Professional Consulting Practice

Prepare to become a consultant with this end-to-end, job-aligned program that teaches you how consulting works in the real world, including how to diagnose problems, design solutions, manage engagements, and deliver measurable outcomes. This consultant course covers core consulting frameworks, stakeholder communication, project planning, and professional deliverable standards used across management, operations, human resources (HR), and other consulting domains.

During this professional...

6 Months / 100 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

CSU Channel Islands

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Learning method

Instructor-led

$1,425USD

Self-paced. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: GES2199

What you will learn

Explain consulting roles, engagement types, and industry standards
Apply structured frameworks (SWOT, PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces) to diagnose and prioritize challenges
Produce core consulting artifacts (proposal, SOW, contract, engagement plan, reports)
Manage engagements (scope, timelines, stakeholders, expectations, change management)
Build/scaled practice fundamentals (positioning, marketing, pricing, invoicing, financial basics)

How you will benefit

Build a reusable portfolio of consulting deliverables for real clients/internal projects
Reduce risk and scope creep with clearer scoping, pricing, and engagement management
Improve credibility via ethics/legal/documentation best practices
Strengthen employability for client-facing problem-solving roles
Gain a repeatable workflow to launch/grow a consulting practice

How the course is taught

Self-paced, online course
6 Months to complete
Open enrollment, begin anytime
100 course hours

Outline

Introduction to Consulting
Foundations of Consulting Practice
The Consulting Process
Managing Consulting Engagements
Ethics, Professionalism & Legal Issues
Practice Development & Business Skills
Tools, Technology & Industry Trends

Instructors & Support

Cho Phillips is a career-training strategist, entrepreneur, and educator with more than 30 years of experience helping people launch careers, build businesses, and succeed as independent professionals. Throughout her work, she has guided entrepreneurs and small business owners in clarifying their value, structuring their services, pricing confidently, and delivering results with professionalism—skills at the heart of a successful career in business.

As the founder of Lovegevity, Inc., Cho has developed and published workforce-focused training programs that bridge real-world business execution with practical skill-building. Cho is also the Executive Director of The Societygal Foundation and serves on its board, supporting education and career development initiatives that help women move forward through training, opportunity, and community.

Ms. Phillips is frequently featured in the media as an expert on Career Training, Professional Certifications, and Continuing Education for Entrepreneurs and Workforce Development, reflecting her long-standing commitment to practical, outcomes-driven education.

She has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Washington Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Las Vegas Sun and a guest on the BBC, NBC, UPN, WB as well as many other local television and radio stations across the United States, Ireland, and the UK. She lives in Northern California with her family.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

No prior experience required. Basic computer literacy, basic business communication, and comfort using email + web-based tools.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.
Mac: macOS 12 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Any word processing application (not included in enrollment).
Microsoft Word Online
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

FAQ

Zippia reports that professional consultants earn an average annual salary of $77,000, based on an estimated hourly rate of $37.00. More experienced consultants can earn well into the six‑figure range—especially those with decades of experience.

A professional consultant is an expert third-party advisor brought in by organizations to help improve operations, solve internal problems, and support strategic business goals. They offer an outsider's perspective, bringing specialized knowledge and experience that companies may not have internally.

No.

After you register, you will receive 6 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."

Professional Consulting Practice

CSU Channel Islands