The Life Coaching Institute

How long does it usually take to complete the course?

The course can take nine months to complete. But you can do it as quickly or slowly as you want. That's the great advantage of distance learning.

Do I need to finish the course within a certain time?

You can take as long as you want. Unlike other organizations, we don't set any time limits.

What does the course cost?

You can find the cost, and enroll online, by clicking here.

Does the cost for the course include everything I need? Or are there any extra fees?

There are no other costs or fees.

Can I spread the cost over a period of time?

Yes, you can make five monthly payments. This costs about 20% more. To find out the cost, please click here.

Can I get my money back if I don't like the course?

Just return the course within 30 days, and we'll refund your course fees. Also, if after seeking work at the end of the course, you don't earn at least the cost of the course inside three months, we'll also refund your fees.

Can I start the course at any time?

Yes. You can start today. Or tomorrow. Or next week. Whenever you want.

Is the course all from home, or do I have to go to a school and sit tests?

It's all done from home.

I live in the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada etc. Is the course suitable for me?

Yes. We have students in 28 countries. And we have two editions of the course. One is for North America and those who want to pay in US dollars. The other edition is for the UK and Europe, and people who want to pay in sterling. But we welcome payment in any currency.

How can I contact my tutor or the Institute?

There have two types of people you can contact - your tutor and a course advisor. The tutor marks your work, and helps you with any problems. You can fax, email or post assignments to your tutor, whenever you want.

We don't give out the tutor's phone number, because a few people would spend all day talking to their tutors, who would never get any work done.

But sometimes students get stuck, or have an urgent question. If so, you can phone a course advisor at the Institute at any time during work hours. If you leave a message out of work hours we'll call you back the next day. You can contact course advisors as often as you want, and about anything to do with coaching.

Do you provide any supervised coaching sessions?

We fix you up with a Buddy, a student with whom you'll carry out coaching sessions. At different times, you will play the roles of the coach and the client. These sessions give you a good understanding of how real-life coaching sessions work. They are not supervised, but you report back to your tutor about them, and receive feedback.

If you feel you need supervised training sessions, you'll have to seek another training organization. We don't claim to offer a course that meets everyone's needs. And adding supervised training would make the course much more expensive.

Is the course accredited? And by whom? Is the course accredited? And by whom? Yes, we're accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. You can find them at www.odlqc.org.uk. We're listed under Learning Institute, our parent organization. We are also registered with the Department for Education and Skills on its Register of Education and Training Providers.

The Register is a list of genuine education and training providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Register does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of any registered provider. You can find us on the register by clicking here. We are registered under our corporate trading name of 'Home Study Courses Limited'. ASET Level 4 Accreditation Our course is fully accredited by ASET, and on completing it you get an award equivalent to Level 4 of the National Learning Framework (post A level/HNC/HND standard). ASET is a national Awarding Body recognised by the Department for Education and Skills and by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in Britain. It has been accrediting vocational learning for more than 50 years and now works with more than 200 providers in the UK and internationally. By studying for our Diploma in Life Coaching, you’ll give yourself that edge. You couldn’t ask for anything more from a distance learning course.

Will the course give me credits towards a degree or some other study?

No. But it will help you set up and run your own business. And we encourage all students to continue their studies after completing the course.

Are the tutors practicing coaches?

Yes, all tutors are practicing coaches. Some other organizations use college lecturers, which means you don't get the information from the 'coal face'.

Can I get insurance to practice as a coach?

Yes. We can recommend brokers or insurance companies in the UK and North America who will give you professional liability insurance. If you live in other countries, we can also help.

Can coaching be taught, just like a language or the law?
Yes. Only it's a lot more fun!

Will the Diploma enable me to practice professionally?
Yes. the course is designed specifically to help you set up and run your own practice. Some courses, even at university, seem to omit this all-important aspect. We give you enough technical knowledge to practice, and we also provide detailed guidance on marketing, operation and finance to run your own business.

Will the qualification help me get a job?

To get a job in a public or private organization, you'll need more qualifications than we can offer. Our course is designed to help you work with your own private clients.

The easiest way to earn a living is to work for yourself. It's also the most lucrative. So in the course we focus on how you can work from home as a coach.

