Certification - Inner Firewalking

Robert Cornish on Training and Certification

Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?

I did as soon as I could, through I haven’t surveyed my clients to see if my certification influenced their hiring me. I think with the number of people who are calling themselves coaches with questionable experience and training that the public will eventually look for certified coaches.

I recommend certifying as soon as you can and I think the ICF has the most credible independent coach certification credential.

Are there any particular schools you would recommend?

The Coaches Training Institute is where I did my primary training, from my connections to other coaches over the years, I would also recommend (in alphabetical order) Academy for Coach Training, Coach For Life, The Newfield Network, and Success Unlimited Network.

Jim Earley on Start Up Training, Experience, and Qualifications

The following is taken from David’s interview with Jim Earley in 10 Super Coaches.

What training, experience and qualifications did you have when you started coaching?

Well, firstly I had some solid academic qualifications. Aside from those – although I had no specific coaching training – by the time I came to coaching professionally, I had:

Taken one college class and one honors program on interviewing.
Taken classes on interpersonal communication and non-verbal communication.
Read every book David McClelland had written on motivation as well as others.
Taken one year-long program devoted to the nature of listening.
Spent five years developing an internal style of coaching as a swimming coach.
Developed an approach to problem solving.