Light University

What Light University does

Light University is the online education division of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), operating a direct-to-consumer platform that delivers certification and continuing education programs to Christian coaches, counselors, ministry professionals, and care providers. The platform is organized around IBCC (International Board of Christian Care) certification pathways spanning 20+ programs across core domains including Professional Life Coaching, Mental Health Coaching (with Youth, Professional, and Spanish-language specializations), Brain Health and Neuroscience Coaching, Human Flourishing Coaching, Military and First Responder Coaching, Biblical Counseling, Crisis Response and Trauma Care, Marriage and Family, Addiction and Recovery Coaching, and a Continuing Education catalog. Programs are 24 or 42 hours of video-based instruction, grant 24 CEU credits, and culminate in downloadable certificates with optional IBCC credentialing at a $199 application fee.

The underlying technology stack is conventional rather than proprietary: WordPress powers the marketing site and e-commerce checkout via WooCommerce, TalentLMS serves as the learning management system for video delivery, progress tracking, and certificate generation, HubSpot handles email automation and visitor tracking, and Google Analytics/Site Kit provides web analytics. The platform integrates Affirm for installment payment plans on higher-priced certifications. All enrollment is self-service online with no disclosed B2B, enterprise, or reseller channels, and customer support operates Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:30pm EST from a Virginia mailing address (P.O. Box 739, Forest, VA). The faculty roster combines academics from Harvard (Tyler VanderWeele, Matthew Lee), Duke (Harold Koenig), and Baylor with AACC-affiliated practitioners, and the Human Flourishing program is explicitly grounded in the Global Flourishing Study collaboration with Harvard, Baylor, and Gallup.

The business model is one-time tuition purchase rather than subscription, with prices clustered at scholarship rates of $179-$249 plus $23-$46 technology and support fees, and regular tuition of $598-$644. Revenue streams are concentrated in certification program tuition, continuing education course fees, and bundled technology fees; there is no disclosed recurring revenue component beyond Affirm-driven payment plans. The company is privately held under the AACC nonprofit umbrella with no venture or private equity investment disclosed, and no public revenue figures are available. Scale indicators include 6,000+ cumulative enrollments in the Professional Life Coaching Program and a global online footprint, with international collaboration implied through the Harvard/Baylor/Gallup Global Flourishing Study.

Name

Light University

Legal name

Light University

Website

https://lightuniversity.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Light University is the online education division of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), offering self-paced Christian coaching and counseling certification programs mapped to IBCC credentialing for individual learners globally via a WordPress/TalentLMS e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Professional Certification Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAM

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAC

Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAF

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

Keywords

• Online certification programs
• Christian counseling education
• Professional coaching training
• Continuing education courses
• Biblical counseling courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Certification Program Tuition: Light University generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for its certification programs. Programs are offered at discounted scholarship rates (e.g., $199-$249 plus tech fees) or full tuition ($598-$644). Payment plans through Affirm are available for certain programs. Revenue is one-time per program enrollment with 365-day access granted.
2. Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Programs provide continuing education credits (typically 24 CE hours) that may be applied toward professional credentialing requirements, adding value proposition to certification programs.
3. Technology and Support Fees: Additional fees charged for technology access and support services (ranging from $23-$46 per course), typically bundled with scholarship pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Light University is an online education platform that delivers certificate and diploma programs for Christian coaches, counselors, ministry leaders, and care professionals. Programs integrate biblical principles with evidence-based coaching methodologies, offer 24-42 hours of video-based training, provide continuing education credits (CEUs), and serve as educational pathways toward IBCC (International Board of Christian Care) professional certification. Courses are delivered through a TalentLMS-powered learning management system with 365-day self-paced access.

Product overview

Light University is an online educational platform offering certificate and diploma programs for Christian coaches, counselors, and care professionals. The platform operates as a unified learning management system (TalentLMS) with multiple specialized certification tracks. Core offerings include Professional Life Coaching Certification, Mental Health Coaching Programs (including Youth, Professional, and Spanish-language tracks), Brain Health and Neuroscience Coaching, Human Flourishing Coaching, Military and First Responder Coaching, Crisis Response and Trauma Care, Marriage and Family Programs, and Biblical Counseling. The platform also provides a Continuing Education catalog with CEU credits, free courses like Spiritual and Behavioral Health First Aid, and a Bookstore. Programs range from 24 to 42 hours, offer IBCC certification pathways, and integrate biblical principles with evidence-based coaching methodologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brain Health and Neuroscience Coaching Certification Program A 24-hour certification program that equips Christian coaches and counselors to understand how the brain shapes emotions, behavior, and growth, supporting mental and behavioral health and resilience. Provides 24 CE credits and serves as an educational pathway to IBCC certification.
• Human Flourishing Coaching Certification Program A 24-hour certification program that equips coaches to help others thrive emotionally, relationally, and spiritually through biblically grounded and evidence-informed strategies, based on the Global Flourishing Study's six key dimensions of flourishing. Provides 24 CE credits and pathway to IBCC certification.
• Military and First Responder Coaching Certification Program A 24-hour certification program that equips coaches to support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of active duty military, veterans, first responders, and their families through faith-based and evidence-informed coaching strategies. Provides 24 CE credits.
• Professional Life Coaching Certification Program A 24-hour certification program with 24 CEU credits that equips coaches to integrate biblical principles with professional coaching practice and provides an educational pathway for IBCC certification. Over 6,000 coaches enrolled.
• Biblical Counseling Certificate Program A certificate program that provides foundational knowledge for helping others using biblical principles combined with counseling wisdom and insights.
• Crisis Response, Trauma Care & Suicide Prevention Program A program that trains individuals to provide immediate assistance to emergency and disaster relief agencies with effective Christian leadership and biblically-based principles.
• Marriage and Family Program A program designed to help clients preserve and promote the institution of marriage, family and the biblical principles on which they are based.
• Mental Health Coaching Program A program that helps clients obtain and maintain stability, manage difficult symptoms, rebuild relationships, and find purpose for living, with multiple specialization tracks.
• Continuing Education An extensive catalog of courses offering continuing education credit for professional counseling licenses, including CE-approved courses for mental health professionals.
• Spiritual and Behavioral Health First Aid A free 9-lesson course that combines biblical authority, evidence-based strategies, and trauma-informed care to help become a trusted source of support in church and community settings.
• Psychological Trauma First Aid A 4-hour entry-level training built around biblical principles, research-informed skills, and a clear framework for responding when someone is in crisis or distress. Designed for church teams, ministry volunteers, and care teams.
• Recovery Alive Coaching Certification Specialized coaching certification focused on recovery and addiction support services.
• Sexual Addiction and Recovery Coaching Specialized certification program focused on sexual addiction recovery coaching.
• Trauma-Informed Care and Coaching Certification Certification program focused on trauma-informed care approaches for coaches and counselors.
• Youth Mental Health Coach Certification Program A 42-hour certification program that equips coaches to support parents and caregivers navigating their child or adolescent's mental health challenges through biblically based, clinically informed training.
• Professional Mental Health Coach Certification Program A 24-hour advanced certification program providing professional credentials to confidently support clients facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction while building a sustainable coaching business or joining a clinical practice.
• Coach de Salud Mental (Spanish Mental Health Coaching) Spanish-language mental health coaching program offering the same certification pathway for Spanish-speaking coaches.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ coaches enrolled in Professional Life Coaching Program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLight University is the online education division of AACC. The partnership provides institutional credibility, faculty connections, and access to the broader Christian counseling professional network. AACC President Dr. Tim Clinton serves in leadership roles supporting Light University programs.
• International Board of Christian Care (IBCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLight University programs provide educational pathways meeting IBCC certification requirements. Graduates can apply for professional credentials as Certified Christian Life Coaches, Human Flourishing Coaches, Brain Health Coaches, and other IBCC certifications through a separate application process ($199 fee).
• Harvard University (Human Flourishing Program)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Tyler VanderWeele (Director of Human Flourishing Program at Harvard) and Dr. Matthew Lee (Director of Flourishing Network at Harvard) serve as faculty instructors. The Human Flourishing program is built on research from the Global Flourishing Study collaboration.
• Baylor University (Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Harold Koenig serves as faculty (also Director of Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke University). The Global Flourishing Study collaboration includes Harvard, Baylor, and Gallup, informing Light University's Human Flourishing curriculum.
• Duke University (Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Harold Koenig (Director of Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke) serves as a key faculty member teaching multiple courses including Brain Health, Human Flourishing, and Happiness curricula.
• Global Flourishing Study (Harvard/Baylor/Gallup)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Global Flourishing Study is a groundbreaking international research initiative informing Light University's Human Flourishing Coaching Program. This collaboration provides research-backed frameworks for the six key dimensions of human flourishing.
• TalentLMScoreTechnology or IntegrationTalentLMS is the learning management system used to deliver all Light University courses. Students access video content, track progress, and receive certificates through the TalentLMS platform integrated with Light University accounts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Light University