Performance Coach Certification Program
iPEC®'s ICF-accredited Coach Training Program offers a comprehensive and immersive learning experience that has helped thousands of people around the world become certified coaches.
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Performance Coach Certification Program
iPEC®'s ICF-accredited Coach Training Program offers a comprehensive and immersive learning experience that has helped thousands of people around the world become certified coaches.
How do you become a certified performance coach?
Complete an ICF-accredited coach training program, practice with real clients, and add performance-focused training if you want it. iPEC®’s Coach Training Program is ICF Level 2 accredited, with 160 training hours, and no prior coaching experience is required.
iPEC® produces the most powerful performance coaches in the world, with 27+ years of coach training, 25,000+ graduates, and one of the first programs accredited by the ICF.
- Train in three live 3-day modules over 7–9 months, part-time, in person or virtual, with 10 hours of mentor coaching.
- Earn your Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) certifications. The ELI-MP lets you give the Energy Leadership Index® assessment to your clients.
- Add the optional COR.E® Performance Dynamics track for 40 hours of performance-focused training.
- For an ICF credential, log the client coaching hours ICF requires, then apply.
Start with Coaching Fundamentals, see class dates and locations, or talk with an admissions coach.
Updated November 2026
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Life Coaching
Help clients identify their dreams, recognize what's standing in their way, navigate transitions, and create happier, more passion-filled lives.
Executive and Leadership Development Coaching
Coach accomplished executives to recognize and shift common stress factors, energy drains, and challenges among organizational leaders.
Health and Wellness Coaching
Support clients as they develop healthier habits and lifestyles, whether they're adjusting after an illness or navigating specific health goals.
Sports and Performance Coaching
Powerfully support the success of anyone whose life and work involves performances—including leaders, performing artists, professors, and sales professionals alike.
What Is a Performance Coach?
Much like a sports coach helps an athlete develop and excel in their sport, a performance coach helps high-achieving individuals manage their mindsets and maximize their efforts to reach their peak potential—on the field, the stage, at work, and at home—with more calm and focus.
If you're passionate about helping others awaken their full potential, becoming a certified performance coach is a deeply rewarding path. High achievers often face immense pressure to succeed and meet the expectations placed upon them by both themselves and others. As a performance coach, you’ll have the opportunity to guide clients through that pressure, helping them manage stress in healthy ways while achieving their goals.
You’ll empower them to set clear goals, master time management, and break through internal barriers like self-doubt or burnout. Whether in the context of career growth, personal life, or creative endeavors, you'll be a catalyst for clients to cultivate lasting habits, gain confidence, and consistently perform at their best.
As a performance coach, you might work with clients to:
Become a Certified Performance Coach With iPEC®
The iPEC® Coach Training Program gives you the coaching skills, experience, and tools to be able to coach anyone, on anything, at any time.
You'll attend three live training modules with self-study in between, learn iPEC®'s Core Energy Coaching™ methodology, and earn two industry-recognized certifications in 7–9 months.
Want to go even deeper? You'll have the option to enroll in our advanced COR.E® Dynamics program and earn an optional third certification as a COR.E® Performance Dynamics Specialist, complete with 40 additional hours of niche-specific training, a deeper dive into the Core Energy Coaching™ methodology, and access to over 200 downloadable assignments and exercises.
iPEC® Coach Training Program Features
iPEC®’s ICF Accredited Coach Training Program gives you everything you’ll need to be a successful performance coach. Whether you earn your coach certification online or in person, you can expect:
At a glance
- Accreditation: ICF Level 2, with 160 ICF-accredited training hours
- Format: three live 3-day modules, about 3 months apart, in person or virtual
- Length: 7–9 months, part-time
- Certifications: Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and ELI-MP, with an optional COR.E® Performance Dynamics Specialist credential
- Requirements: 18 or older, with a high school diploma or equivalent. No prior coaching experience required.
- Tuition: $9,995, which includes Coaching Fundamentals. The optional track is $1,995.
- Experience: 27+ years of coach training and 25,000+ graduates
- Next step: see the full program, check class dates and locations, or start with Coaching Fundamentals.
Attend 3 live, interactive training modules that last 3 days each and are spaced 3 months apart—with self-study, live webinars, and practical skill-building in between.
We provide our students with a safe space to practice and receive feedback, so you can graduate with everything you need to begin your coaching practice with maximum confidence.
Learn iPEC®’s signature Core Energy Coaching™ methodology for getting to the root of your clients’ challenges and creating sustainable change.
In addition, become trained and certified to use the Energy Leadership Index® (ELI) assessment, a research-backed assessment tool that helps clients tangibly understand how they show up in different areas of their life. As a certified practitioner, you’ll use the ELI to help clients expand their self-awareness and make transformative changes in their health, wellbeing, and all aspects of their lives.
Receive individualized coaching feedback from an ICF-credentialed coach who will offer strategies and suggestions to refine your coaching skills and uncover your natural gifts. You’ll complete 10 hours of mentor coaching, including one-on-one sessions with your iPEC® Mentor Coach, where you’ll get real-time feedback on your skill development.
At the heart of your experience lies our highly-trained Lead Trainers, all of whom are masters of the Core Energy Coaching™ curriculum, so you can be sure you're receiving the same world-class experience, no matter who’s delivering the material.
iPEC®’s 14 lead trainers are all ICF MCC or PCC credentialed.
With 20+ years as an ICF-accredited coach training program, iPEC® stands out in the world of coach training with accreditations and partnerships that show the world you’ve received the highest-quality training.
Students Graduate with two certifications in 7–9 months: Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP).
When you complete the iPEC® Coach Training Program, in addition to two certifications you’ll also earn:
- 67 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
- 70 Credit hours toward HRCI recertification
- 120 Credit hours towards Board Certified Coach (BCC) credential recertification
Your tuition includes access to a massive resource library fully stocked with specialized tools, templates, wisdom, and ready-made course materials, so you’ll be fully equipped to thrive as a professional coach, without starting from scratch.
We’ve designed our coach training to be as useful and impactful for adult learners as possible, with plenty of flexibility built in. Choose the environment that’s best for you, with options like in-person vs. virtual modules, midweek vs. weekend training, and flexible timing for your self-study assignments.
COR.E® Performance Dynamics Specialist Features
As an iPEC®-trained COR.E® Performance Dynamics Specialist, you’ll master how to support high achievers in setting clear goals, mastering time management, and breaking through internal barriers like self-doubt or burnout. You’ll also deepen your ability to recognize and shift common stress factors, energy drains, and challenges—both in others and yourself.
When you enroll in this optional program, you'll:
Earn an optional third certification as a COR.E® Performance Dynamics Specialist.
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Receive 40 additional hours of on-demand, niche-specific training.
Dive into the COR.E® Dynamics curriculum, featuring a framework of the 10 Core Disciplines of High Potential and Performance to help clients explore how to make profound and lasting shifts in their life using their own personal success formula.
Gain access to over 200 downloadable ready-made assignments and exercises, sample scripts and templated content you can use with clients, and customizable presentations to help you look (and feel!) like the confident, credible coach you are.
Ready to become a certified performance coach?
We're ready to support you!
Wondering If a Performance Coach Certification with iPEC® is For You?
Download the complete program guide to learn more about what the world-class iPEC® Coach Training Program is really like, and how it can help you get where you want to go.
You’ll get access to all the details, including:
Specialize in Performance Coaching through our COR.E® Dynamics Curriculum
With its exclusive curricula and niche-specific tools and skills, COR.E® Dynamics helps performance coaches increase their impact (and revenue!), attract their ideal clients, and excel as industry leaders.
This is not a cookie-cutter approach to coach training. It’s uniquely designed to help you support your clients in creating their own personal formula for success and becoming an expression of themselves at their best. (Not to mention, you’ll get to experience a sense of fulfillment unlike anything you’ve experienced before.)
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iPEC®’s Coach Training Program was one of the first to be accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF)—and for 27+ years, we've been breaking new ground in the coaching industry.
