The following is taken from David’s interview with Anna Dargitz in 10 Super Coaches.
What training, experience and qualifications did you have when you started coaching?
The most important qualifications to coach masterfully are self-awareness and advanced communicating skills. There are many ways to obtain them. I chose transpersonal/spiritual psychology training, world myth and religion and family life. I obtained a PhD in clinical psychology. I worked in mental hospitals, outward-bound programs, Jungian psychology training schools and private practice. I was an executive director of a non-profit educational institution, a wife and a mom. Life teaches self-awareness and communicating skills to the ready learner in all kinds of environments.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advice coaches to pursue certification?
Absolutely!! Certification is what distinguishes you from anyone who just calls themselves a coach with no training or experience. We have to uphold certification to keep our profession strong. It is important to join the International Coach Federation and become certified to help keep the integrity of our profession strong in the eyes of our customers.
The International Coach Federation is the only non-profit professional association that is recognized world-wide as credible and sound. It is not aligned with one school, so it is also seen by regulating organizations as a credibile representative of all coaches, regardless of their schooling and background.
The following is an excerpt from David’s independent report on coaching training and certification.
Given the wide range of quality schools that are accredited with the ICF, or at least ‘aligned’ with their competencies (see ‘How to Get ICF Certified’), why not choose one of these schools? This way you always have the option of either sitting you ICF exam with this school, or one day submitting your training record to the ICF and getting ICF certified.
This approach gives you the option of going for ICF certification when you’re done (and have met the remaining criteria).
The following is an excerpt from David’s independent report on coaching training and certification.
Before you look at training, decide whether you will get certified, not get certified, or keep your options open.
A good reason to get certified is because you believe in the philosophy of the training school you choose, and the value of the association you belong to. And, because you want to continually improve your coaching skills.
A bad reason to get certified is because you think that will get you more clients, or in some way it will make you ‘worthy’ as a coach. Our experience has been that it does neither. A certificate might look good on the way, and it feels good to be able to say it – but few coaching clients bother to ask about your school of training or level of certification.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Rachel Pryor in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?
Yes, yes and yes. There are just too many people who set themselves up as coaches – it is getting increasingly clear that those with certifications stand out.
If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?
Certification requires a certain number of client hours, so that might determine how soon you can become certified. I went straight for the highest certification there is (CCMC with CoachInc, and CMC with the International Coach Federation) because I had more than enough client hours (2500+). I certified after 3 years coaching.
The following is an excerpt from David’s independent report on coaching training and certification.
If you’ve done thorough research, this might not be too important to you. However, you’ll have more peace of mind joining with a company that has a generous refund/cancellation policy if you’re not satisfied with the training and/or service. Often this shows they are confident in their service, and that they have a low refund rate.
If they don’t provide refunds at all – it’s possible that it’s to support your commitment. But you need to satisfy yourself that they don’t have a list of complaints against them by disgruntled students.
In any event, it’s a good idea to view testimonials, and even contact current or former students to have a chat before signing up.
