iPEC is one of the most well-known accredited coaching certification providers, with tens of thousands of graduates worldwide.
However, not all their past students were fully satisfied with the quality of training and support they received.
To help you decide whether iPEC is the right choice for you, we’ve gathered reviews from real coaches who graduated from the organization. Before diving in, let’s look at what iPEC offers and how it differs from other coach training providers.
What is iPEC?
iPEC Coaching (formerly known as the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) is one of the most widely known life coaching certification providers with programs offered in the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU. With over 25,000 graduates, it has the most accreditations among top life coach training programs.
iPEC has been an International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited program for over 20 years. It’s also recognized by the:
- Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Center for Credentialing Education (CCE)
iPEC’s coaching philosophy asserts that individuals are self-experts. The role of the coach is to guide clients in uncovering their:
- Underlying thoughts
- Emotions
- Energy
Once these are uncovered, the client can address the root causes of their challenges.
iPEC coaches are trained to facilitate sustainable life changes through the Core Energy Coaching™ process, which is backed by 30 years of consciousness science research.
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Who is the Founder of iPEC?
iPEC was founded by Bruce D. Schneider in 1978.
After surviving a devastating car accident, he embarked on a lifelong journey to understand the purpose of his survival and the nature of reality. Through a process he calls “uncovery,” he found many answers and his purpose.
This journey laid the foundation for iPEC, one of the first coach training programs accredited by the ICF. The institute shares Bruce’s passion for consciousness-based coaching practices and his mission to foster a world of oneness where individuals can fulfill their unique potential.
Today, Bruce is known as a:
- Master Certified Coach (MCC)
- Licensed Psychotherapist
- Speaker
- Author of Uncovering the Life of Your Dreams
iPEC is led by Joan Ryan, a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Director turned Certified Professional Coach (CPC).
The Structure of the iPEC Coaching Certification
Let’s go through the iPEC coaching program details before checking out its reviews.
iPEC offers a comprehensive life coaching certification that includes 320 training hours and practicum. 160 of those hours are ICF-accredited.
It can earn you three distinct certifications, including ICF accreditations.
The curriculum is structured in four phases:
- Phase 1: Undergraduate training focusing on the foundation of the Core Energy Coaching™ approach. It can be completed in about 7-8 months.
- Phase 2: Specialized training in your preferred coaching niche (leadership coaching, health and wellness coaching, and so on). It can be completed in about 3-4 months.
- Phase 3: Integrating what you’ve learned into your daily life and career.
- Phase 4: Starting your own coaching business.
Classes in person in several locations involve role-play exercises, writing prompts, and simulations.
You’ll also receive personalized feedback and support from your peers and mentor coaches throughout the program.
How Much Does Certification at iPEC Cost?
At the time of publishing this article, the cost of iPEC coaching program and its certification breaks down as follows:
- Coaching Fundamentals: $1,995
- The iPEC Coach Training Program (includes Coaching Fundamentals): $9,995
- Advanced COR.E® Dynamics: $1,995
- Business Development: $1,995
The organization also offers monthly payment plans, including a visual representation on their tuition page.
For example, let’s say you were to get the iPEC Coach Training Program and Business Development add-on. You can toggle between Pay in Full or Pay Monthly to see how much each option will cost you.
If you were to get the core iPEC Coach Training Program, Advanced COR.E® Dynamics, and the additional Business Development course, it would cost you $13,235 USD.
Your tuition will include:
- All training hours and practicum
- Monthly webinars
- Mentor coaching
- Success coaching
- All course materials
You’ll save $250 when you pay your tuition in full. If you qualify, you can also pay in monthly installments at 0% interest.
The final option is to go through their financing partner, Coach Financing, to get long-term monthly payments for as little as $350 per month.
For more information about how tuition works, you can chat with iPEC’s admissions team.
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Real iPEC Coaching Program Reviews From Coaches
iPEC provides comprehensive training with a practical approach. In comparison to other ICF-accredited certifications, they offer:
- A higher number of training hours
- A hybrid learning model with in-person classes combined with self-paced learning
- Specialized training based on your coaching niche
However, these advantages come with a hefty price tag, which averages three times the cost of other accredited coaching certification options.
