Yesterday, I found myself sitting on the porch, enjoying one of those first days of spring—the kind that gently nudges you out of winter’s slumber. The sun was warm on my face, birds sang their familiar songs, and one brave flower stood in full bloom, a sign of what’s to come.
In that moment of stillness, I had a conversation with someone exploring the idea of becoming a professional coach. They’re considering a career shift and were seeking clarity—wanting to discern if coaching might be the next step in their journey.
Our conversation meandered through the usual, yet deeply personal, terrain that often comes with these early explorations:
- What’s stirring in their heart right now?
- Why is coaching capturing their attention?
- What does it mean to step into a new chapter with purpose and excitement?
- How has God uniquely wired them, and how might that align with a calling to coach?
- What is the path to becoming trained—and what does that training actually look like?
- What does it take to build a coaching practice that’s not just meaningful, but also financially sustainable?
- Who are the people they’re called to serve—and how does that tie into the bigger story God is writing in their life?
- What are the practical steps to move from where they are now to where they feel led to go?
It was a rich conversation—hopeful, honest, and full of possibility.
One particular topic that surfaced was the pathway from coach training to becoming a credentialed coach. It’s something that often doesn’t get as much airtime in early exploration, but it matters. A lot.
I shared several reasons why many coaches eventually choose to pursue credentialing:
- It provides a natural next step in development. Credentialing isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a growth journey. It challenges and refines your coaching skills in a way that builds both competence and confidence.
- It affirms your skill and signals credibility. For potential clients, especially those new to coaching, a credential can be a reassuring sign that you’ve been trained, assessed, and held to a standard of excellence.
- It may be required in your niche. In corporate settings or with experienced coaching clients, credentialing is often expected. It’s becoming increasingly common among discerning buyers who understand what high-quality coaching looks and feels like.
- It helps protect the integrity of the profession. Coaching is a beautiful, transformational field—but it’s also unregulated. Anyone can create a website and call themselves a coach. Credentialing isn’t a perfect safeguard, but it does raise the bar and helps maintain the trustworthiness of coaching as a profession.
Our time on the porch ended with gratitude—for the sunshine, for the signs of spring, and for the sacred space of discernment. These conversations remind me that coaching isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. A journey. A partnership with God in helping others move toward growth, clarity, and purpose.
One of the unique elements of CCNI’s 3 levels of credentialing (CCC, CPCC, CMCC) is the Christian faith integration. Would a CCNI credential make sense for you?
