I think that people do this in so many ways without having the professional certification so I don't think anyone needs to have it to be coach or guide or motivational influence in someone's life. I think it matters only if someone is planning to do this for a living. However, the cost of life coaches are pretty expensive. I wonder how realistic it is for people who are not in the best financial position who need coaching but can't afford it. I like the idea that it's more informal and can incorporate skill development such as life planning rather than simply giving short term advice. The unfortunate thing for professions like this however, is that too often people are paying you to tell them what they want to hear. Education is a similar path where you're expected to reflect what people feel or think about how things should be rather than help them realize when something they're doing isn't working or isn't effective and needs change. This is where I think therapists have an advantage. They are able to evaluate past and current issues, assess current habits and patterns of behavior, and figure out how it may affect someone's ability to move on and achieve their goals. If I was going to pursue life coaching, I would probably want to be a licensed therapist first, get some experience in the field, and then turn to life coaching.