Core Energy Coaching™
Inside our Coach Training Program, you will be immersed in the transformative Core Energy Coaching™ curriculum throughout the course of three live modules, in addition to diving deep into Energy Leadership® and the role it can play in your overall development.
Our proprietary Core Energy Coaching™ methodology goes beyond the methods of traditional coaching, offering a proven path for getting to the root of clients’ challenges and creating sustainable transformation. Founded on more than 10,000 hours of research and application over 30 years, this is the foundation of coaching you want.
Core Energy Coaching™
Inside our Coach Training Program, you will be immersed in the transformative Core Energy Coaching™ curriculum throughout the course of three live modules, in addition to diving deep into Energy Leadership® and the role it can play in your overall development.
Our proprietary Core Energy Coaching™ methodology goes beyond the methods of traditional coaching, offering a proven path for getting to the root of clients’ challenges and creating sustainable transformation. Founded on more than 10,000 hours of research and application over 30 years, this is the foundation of coaching you want.
CPC
Master the coaching fundamentals
ELI-MP
Become certified to administer the ELI assessment
COR.E® Dynamics
Specialize in one of four in-demand niches
Earn 2 Certifications, Plus an Optional Third
Each of these certifications provides something unique and infinitely valuable on its own, but their power is greatest when combined by completing both the iPEC® Coach Training Program plus COR.E® Dynamics. Each certification represents a critical step on the journey to unlocking your full potential as a performance coach—and as a human being.
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Establish foundational skills and tools to help shift your clients from functional to thriving
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Facilitate conscious energy shifts and sustainable change
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Connect those you work with to their inner purpose and passion, so they can achieve their outer goals and desired actions
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Better understand how someone experiences the world
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Help those you work with understand how they show up energetically, especially when under stress
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Add an externally validated, statistically reliable tool to your toolbox to win over even the biggest skeptics
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Skyrocket your coaching business or career growth
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Specialize in one of four growing, in-demand fields
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Gain access to incredible, ready-to-use tools and content for individual clients or the teams you lead
Master the coaching fundamentals
-
Establish foundational skills and tools to help shift your clients from functional to thriving
-
Facilitate conscious energy shifts and sustainable change
-
Connect those you work with to their inner purpose and passion, so they can achieve their outer goals and desired actions
Become certified to administer the ELI Assessment
-
Better understand how someone experiences the world
-
Help those you work with understand how they show up energetically, especially when under stress
-
Add an externally validated, statistically reliable tool to your toolbox to win over even the biggest skeptics
Specialize in one of four in-demand niches
-
Skyrocket your coaching business or career growth
-
Specialize in one of four growing, in-demand fields
-
Gain access to incredible, ready-to-use tools and content for individual clients or the teams you lead
Do Performance Coaches Need to Be Certified?
Earning your coach certification is the best way to establish a solid foundation and ensure you're both mentally and emotionally equipped to help clients achieve the life and career they desire. Whether you earn your certification through performance coach courses online or in person, you'll unlock the skills needed to assist clients in reaching and living out their professional aspirations. This also helps you grow your coaching practice by differentiating you from competitors and making you more attractive to prospective clients.
Energy Leadership® and the ELI Assessment
In completing the iPEC® Coach Training Program, you'll also receive your Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) designation, which includes completing and learning to administer the Energy Leadership Index® assessment (ELI). The ELI is a research-backed assessment that measures your ability to lead yourself and others to take positive, productive, and sustainable action in their lives. Best of all, it produces a tangible result by giving you awareness about who you are and your level of engagement in the world.
Plus, bonus! Take the power of Energy Leadership one step further with the SCOPE® Mobile Assessment App. When you complete the optional COR.E® Dynamics program, you’ll gain access to this advanced tool you can utilize with clients to measure their in-the-moment energy around a specific task, and prescribe actions to increase performance.
Energy Leadership® and the ELI Assessment
In completing the iPEC® Coach Training Program, you'll also receive your Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) designation, which includes completing and learning to administer the Energy Leadership Index® assessment (ELI). The ELI is a research-backed assessment that measures your ability to lead yourself and others to take positive, productive, and sustainable action in their lives. Best of all, it produces a tangible result by giving you awareness about who you are and your level of engagement in the world.
Plus, bonus! Take the power of Energy Leadership one step further with the SCOPE® Mobile Assessment App. When you complete the optional COR.E® Dynamics program, you’ll gain access to this advanced tool you can utilize with clients to measure their in-the-moment energy around a specific task, and prescribe actions to increase performance.
The iPEC® Difference
The iPEC® Coach Training Program was one of the first to be accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and for 27+ years, we’ve been breaking new ground in the coaching industry.
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Today, more than 25,000 powerful coaches around the world bear the iPEC® credentials—and are using them to make an impact in communities and organizations worldwide.
There are many accredited coach training companies out there today, each with its own proven approach backed by different methodologies and techniques designed to deliver lasting results. But iPEC® is different, all because of one thing: our philosophy that there is vast, unrealized potential in every one of us. We believe the key to awakening that potential is to access deeper self-awareness and higher levels of consciousness.
We do this by providing an immersive, transformational experience that can help you master coaching techniques while reaching your personal potential. Our coach training courses are designed to be as useful and impactful for adult learners as possible, and it all begins with the Core Energy Coaching™ methodology.
“iPEC changed my life. Anyone that knows me, knows that I always seek out excellence, and in my opinion, iPEC is the best coaching program out there. The trainers and staff are exceptional, both personally and professionally. The program is rigorous and I walked away with confidence in my coaching abilities that will prove invaluable moving forward. The best part is that I made lifelong friendships. With iPEC, it's not an act—they really care about their students and want to make sure they succeed.”
Starting Your Coaching Practice
From choosing your specialty and structuring your business to determining your coaching style and any needed technology, there's a lot that goes into getting your upstart practice off the ground. But don't worry—once you earn your coaching certification, iPEC® is here to support you with everything you need to be a successful coach and entrepreneur.
Finding the Right Clients
Once your practice is up and running, next comes the ever-necessary step of finding and retaining the right types of clients for you. Whether you prefer in-person networking or marketing from the comfort of your couch, here are ten suggestions to help get you started.
Performance Coach Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a certified performance coach?
iPEC®’s Coach Training Program takes 7–9 months, part-time. The optional COR.E® Performance Dynamics track is self-paced and usually takes 1–4 months.
Recent data from the Lumia annual coaching survey shows that the average pay for coaching ranges from $62,500 to $245,000 per year. Coach Pony indicates that executive coaches can make $100–$400 per hour, while the 2021 Center for Leadership Studies indicates that executive and life coaches can make $150–$650 per session.
Your exact level of earnings will hinge largely upon how you approach the process and what decisions you make regarding your learning and investment opportunities. For more information, read our blog article on The 3 Factors That Influence a Coach's Salary.
There is a high demand for coaches worldwide today. The International Coaching Federation’s 2025 study estimated that the coaching profession generated $5.34 billion in revenue over the past year, up 17% from its 2023 study. And it's expected that the field will continue to expand, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected job growth of 10% through 2031—higher than the national average for all careers.
Performance coach certification is more than worth the investment for a number of reasons. In addition to equipping you with the skills and expertise needed to enjoy a long and successful career in coaching, earning your certification from an ICF-accredited program is also one of the best ways to attract clients in growing your practice.
With iPEC®'s Coach Training Program, you'll gain:
- 160 ICF-accredited hours of world-class coach training
- Two distinct certifications, with the option to add more
- 1-1 feedback and support along the way from your peers and professional coaches certified at the highest levels
- A vibrant, engaged community of fellow coaches
- Access to a massive resource library of content for you to leverage in your role as a leader or business owner
- And much, much more
iPEC® offers 0% monthly payments, paid off before your final training module. How many months you get depends on when you enroll. We’ve helped thousands of students find a payment option that fits so they could start changing their own life and the lives of others as soon as possible. Learn more about tuition and payment options here.