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 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,
- Society for Human Resource Management,
- And the Center for Credentialing Education.
iPEC’s coaching philosophy asserts that individuals are self-experts. Their role is to guide clients in uncovering their underlying thoughts, emotions, and energy to address the root causes of their challenges. iPEC coaches are trained to facilitate sustainable life changes through the Core Energy Coaching™ process, backed by 30 years of consciousness science research.
Who Is the Founder of iPEC?
Source: ipeccoaching.com
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, Licensed Psychotherapist, speaker, and the author of Uncovering the Life of Your Dreams. iPEC is led by Joan Ryan, a PwC Director turned Certified Professional Coach.
The Structure of the iPEC Coaching Certification
iPEC offers comprehensive life coaching certification that includes 320 training hours and practicum and can earn you three distinct certifications.
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 coaching certification program at iPEC costs $13,395. The organization also offers monthly payment plans that can be paid in three or 12 installments.
Fees include:
- All training hours and practicum
- Monthly webinars
- Mentor coaching
- Success coaching
- All course materials
iPEC also offers loans to select candidates from the US with a 9.5% interest rate. For more detailed information on tuition, you can contact their team.
Real 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, 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 at iPEC. This anonymous reviewer on Reddit has also highlighted that although her cohort was pretty large for a certification program (40 people), she had the chance to interact with everyone.
A student named Todd mentioned that participants are put into real-life coaching scenarios from day one, which helps them feel ready to start their practice right after graduation.
iPEC currently has a 3.4 rating on Trustpilot (with 4 reviews) and a 4.8 average on Google (with 40 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.
An anonymous Reddit contributor mentions how the methodology of iPEC isn’t trauma-informed. This is especially problematic because the institution offers specialized health and wellness coaching training.
Some participants have called their experience with mentor coaches at iPEC “frightening,” “rude,” and even “abusive.”
This attendee also mentioned that the training relied on peer-to-peer learning with other students who weren’t qualified coaches lacking sufficient staff support.
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 were shared within the last year, 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. 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, over two hundred. With an average rating of 4.8, it seems that iPEC would be highly rated amongst students. However, if you read the reviews, most are submitted for a trading company, not iPEC Coaching.
We’re not sure what went down here, but since many coaches only look up overall course ratings, this is misleading information to be aware of.
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 $13,395 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 we did while researching other certification programs.
Conclusion
The majority of online reviews about iPEC are positive, but there are several red flags that seem concerning for a well-established institute. 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.
If there’s one thing that you don’t want to deal with when starting your coaching business is manual client management. Paperbell automates your workflow from contracts and scheduling to payments in one simple system.
This way, you can focus on your clients while your business runs smoothly in the background. Claim your free Paperbell account now.
Sources:
