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How to Become a Coach

Process to Earn a Membership and the ACC, PCC, or MCC Credential with the ICF

International Coaching Federation (ICF) Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (Level 1)
International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach Training Program (Level 2)
Authorized International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Certification Provider
International Coaching Federation (ICF) Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) Continuing Education Unit (CEU)-Approved Program
Association of Coach Training Organizations (ACTO)

How to Become a Coach - ICF Requirements

When you are starting or continuing the journey of becoming a coach, the Center for Coaching Certification offers different levels of training programs (Professional, Master, Specialist, Foundational Cohort Level 1, Growth Cohort from Level 1 to Level 2, or Advanced Cohort Level 2) to give you options with your time and budget, and also the level of training based on your plans for coaching.

These infographics answer the common questions: How do I get ICF certified? and What do you need to be a certified coach?

Center for Coaching Certification, International Coaching Federation (ICF) How to Become a Coach Requirements

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) requires 60 hours of training to become a member.  In addition to membership, the ICF offers credentialing - think about it this way: becoming a member of the ICF is much like getting an associates degree, and then earning a credential is much like getting a degree, masters, or doctorate.

For other professionals coach training often supports existing careers:

  • The Society for Human Resource Management lists coaching as a sub-competency. 
  • The Association for Talent Development lists coaching as a core competency.
  • AICI recognizes coach training as continuing education for image consultants.
  • Mental Health Professionals, Financial Planners, Attorneys, Project Managers, Consultants, and leaders in general often take coach training to further enhance their skills with a coaching approach.

Becoming a professional coach starts with training.

Training with ICF Membership and Credentials, Steps on How to Become a Coach

Earning a credential with the ICF requires five steps:

  1. Complete the required training hours.
  2. Following the start of your coach training complete the required coaching hours including the appropriate number of paid hours and number of clients.
  3. Complete the required Mentor Coaching hours and recordings of yourself coaching.
  4. Submit your application to the ICF.
  5. Take the Coach Knowledge Assessment with the ICF.

The ICF explains the process for earning a credential at https://coachingfederation.org/credential/?navItemNumber=502

For additional details on each credential click here: ACC, PCC, MCC

To learn more, watch the videos on Coaching Certification and on ICF Membership and Credentialing on our YouTube channel.

Click here to go directly to the video on Coaching Certification.

Training programs are available a-la-carte or in Level 1 and Level 2 credentialing cohorts.

The Center for Coaching Certification training program chart with descriptions of classes, prices and savings

 

The first training program is the ICF-approved Certified Professional Coach - a 30 hour program that serves to initiate people into the coaching competencies and develop coaching skills, plus provide a process.

The second program is the ICF-approved Certified Master Coach program totaling 35 hours (the Certified Professional Coach program is a prerequisite).  The Certified Master Coach combined with the Certified Professional Coach completes the 60 hours required for membership in the ICF, and also the hours required for the first level of credentialing.  The Certified Master Coach and program is a deeper dive into the competencies and takes your coaching expertise to a more advanced level. 

The third program is one of the Certified Advanced Coach (Business, Career, Executive, Life, Wellness) programs totaling 35 hours.  The Certified Advanced Coach programs provide the training focused specifically in different coaching areas. 

The fourth program is the Coaching Experience class of 30 hours that when combined with the Professional, Master, and Specialist certifications completes the training hours for the PCC. 

The Center for Coaching Certification training model is built on the ICF’s Core Competencies while also being informed by multiple other models:

The Center for Coaching Certification training model for the ICF’s Core Competencies

  • Competence: CCC programs build on your existing strengths with ICF's Core Competencies to upgrade your skills, expand awareness of the synergy between being and doing, create positive belief in the client’s ability, and develop powerful coaching language.
  • Confidence: CCC programs build the confidence of the coach in their abilities, provide tools for empowering client confidence, enhance confidence in the coaching process, and incorporate awareness of positivity to support confidence for the long term.
  • Choice: CCC programs focus on the client being their own best expert thus empowering them to discover, decide, and strategize with the coach as their partner.

 

Certified Professional Coach

The ICF-approved 30-hour Certified Professional Coach program is offered in either online with a face-to-face program or completely online.  The core content is based on the ICF's Core Competencies of a coach.  This certification provides a solid foundation in coaching and for further developing the coaching competencies.

