Certificate in Happiness Studies (CiHS)

No. The CiHS earns 40 ICF Recertification CCE credits, which apply toward credential renewal for existing ACC, PCC, and MCC holders. It is not an ICF Level 1 or Level 2 program and does not provide a pathway to an initial ICF credential. Coaches seeking their first ICF credential should complete an ICF Level 1-accredited training program instead.

The entire program is taught by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, every lecture and every live webinar, across all 12 months. Ben-Shahar holds a PhD from Harvard, taught two of the most popular courses in Harvard's history, and has authored books translated into more than 30 languages. The program provides direct access to his thinking and synthesis rather than a faculty interpretation of his work.

SPIRE stands for Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional wellbeing, the five interconnected dimensions Dr. Ben-Shahar synthesized from the happiness science research base. The CiHS curriculum teaches each dimension individually and maps their interaction at four levels: individual, interpersonal, organizational, and national. For coaches, SPIRE provides a practical framework for client conversations about wellbeing that covers more ground than any single-domain tool.

The program costs $3,900 USD. Periodic discounts are available; check happinessstudies.academy for current pricing and any active discount codes before enrolling.

The program is available in eight languages: English, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, and Portuguese. Participants from more than 90 countries have completed it, and the multilingual delivery creates a genuinely international cohort across all language tracks.

Both. Core content is delivered through pre-recorded lectures released weekly, approximately four 15-minute segments per week. Live webinars with Dr. Ben-Shahar are scheduled throughout both courses for direct engagement, questions, and discussion. All recorded content comes with lifetime access after enrollment.

Approximately 3 to 4 hours per week across 12 months. This includes around one hour of pre-recorded lectures, a live webinar, and optional guided meditations, visualization exercises, and journaling. It is structured for working professionals and is not a full-time commitment.

Graduates receive a Certificate in Happiness Studies from the Happiness Studies Academy and 40 ICF Recertification CCE credits. The credits apply toward the 40 hours required for three-year renewal of ICF credentials (ACC, PCC, MCC).

It tells you the coach has completed a 12-month academic program in the science of happiness, taught by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar and organized around the SPIRE model covering Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional wellbeing. They have studied the evidence base on human flourishing across five domains and learned how to apply those frameworks in coaching and facilitation contexts. The certificate earns 40 ICF CCE recertification credits, meaning it is continuing education rather than initial coach training. A coach with this credential may be well-suited for clients whose goals involve wellbeing, life satisfaction, meaning, or balance. Because it is not a core coaching certification, ask also about their foundational coach training and any ICF, AC, or EMCC credentials they hold separately.

Because the Certificate in Happiness Studies is continuing education rather than a core coaching certification, start by asking about their foundational coaching training and any professional credentials they hold, such as an ICF ACC, PCC, AC membership, or similar. Then ask how they apply the SPIRE model in practice: can they describe a specific way they have used it with clients, or is it primarily a conceptual lens? Ask what they typically help clients work toward, to gauge whether their specialty aligns with your goals. If your goals centre on wellbeing, purpose, life satisfaction, or balance, a coach with this credential alongside solid core training may be a strong fit. If your goals are primarily performance or career-focused, confirm they have experience in that territory too.

No. The programme is designed for anyone who works with others in a professional capacity and wants evidence-based happiness science as a working framework. The typical participant is a coach, therapist, HR professional, manager, educator, or healthcare worker. No prior coaching qualification is required. That said, coaches are the most common enrolment group, both because the SPIRE model translates directly into client conversations and because the 40 ICF CCE credits support credential renewal.

None. The programme has no entry requirements and is accessible to anyone with a professional interest in happiness science, regardless of prior training in psychology, coaching, or related fields. The academic rigour is appropriate for working professionals; no prior university-level coursework is assumed. Most participants come with professional experience rather than formal credentials in the field.