Awakened Academy vs Jay Shetty Certification School
Before the comparison, a quick note. Anyone doing spiritual coaching, in any school or tradition, is doing meaningful work. Helping people live more aligned lives is a calling we honor in everyone who answers it. What follows isn't a verdict on anyone else's program. It's a clarification of who Awakened Academy is here to help, and why a certain kind of called-to-this-work person tends to find their fit with us.
Quick comparison
| Awakened Academy® | Jay Shetty Certification School | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | Certifying since 2012; pioneering since 2004 | 2020s (founded by Jay Shetty) |
| Format | Online, self-paced + live founder calls | Online cohort, structured |
| Accreditation | Proprietary curriculum · CMA · AADP · IMMA · ICF CCE 2026 | ICF Level 1 |
| Founder access | 1-on-1 with Michael Mackintosh + twice-monthly live calls | Faculty deliver the live content |
| Business stack included | Sacred Business Academy + done-for-you website, funnels, scripts, templates | Coaching-skills curriculum; business support is lighter |
| Tuition | From $2,500 Foundational · $9,000+ full program | Premium tier (verify on their site) |
Pricing and accreditation reviewed June 2026. Both programs update pricing periodically. Verify on each program's current site before deciding.
About each program
Awakened Academy®
Founded by Michael Mackintosh (bestselling author, host of Don't Die With Your Song Inside) and co-founded with Arielle Hecht in 2014. The curriculum spans 14 transformation modules across 7 Awakened Pillars and works with the whole person: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, relational, environmental, financial.
What graduates point to: the Soul Purpose methodology, the Sacred Business Academy built into the program (not sold separately), and the working business stack that comes with it (a done-for-you website, marketing funnels, coaching scripts, agreement templates, a meditation library). Every certification student receives 1-on-1 access to Michael plus twice-monthly live calls with the founders.
Accreditation: AADP, CMA, and IMMA externally; proprietary AA Certified seal; ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE) accreditation in approval for 2026.
Jay Shetty Certification School
Jay Shetty is a former monk turned best-selling author (Think Like a Monk), podcaster, and global-stage speaker. His certification school sits inside that brand reach, which gives the credential strong consumer recognition.
The curriculum is structured cohort-based learning with ICF Level 1 accreditation, the most credible ICF tier for new coaches. Faculty deliver the live content.
The brand fits coaches who value ICF accreditation and the marketing benefit of training under a recognisable name. The depth of business-build support (website, funnels, scripts, templates) is lighter than what Awakened Academy includes.
Which should you choose?
The honest answer
If you're drawn to spiritual or holistic coaching specifically, and you want both real training depth and the business systems to actually earn a living from it, Awakened Academy is purpose-built for that. If you're shopping primarily for an ICF credential under a recognisable brand and you're comfortable not having direct founder access, Jay Shetty fits that brief.
Either way, the cost of getting it wrong is real: a credential without clients is a certificate on a wall. The single biggest predictor of whether you build a working practice isn't which name is on the certificate, it's whether your training included real business systems.
Frequently asked questions
Does Awakened Academy have ICF accreditation?
Not yet. AA holds CMA, AADP, and IMMA externally, plus its own proprietary AA Certified seal. ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE) accreditation is in approval and coming in 2026. For the longer position on ICF, see The Truth About ICF Certification.
How much does Jay Shetty's certification cost?
It sits at the premium end of the spiritual-adjacent certification market. Pricing changes periodically, so verify the current number on their official site before deciding.
Will I get direct access to Jay Shetty as a student?
The training is delivered by faculty rather than directly by Jay Shetty. At Awakened Academy, every certification student receives 1-on-1 access to Michael Mackintosh.
Which is better for building a coaching business?
Awakened Academy includes the full business stack as part of the program: Sacred Business Academy plus a done-for-you website, marketing funnels, coaching scripts, agreement templates, and a meditation library. Jay Shetty's program focuses primarily on coaching skills; business systems are lighter. For coaches building a private practice from scratch, this is the difference between graduating with a credential and graduating with a working business.
Can I do both?
Yes. Some coaches stack credentials. The question is sequencing: building depth + business first (Awakened Academy) and adding ICF later if your client base requires it is generally a more cost-efficient path than the reverse.
Train with the spiritual coach certification built around the working practice you're trying to launch
Multi-accredited. 1-on-1 founder access. Built-in business stack. Tuition from $2,500.
See the Program →Or download the brochure with the full curriculum.