Process to enroll in the Certified Professional Coach program a-la-carte:

  1. Complete the application at https://www.coachcert.com/training/certified-professional-coach/apply-now.html
  2. Submit the registration fee of $1995 at https://www.coachcert.com/training/certified-professional-coach/purchase-page.html
  3. Add CenterforCoachingCertification.com and CoachCert.com to your contact list and safe sender list so you can receive all emails.
  4. Watch your email! The “welcome” email will have access to class materials including a Learner’s Guide and the ICF's Core Competencies.

 

Certified Master Coach

The ICF-approved 35-hour Certified Master Coach program is designed to further develop the ICF's Core Competencies of a coach and prepare you for the Coach Knowledge Assessment required for credentialing with the ICF.  Combined with the Certified Professional Coach program it completes the ICF training requirements for membership and for the ACC credential.  The complete program is online.

Process to enroll in the Certified Master Coach program a-la-carte:

  1. Satisfactorily complete the Certified Professional Coach program.
  2. Complete the application at https://www.coachcert.com/training/certified-master-coach/apply-master-coach.html
  3. Submit the registration fee of $2195 at https://www.coachcert.com/purchase-page.html
  4. Add CenterforCoachingCertification.com and CoachCert.com to your contact list and safe sender list so you can receive all emails.
  5. Watch your email! The “welcome” email will have access to all the class materials.

 

Certified Advanced Coach

The ICF-approved 35-hour Certified Advanced Coach programs are advanced training for coaches based on your area of interest. Serving to further advance skills and expertise, these programs offer the additional training hours required for membership and support ACC, PCC or MCC credentialing.  The classes also serve as continuing education for members of the ICF.  The examples and discussion are designed to focus on the specific area of coaching.  Options include:

  • Certified Business Coach Specialist - for those interested in working with small to mid-sized businesses
  • Certified Career Coach Specialist - for a focus on career coaching
  • Certified Executive Coach Specialist - primarily geared toward working with clients in the corporate world
  • Certified Wellness Coach Specialist - working in both health and wellness, this class focuses on both personal wellness
  • Certified Life Coach Specialist - for coaching individuals on their personal life

Process to enroll in the Certified Advanced Coach program:

  1. If you already completed 60 hours of training, register for the Growth Cohort from Level 1 to Level 2.  If you are completing all 125 hours for the PCC credential, register for the Advanced Cohort Level 2.
  2. Complete the application at https://www.coachcert.com/training/credentialing-cohorts/icf-credentialing-cohort-application.html
  3. Submit the registration fee of at https://www.coachcert.com/purchase-page.html
  4. Add CoachCert.com to your contact list and safe sender list so you can receive all emails.
  5. Watch your email!  The “welcome” email will have access to class materials including a Learner’s Guide and more.

 

Coaching Experience Class

The ICF-approved 30-hour Coaching Practicum class is advanced training for coaches seeking additional practice and/or additional training hours for a higher level credential. Serving to further advance skills and expertise, the purpose of the practicum class is to offer the additional practice time, the training hours required for PCC or MCC credentialing, and also as continuing education for members of the ICF.

Process to enroll in the Coaching Experience class:

  1. If you already completed 60 hours of training, register for the Growth Cohort from Level 1 to Level 2.  If you are completing all 125 hours for the PCC credential, register for the Advanced Cohort Level 2.
  2. Complete the application at https://www.coachcert.com/training/credentialing-cohorts/icf-credentialing-cohort-application.html
  3. Submit the registration fee of at https://www.coachcert.com/purchase-page.html
  4. Add CoachCert.com to your contact list and safe sender list so you can receive all emails.
  5. Watch your email!  The “welcome” email will have access to class materials including a Learner’s Guide and more.

 

Process to become a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF):

  1. Review the Membership Requirements at https://coachingfederation.org/professional-coaches/eligibility-requirements Specifically, you must either hold an ICF Credential, have completed 60 hours of training, or be enrolled in 60 hours of training (the Certified Professional Coach and Certified Master Coach programs combined provide the 60 hours of training required).
  2. Complete the application at https://coachingfederation.org/join-icf/
  3. Submit the membership fee to the ICF as required by the ICF.

 

Mentor Coaching

The ICF requires 10 hours of Mentor Coaching following very specific parameters.  For those pursuing a credential the Center for Coaching Certification offers an Mentor Coaching Group package or individual mentor coaching - click here for details.

Offering quality coach training on the ICF's Core Competencies of a Coach, the Center for Coaching Certification (CCC) is the only ICF-approved program accredited by IACET to offer CEUs. CCC provides professional support with a robust suite of tools, post-graduate opportunities and support, and free continuing education.

The Center for Coaching Certification is your best choice for ICF-approved coaching certification with CEU credits, resources, post-graduate opportunities, and free continuing education.

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