While there are a lot of positive reviews about iPEC online, some students weren’t satisfied with the value they received.
Here are some reviews from real coaches who have taken certification programs at iPEC.
Please note that we haven’t taken this particular certification ourselves. If you want to speak to program graduates, we suggest you connect with them through LinkedIn.
Interactive Classes
Several students appreciated the practical and hands-on nature of the classes with iPEC coaching. A reviewer on Reddit has also highlighted that although her virtual cohort was pretty large for a certification program (40 people), she had the chance to interact with everyone.
Many reviewers use the term “life-changing” when describing the experience. For instance, a reviewer named Leanne mentions how both her and her clients love the Energy Leadership Index Assessment:
iPEC currently has a 2.5 rating on Trustpilot (with 6 reviews) and a 4.7 average on Google (with 42 reviews).
Red Flags in Facilitation
One negative review doesn’t mean a certification isn’t up to par. However, seeing the same red flags multiple people share on various platforms raises some concerns.
A Reddit contributor mentions that there isn’t sufficient business support and that you need to pay extra money to use the Energy Leadership Index Assessment. They also mention how the training material is crammed into very intensive sessions.
The same feedback is shared in a Trustpilot review, mentioning that for the price paid, iPEC instructors shove too much information into too little time. What’s even more concerning is how this reviewer mentions the lack of trauma-informed coaching, which became problematic for this student.
Some participants have called their experience with mentor coaches at iPEC “frightening,” “rude,” and even “abusive.”
This reviewer mentioned a lack of accountability and little to no support once you join the certification program.
iPEC isn’t new. The organization has been around for decades and has trained tens of thousands of students worldwide.
This gave the faculty ample time to listen to student feedback, address concerns, and improve the program.
However, all of these reviews above were shared within the last few years, and, as the participants mentioned, the staff didn’t address their complaints.
The iPEC team couldn’t justify the program’s high tuition fees either. When they reached out to coach and blogger Rob Kish for a feature, he inquired:
He never heard back from them.
Note that one person’s bad experience doesn’t necessarily mean a program can’t benefit others. But with the cost of the iPEC coaching program, we encourage you to consider which aspect of a coaching certification is important and seek additional information from students who have completed it.
Watch Out for Fake Reviews
Facebook reviews is the only platform that has more than a handful of reviews about iPEC. It currently has 235 reviews, 94% of which are recommended.
From looking at this, it seems that iPEC would be highly rated amongst students. However, Facebook Reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt.
Previously, Facebook Reviews functioned similarly to Google or Trustpilot reviews by using a five-star rating system. However, this system changed a few years back.
Nowadays, a reviewer can either mark a review as “Recommended” or “Not Recommended.” So what happens to old reviews that used the star rating system?
Well, it can get a bit wonky.
For example, this comment mentions not having gone through the certification process yet, and doesn’t say anything negative:
Or this one, which simply asks a question rather than offering a review:
Neither of these should really count as reviews at all.
All of this is to say: the 94% recommendation rate may be skewed. Feel free to read through the reviews yourself and use your discernment.
Personal Growth as an Added Benefit
Several past graduates of iPEC appreciated the energy-centered approach of the program.
They felt that the methodology didn’t just help them become coaching professionals but also gave them a chance to grow as a person.
But does personal growth justify a five-figure price tag?
While this feedback is promising, it mostly comes from coaches without experience with other coaches’ training or working with clients. That’s fair enough, given that most students sign up to get foundational training in this field.
However, we’ve not seen any positive reviews from more experienced professionals with a wider perspective on coaching methodologies, unlike how we did while researching other certification programs.
Launch Your Business As A Certified Coach
The majority of online reviews about iPEC are positive, but there are several red flags that seem concerning for a well-established institute, including:
- Lack of proper support
- Inadequate business training
- Lack of trauma-informed methodology
If you’re looking for hands-on training that prepares you to start your coaching practice while helping you grow as a person, iPEC could be a good choice. We encourage you to do your own research and compare alternatives before you make your final decision.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.
