to demonstrate they’ve received coaching training, this one is a cost-effective option, with a standard price of $377 for a six-week, part-time class. However, the course offers intermittent sales, so keep an eye on deals.

IAP's other certifications include Bakery Owner Certificate and Closet Organizer Certification. Nonetheless, IAP Career earns hundreds of positive online reviews from students who appreciate the affordable training to help them stand out and grow their careers.

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) offers multiple professional development and credential programs such as Certified Career Counselor and Certified Master of Career Services. It's our choice for best for academic career coaching.

NCDA is a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Many of the courses are tailored to career coaching for specific industries such as higher education or private practitioners. Research-based courses run from two months to 15 weeks and are taught by licensed instructors with significant experience. Instructor-led courses are offered in traditional face-to-face sessions, online, or as a hybrid. Courses run from $1,000 to $1,700 per course and may be reimbursable by your employer.

Even so, you'll need an educational degree before you qualify for the NCDA's coaching certification program, and once you finish the program, you credentials might not be relevant or appropriate in a business coaching setting.

The Career Development Network offers two affordable and robust certifications that provide CEUs for continuing education.

For $1,500, the Career Development Network provides a thorough career coach training program which certifies one as both a job and career development coach and a job and career transition coach. It’s been providing career development training since 1979 and includes business-focused career coach training as well as certifications for established professionals to earn CEUs.

Although the Career Development Network usually conducts in-person, three-day events as a way for practitioners to quickly obtain a career coach certification, trainings are being conducted online until further notice. Like IAP College and Career Coach Institute, the proprietary certification you receive is from the same organization that offers the coach training. However, it’s recognized by coach matching agencies like Noomi as a recommended coach training organization that serves members worldwide.

Even so, the Career Development Network's website leaves a lot to be desired. It's not user-friendly or intuitive. It requires users to download brochures and material.

Rider University in New Jersey is much less costly per credit hour than competitive universities, offering the same Board Certified Coach and Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. credentials.

At $1,300 per credit hour, the Rider Life and Career Coaching certificate are much less costly than academic programs at other universities including New York University and Georgetown University that cost $1,483 per credit hour up to $4,449 per course. 

With a 11:1 student-faculty ratio, you’ll get expert input that can’t be found in an online self-paced certification course. Courses can be taken in person or online. SAT and ACT scores are not required for application to the university.

Even so, you'll have to have a bachelor's degree before you qualify for Rider's coaching certificate program. You'll also have to attended courses during an academic calendar year.

Because it’s self-paced and virtual, students can complete the Career Coach Institute training while employed and it uses a blended e-learning approach with webinars, CDs, textbooks, and quizzes.

The Career Coach Institute was founded in 2001 and uses a proprietary coaching model referred to as “Quantum Shift! Coaching.” We chose it for its robust online program developed using e-learning methodology. The program costs about $5,000 according to the website, but your price may be lower due to specials that could bring it closer to $2,000. 

Flexible scheduling and financing make it a flexible option for those who aren’t seeking a globally recognized coaching certificate. Many of its alumni, including experienced practitioners, boast about how the program helped them grow their coaching business to six figures.

The Career Coach Institute offers the Certified Career Coach (CCC) credential.

Udemy Career Coaching Certification offers affordable eight- to 10-hour training and certification courses hosted by a multitude of accredited (and non-accredited) providers, each of whom offer their own version of a career coaching certificate.

Certification through low-cost courses on Udemy's Career Coaching Certification makes sense for those working within a non-profit or smaller company on a tight budget who want credentials to improve their promotional opportunities. These courses are also helpful for those wanting to dabble in career coaching, add on to their existing skills and education, or have a piece of paper that states they’ve completed a career coaching certification.

Because of the low cost, attendees may find these courses exposed them to the career coaching field with little financial risk.

Because the coaching industry is unregulated and there is no standard, a certificate from the Udemy Career Coaching Certification course may suffice to convince your employer or business clients that you’ve received ample training in the career coaching field.

Despite its affordability, Udemy's course time frames vary widely, from one to 17 hours, and those who require some assistance from a live instructor will be disappointed to find that courses are offered through self-paced video and downloadable content.

We chose Coach Training Alliance for the breadth of coach training it offers as part of The Certified Coach Program.

The Coach Training Alliance costs about $3,500 for both of its career coaching programs: Career Coaching Mastery Certification Program or The Art and Science of Coaching Career Transitions. It also offers free workshops to learn more about the program before you enroll. Once certified, you can move on to organizational, leadership, or executive coaching.

For example, you could study organizational coaching for your enterprise, career transition coaching, or certification for yogis. It offers 22 IFC-certified programs with training that prepares you to coach individuals and groups, launch your business, or author your first book.

Online company reviews mention good teachers, a positive environment, and good career preparation.

But keep in mind that this certification program is expensive compared to some competitors, and you won't get in-person instruction. Everything is completed online.