Certificate in Business and Life Coaching

Not only is this a career that is exciting and satisfying, it is also very lucrative. Business Coaches are in huge demand and can command high incomes.

Course Code: VPS008
Fee Code: CT
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 600 hours
Qualification Certificate
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Business and Life Coaching Certificate
  • Are you unsure whether to be a business coach or life coach?
  • Do you want to start your own coaching business?
  • Not sure where to specialise?
This could be the qualification for you!
 
Study Business Coaching AND Life Coaching.
 
Highly Experienced Tutors.
Study in Your Own Home and In Your Own Time.

Modules

Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the Certificate in Business and Life Coaching.
 Business Coaching BBS304
 Life Coaching BPS305
 
Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 4 of the following 9 modules.
 Business Operations VBS006
 Business Studies BBS101
 Financial (Money) Management BBS104
 Introduction to Psychology BPS101
 Marketing Psychology BPS107
 Careers Counselling BPS202
 Ethics BPS217
 Job Profiling BPS228
 Business Planning BBS302
 

Note that each module in the Certificate in Business and Life Coaching is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.


THE WORLD IS CHANGING!

 
(Thoughts from our principal: John Mason)

The things people buy and the way they are buying them is changing very fast.
Some of these changes may just be fashion cycles (ie. styles of clothing or popular foods going in and out of fashion); but other changes are brought about by more permanent changes to our global marketplace, including:
  • Expanding markets –more people becoming affluent in more countries, as well as a growing global population is increasing both the number of people who buy things and the range of what they are looking to buy.
  • Political changes and globalisation – opening markets in countries that were previously inaccessible – political boundaries are being weakened.

 

Developing Ideas for Businesses

  • Try thinking outside the box.
  • Try thinking ahead.

If you conceive a business now, and launch it in three months; it may be six months before you can achieve significant awareness among a large number of potential customers. If this is your time frame; you need to be developing a business to supply something that will be in demand in six months time….not something that is in demand now.


Primary Industries

Primary industries like mining, forestry and farming, provide the raw materials for products.

Food
People will always want and need food products like meat, vegetables and fruit. The demand for food may not diminish; but there are variables that can be taken advantage of in order to create a unique business opportunity. Here are some ideas:
  • Set up a farm closer to the end user, in order to supply fresher foods to the market in a big city. Hi tech urban farms can be created using technologies such as controlled environments (eg. greenhouses), vertical farming, aquaponics or hydroponics.

  • Introduce products that are not generally available in the market, such as exotic vegetables or fruits.

  • Value add by processing produce to create unique, branded food products.

Mining

Mining can be a costly business to establish. Mining costs are broken down into the costs of exploration, extraction, transportation to processor, processing then distribution to end user. At each step of this process, there may be the opportunity to do things better. Often one of these stages may have prohibitive costs at one point in time; but over time, that situation can change.
Examples:
  • Gold mining that was no longer viable 20 years ago, may become viable again because the price of gold has increased so much.
  • As the supply of a particular mineral is concentrated within one or two countries or controlled by one or two businesses (reducing global competition); the need for other suppliers begins to grow, making new players more viable than before.

Manufacturers

Manufacturers take raw products and create new or improved products.

Distributing

Distributors take raw materials or processed products and move them on to someone who needs them. The environmental impact of transportation is increasingly important; people are increasingly buying on line. These and other changes may change many things about the distribution industry.

Retailing

Retailers take products and sell them to the end user.

Professional Services

This type of business provides expertise to a customer. It depends upon “expert” staff. If the owner already has expertise that is in demand; the start up will be cheaper and easier; otherwise, the owner must employ an “expert”, or take time to develop expertise (eg. by taking a course).

Growth Areas in the Future

Governments in many countries have traditionally provided services in education, transport, defense, health, social welfare, environmental management, and various other things.

Government costs in providing such services have been escalating over the past decade; and look set to continue to escalate. This is partially due to the rise of global terrorism (putting pressure on defense and police budgets), scientific advancements increasing the quality and costs of health care, and population expansion (among other things) causing environmental problems.

Governments are increasingly looking for ways to cut budgets. Certain services will become increasingly non negotiable; while others may need to be increasingly serviced by the private business sector. Examples:

  • If government cannot provide free leisure services, there may be a growth spurt in businesses providing leisure services.
  •  If government cannot provide an adequate level of policing, there may be a growth in private security services.
  • If government cannot afford to fund an adequate level of counselling, education or other services, there may be a growth in self-funded services in such areas.

Other services have traditionally been supplied by businesses – eg. trades, massage, architects, engineering services, environmental consultants, accountants and bookkeepers, personal trainers, child minders.

All of these services are likely to continue being needed in some way, shape or form; but there are many dynamics at play that can change the viability of a particular type of service in the future.

Examples:

Accountants at one point in time, did most of the work people needed to be done in relation to managing money; but they are expensive, so bookkeepers emerged strongly as a “cheaper” way to provide some of the services previously provided by accountants.  Financial Planners also emerged to help ordinary people navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape in the developed world.

Personal Trainers and Computer Games – Personal trainers can be expensive so video game producers created games, such as WiFit to enable people to have a “computerised personal trainer” in their own home.  This created a new market for personal training. A few years ago, a computerised personal trainer would not have been an option, now it is.

