The following is taken from David’s interview with Leza Danly in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advise coaches to purse certification? If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?
Absolutely. Coaching certification is absolutely necessary. There are many people who are innately gifted coaches, and that’s great. Even so, coach certification offers a maturing of your skill and an opportunity to discover more of the artistry of coaching. I encourage certification through a coaching school and then to also purse credentialing through the ICF.
As for the pace, it’s a personal decision. I think there’s a lot to be said for riding the momentum of moving through the training process and into certification in a short period of time to keep a hard focus on skill and to solidify the self-image as a coach. You need to coach a lot to see yourself as a coach. Seeing yourself as a coach, having that self-image, has everything to do with your ability to create clients. If you drag it out over a long time it can sometimes feel more like a hobby than a profession.
The following is an excerpt from David’s independent report on coaching training and certification.
A breed of training company has emerged which provides your initial training at a discount, in exchange for a percentage of your future coaching revenue. This ongoing payment pays for certain support structures such as business cards, client referrals, ongoing training, and a license to continue using the technology.
By contrast, most non-franchise companies will still provide you with training, and a lifetime license to use their technology, forms, and client programs, for an up front fee.
Be wary of franchises that require a percentage of your income or a high annual fee. Some of them even charge twice as much as ICF certified training programs. You should not go into one of these companies unless they can put you in touch with several coaches who have gone through their program, and earning a good income – and who don’t have a financial interest in you joining!
The following is taken from David’s Independent Report on Coaching Training and Certification.
OK – suppose you’ve decided you want to be an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) or a PCC (Professional Certified Coach). How is it done?
The ICF accreditation for Associate Certified Coach (ACC) requires the following:
- 60 coach-specific training hours. Training must be aligned with the 11 ICF competencies, and at least 48 hours must be interactive with the trainer – either live, or via telephone.
- 250 coaching hours, of which 225 hours must be paid.
- Letters of reference from 5 clients.
- Two letters of reference from ICF accredited coaches who have heard you coach.
- Passing of an oral examination.
The following is taken from David’s Independent Report on Coaching Training and Certification.
While certification is not necessary for a full practice, we do believe it is important for the development of your skill and for the development of the coaching profession. The more certified coaches the stronger the profession, and the better for all of us. If every coach decided to skip certification, we would have lower standards, which might invite public mistrust, and eventually tight Government regulation.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Mike Turner in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?
Yes, if only because, as the profession settles down, organizations will increasingly only use certified coaches.
If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?
From as early as possible, be clear what the accreditation criteria are and work towards satisfying them. That way, if the accreditation question comes up, you can say that you are working towards accreditation and state which of the requirements you have met or are close to meeting.
Are there any particular school(s) you would recommend?
The London-based School of Coaching, which is part owned by the Work Foundation (a charity that campaigns to improve the quality of work life). Whilst the fact that I am on the faculty might suggest that I would be biased, the reason I work with the School is because of the high quality of its work.
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
If you are not going for ICF accreditation, then any school/course which provides effective training may suit you.
However, if accreditation is or will be important to you, you are looking for one of two types of schools:
- A school, which the ICF calls an ACTP, which means it has the ICF official “stamp”, or
- A school whose training is “aligned with the ICF requirements” – also known as the “Portfolio Track” to accreditation. (To be “aligned” the training must be coaching specific, be aligned with the eight training competencies specified by the ICF, and provide at least 125 training hours, of which at least 100 are face-to-face or teleclass training.)
What is the difference? The ICF has made it clear that neither path is easier – you jump through the same amount of hoops, regardless of which path you choose. Choosing an ACTP means you have most of the hoops in the same place, although understandably it comes with a higher price tag.
A word of caution: if your school does not mention the ICF, or specifically that it either has an ACTP or that it meets the requirements of the Portfolio Track to ICF accreditation, there’s a 99% chance it doesn’t.
