Program Certification Information
To initiate the program certification, we are offering a one-time initial application window: December 8, 2025 – January 25, 2026.
APPLICATION WINDOW: June 1 – June 21, 2026
Thank you for your interest in the application process for becoming a Certified Family Life Coach Program. Family Life Coaching combines the knowledge of
- Family Science and
- Coaching Techniques
There are four possible avenues for program certification:
- Full CFLC program – A credential in this category means a graduate from your program has met the requirements for both coaching proficiency and family science proficiency. Students must take all courses that include required content areas for CFLC certification.
- Partial CFLC program:
- Family Science – A credential in this category means a graduate from your program has met the requirements for family science proficiency. Students must take all courses that include required content areas for CFLC certification.
- Coaching – A credential in this category means a graduate from your program has met the requirements for coaching proficiency. Students must take all courses that include required content areas for CFLC certification.
- Specific CFLC courses – A credential in this fourth category means your program has one or more specific courses that have been certified to meet specific standards for coaching proficiency and/or family science proficiency but does not achieve all the requirements for family science or coaching.
Please review the requirements for each to decide which category meets your program needs. Program certification is good for five years. A report is due after each year. After the fifth year, programs must resubmit materials to ensure they are still covering the requirements. However, any changes during that five years in programming or person of contact must be communicated with FLCA. If you have any questions, please email info@flcassociation.org. Please put “Program Credential” in the subject line.
Certified Program Options
Full CFLC Program
CFLCP-Full
- CFLC-Qualified Contact person
- Curriculum meets all the Family Science Standards requirements
- Curriculum meets all the Coaching Standards
- Annual report required
Download PDF
Specific CFLC Course(s)
CFLCP-Course
- CFLC-Qualified Contact person
- Course(s) identified that meet(s) applicabale standards requirements
- Annual report required
Download PDF
Partial CFLC Program:
Family Science CFLCP-FS
- CFLC-Qualified Contact person
- Curriculum meets all the Family Science Standards requirements
- Annual report required
Download PDF
Partial CFLC Program: Coaching
CFLCP-C
- CLFC-Qualified Contact person
- Curriculum meets all the Coaching Standards requirements
- Annual report required
Download PDF
Program certification is good for five years
Certified Family Life Coach
Bachelor's Degree
and
Proficiency in Family Science
and
Proficiency in Coaching
CFLC
Certified Family Life Coach - Professional
Bachelor's Degree
and
Proficiency in Family Science
and
Proficiency in Coaching
and
At least 50 hours coaching with supervision
CFLC – P
Certified Family Life Coach - Expert
Bachelor's Degree
and
Proficiency in Family Science
and
Proficiency in Coaching
and
At least 100 hours coaching
with supervision
CFLC – E
Applications for Certification
Instructional Videos
FAQS
Applicable courses may be listed under multiple areas. For example, in the Family Science Section, you may have one course that fulfills requirements for both Family Theories and Human Development. Likewise, you may also need to list two courses to cover any given area.
Please compile all the information requested for the program type you are applying for. Please submit all documents as PDFs. There is a limit to the number of documents you can upload. Combine information as necessary. Please do not submit any documents as a photo or series of photos. Please also verify documents are readable. If the required information is difficult to see or read, it will be more difficult for evaluators to assess your program, potentially resulting in delays in the review process or denial of your application.
No. Include necessary information but in this case, more is not better. If the required information gets lost in extra information, it will be more difficult for evaluators to assess your program, potentially resulting in delays in the review process or denial of your application.
Before you submit your application, please review all requirements from the supplemental materials document link provided on the webpage. You will receive notification, however, if the reviewers reject your application for missing particular documents. You will have a short time period to provide the missing information. If you are not able to submit the missing information, then you are welcome to start the application process again when you have all the additional requirements. However, your application fee will not be refunded.
If the reviewers reject your application, you will receive an email detailing the reasons. If the reasons include missing information, you will have a short time period to provide the missing information. If you are not able to submit the missing information, then you are welcome to start the application process again when you have the additional requirements. If your application is rejected for other reasons, you are welcome to start the application process again when you meet the specific requirements as outlined in the rejection email. However, your application fee will not be refunded.
No. The fee is not refundable. Please look over the requirements for the specific program you are interested in on the program certification page. There are documents on the website to help you understand if you meet the requirements. the review panel is not able to review your potential submission documents ahead of time but if you have any specific questions as you gather your documents, please email info@flcassociation.org. Please put “Program Credential” in the subject line.
The contact person must be a current CFLC, CFLC-P or CFLC-E for the full program.
The contact person for the family science option must be a current CFLC, CFLC-P or CFLC-E or have a family
science degree or have a related certification (such as CFLE or LMFT).
The contact person for the coaching option must be a current CFLC, CFLC-P, CFLC-E or full BCC or full ICF.
The contact person for coaching courses must be a current CFLC, CFLC-P, CFLC-E or full BCC or full ICF.
All requirements can be met by a variety of programs. Hour requirements and subject standards can be met by universities or in other formats. Review the four types of program certification and find the one that aligns best with the training you provide.
Full CFLC programs must have at least 270 hours (instructional and independent work time) covering the family science requirements and at least 180 hours covering the coaching techniques requirements.
For the partial certification family science, at least 270 hours (instructional and independent work time) covering the family science requirements will be required.
For the partial certification coaching, at least 180 hours (instructional and independent work time) covering the coaching techniques requirements will be required.
For the individual course certification, at least 90 hours (instructional and independent work time) will be required to cover specific standard areas.
It will elevate your program. Becoming a certified program through FLCA may attract more students interested in becoming family life coaches and help them be more marketable in the workforce.
Upload Your Certification Application
We are currently not accepting Program Certification applications at this time. Please check back in the future.
Upload the completed documents for your certification level (CFLC, CFLC-P, CFLC-E, Recategorization or Recertification). Access the documents needed for each level by clicking on the blue link under “Applications for Certification” on this page.