Not everyone may be able to set up a computer game like Wifit, but many personal trainers, nutritional experts, life coaches, fitness experts and so on now offer online services, websites and online advice for clients, as a way for clients to access their services and a way for them to offer services to clients across the world (potentially).

Counselling services are another area where the use of technology is changing the industry as cyber-counselling or e-counselling increases. The idea of a counsellor face to face with their client still exists, but some counsellors now also offer online counselling so clients do not have to attend a face to face session, they can retain their anonymity and so on. This is a service that may suit many clients, thus it is a potential growth market for counsellors. As with online personal training, this is something that would not have been available in the past, but now is a new way to deliver a traditional product.

Time Saver Services and Products

Everyone seems to live busy lives today and offering “time saver services” can be a good way to set up your own business. Consider the growth in business such as – gardening, cleaning, childminding, car valeting, house repair, ironing and so on.  Time saver services can be a good way to start a business:
  • the services help people save time
  • often you don’t need a high level of expertise
  • often you do not need a high financial investment
  • these businesses are built upon good service, personal relationships and organisation
  • these businesses do not work for people who cannot keep appointments with 100% reliability.

It does not just have to be a service, think of all the time saver products that are also available today.  Floor cleaners, easy mops, easy dusters, vacuum cleaners or hovers that work themselves!  All of these products were devised by someone and marketed. Not all of them may be successful. Think about all the products you use in your own home or at work that you may not have done 20 years ago. 

Businesses can fail for a number of reasons :

  • lack of marketing knowledge
  • lack of backing capital
  • lack of planning
  • Lack of research into their market – good business people will analyse their market, see if there is sufficient business there for them to grow, see if there is a niche in the market they can fill and so on.
  • Lack of infrastructure to support the business.
  • Lack of personal qualities to make the business succeed – determination, business knowledge, good networking skills and so on.

At a fundamental level, unless the product or service you plan to offer is a good one and has a potential market, then it doesn’t matter how great you are at marketing or planning or research, the product or service just will not sell. 

So before starting any business, it is important to reflect, and seriously consider what you plan to offer. So going back to our initial points, you need to decide:

  1. The scale of business you wish to start.
  2. Whether you will offer services or products (or both).
  3. The amount of resources you want to invest.
  4. The amount of risk you wish to take.
  5. The industry you will operate in.
  6. Your target market.
     

COACHING IS A CAREER FOR THE FUTURE

This course is designed as a first step towards becoming any sort of coach you choose to be.
When you understand the role of a coach and  pair that understanding with some basic business skills; you will have a foundation to move toward establishing yourself, whether as a life coach, business coach, health coach or something else.

Coaches are in some respects a little like a consultant, counsellor, financial planner and even fitness instructor; all rolled into one. Depending upon what type of coach you are though; the emphasis of how you help clients will change.

The "coaching" profession has been a growth industry over recent decades. The type of opportunities are constantly changing in the field of coaching. Just as one type of coach becomes trendy, inventive newcomers to the industry seem to keep inventing new types of coaches.

 
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course is aimed at providing you with a solid understanding in your selected discipline. It has been designed to take 600 hours, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and more. When you complete the course, will have a good understanding of the area/ industry you want to work in.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exams (6 exams) and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Certificate. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Lyn Quirk

M.Prof.Ed.; Adv.Dip.Compl.Med (Naturopathy); Adv.Dip.Sports Therapy
Over 30 years as Health Club Manager, Fitness Professional, Teacher, Coach and Business manager in health, fitness and leisure industries. As business owner and former department head for TAFE, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role as a tutor for ACS.

Jacinda Cole

Former operations manager for highly reputable Landscape firm, The Chelsea Gardener, before starting her own firm. Jacinda has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing, Writing and Education. Jacinda has a B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA.

Adriana Fraser

Freelance writer, businesswoman, educator and consultant for over 30 years. Adriana has written extensively for magazines including free living publications -Grass Roots and Home Grown; and has authored or co authored many books ranging from a biography to books on business and gardening. She holds formal qualifications in education, child care and horticulture and has worked with ACS Distance Education since the mid 1990's.





Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Lyn Quirk

Lyn has 35 years of experience in the Fitness, Health and Leisure Industries. She has a string of qualifications that are far too long to list here; being qualified and registered to teach, coach or instruct a wide range of different sports and other skills.

Lyn established and managed Health clubs at three major five star resorts on Australia's Gold Coast, including The Marriott. She was a department head for a large government vocational college (TAFE), and has conducted her own aquafitness business for many years. Lyn has among her other commitments worked as a tutor for ACS for almost 10 years, and over that time, participated in the development or upgrading of most courses in her fields of expertise.

Yvonne Sharpe

Over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne has travelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades.

David Crothers

David is a graduate of Queens University Belfast, and a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years working experience in corporate and financial roles, both in Australia and other parts of the world. He is currently working as Chief Financial Officer at a diversified business in Sydney where his responsibilities include fiscal and managerial leadership, internal and external reporting, cash management, budgeting, debt funding and productivity improving. While David has worked at several multinational organisations, his current focus is family business management and he is an active participant in international family business conferences. He is also a passionate advocate of education, and currently tutors in a range of business and accounting subjects.

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