Five things to consider before choosing a coach training program:



1. Will you learn from one person, or is the curriculum taught by a group of instructors? Single point of view training programs risk becoming guru-driven social cliques that do not provide a deep enough foundation of skills. Guru-led programs tend to cultivate very loyal followers and a trail of students disillusioned and left behind, with not much in between. 
2. Does the program offer marketing support or marketing training? All the shiny training in the world won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to market your practice. Marketing is an essential element for every successful coach. You want a program that does more than dropping you off at the curb with a certificate, wishing you good luck. 
3. How large is the group you will be training in? Too many coaching programs pack the classes with as many students as possible because the more students, the more money. That said, coach training is intimate and complex. Knowing how many students you will train with will tell you a lot about how much instructor time, one-to-one time, and intimacy you will get in your training. It matters. 
4. Can you afford the training? Will you have to go into debt? Does the program offer a payment or financing plan? If you are going to be left with debt at the end of the program, that may impact how much pressure you feel to build a practice – financial pressure is not fun. There are a lot of high-pressure to-buy tactics in the coach training universe. However, taking on debt is a serious decision. Do it knowing it could be months or even years before you recoup your investment. 
5. What happens if you can’t keep up? Life is unpredictable. You don’t know what the future is going to throw at you. If something goes down in your life and you fall behind or even need to take a leave from your studies, does the program have policies to support you?