Will you show me how to find work?

Yes, the course includes practical guidance on finding clients for your own private practice. You can also get additional help from your tutor or a course advisor.

Is there a final exam?

No, there is no final exam. The course is based on continuous assessment, through the assignments you send to your tutor.

And continuous assessment lets you check all the time that you're on course to succeed.

So you should look at the assignment as an exciting challenge. No, it's true! You'll enjoy them. We promise you!

What happens if I fail an assignment?

You do the work again! 80% of students complete the course without ever failing an assignment. But you might misunderstand the question, or produce an insufficiently detailed answer. So the tutor will explain the problem and ask you to send in the assignment again. When you do this, your work will be much better.

Can I submit hand-written assignments?

Yes. That's no problem.

Can I submit assignments by E-mail?

Yes. That's no problem.

Can I join the course without prior experience?

Yes. That's no problem. We make no assumptions about people's prior knowledge. But you ought to have a deep interest in the subject.

Can I tackle the topics in any order I choose?

Yes, you can. So, if you want to tackle a particular topic, you can go straight to that module. This is useful if you have a job or a client that requires you to know about a particular subject. You might note that some other organizations supply only one or two modules at a time.

I haven't studied for years. The thought of returning to study makes me nervous.

Don't worry. We understand. But this course is nothing like your memories of being stuck inside a stuffy classroom on a summer's day with an old-fashioned teacher droning on.

For a start, this is a subject that interests you (or you wouldn't have got this far).

And getting this deep into the website shows that you can absorb information and concentrate for long periods of time.

Also, you'll see that we write clearly and simply. And that's how we've written the course materials. It's true that some organizations write long and boring pages that make your eyes glaze over. We promise you that our course is nothing like that. You'll find this course is informative and enjoyable. In fact, many students are almost upset at finishing the course.

Do I get the whole course or just individual modules one at a time?

We send you the whole course when you enroll. This means you can study any topic you want to. You can also see what topics are coming up. Getting everything in one package makes it easier for you to get an overview of the course. As we mentioned above, some other organizations supply only one or two modules at a time.

How does this course compare with others?

We think this is the best course in the world. Bar none. But please examine other courses before making a decision. Consider these points:

1. Is the course comprehensive?

2. Will your studies be supported by a tutor?Research shows that people succeed much better on courses that include a personal tutor.

3. Is it interactive? That is, do the course materials regularly make you stop and think, and do exercises? Too many courses consist of page after page of boring lecture notes.

4. Does it teach you about setting up your own business? College courses are often weak on this point.

5. Is it accredited?

6. Can you get a refund if you don't like the course?

For our course, the answer to all these questions is 'Yes'. But check out other courses as well before enrolling. We want to you make the choice that's right for you.

So, how can I find out about other courses?

1. See if any courses are available at your local college or nearby university.

2. Search the internet. But beware: hundreds of dot com entrepreneurs think they can teach coaching.

3. See if you can contact a career advisor. Careers advisors know nothing about coaching, as they would be the first to admit. And the careers books they consult will probably suggest getting a three to five-year college degree in your chosen field. Which may (or may not) be a good thing, but it isn't an option for most of our students (many of whom already have a degree!).

Can a newcomer break into coaching and earn money?

Yes. We show you how.

Are there any restrictions to prevent me from setting up as a coach?

No state or federal laws stop you setting up and running your own practice.To keep you straight, we also provide detailed advice on forming a company, keeping records, and paying tax.

Do you provide support after I complete the course?

Yes, you can join as a member of the Institute, and get continuing access to your tutor and to course advisors. Plus you get the recognition that comes with being a member of the Institute.

With the Institute's Diploma, can I get accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF)?

Yes, we can get you accredited using the ICF's Portfolio Track. This involves additional training with your tutor. Click here for more information about ICF credentialing. You will need to complete 250 hours coaching, with a minimum of eight clients. You will also need a minimum of 48 hours of interactive training from your tutor, following completion of your Diploma.

However, most of our students simply join ICF as a Member, which is more convenient and easier. We will help you, as a student, join ICF as a Member.

Any other questions?

If you have a question, why not email us now? We could add it to our list of FAQs.