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Why Is It Important To Have A Coach That Is ICF Certified?

Why Is It Important To Have A Coach That Is ICF Certified?

Certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF) is extremely important when considering which coach to hire. It means the coach:

• Has received professional training from an ICF accredited coach training school specifically in coaching skill
• Has demonstrated a proficient understanding and use of the coaching competencies as outlined by the ICF
• Is accountable to the ethics and standards set forth by the ICF.

The ICF is a consortium of professional coaches and coach training organizations that have joined together under it's auspices to shape and govern the profession of coaching. The skills sets, competencies, ethics and standards are a collective agreement between coaches from all over the world who have made the commitment to maintain the very highest standards you would expect from any other profession. The ICF is to coaches what the American Medical Association (AMA) is to doctors or the American Psychological Association (APA) is to Psychologists, therapists and counselors.

Since coaching is a new profession (about 10 years formally) and certification and licensure are not yet required in most states in the U.S. or in other countries, there are many individuals who are calling themselves coaches today. Many who call themselves coaches have not been formally trained in specific coaching skills and are transferring skill sets from other professions into their coaching. Often this results in an inadequate or ineffective coaching experience for clients.

Coaching has its own unique skills it employs and for many coaches "unlearning" old skill sets from other professions has to occur before they can competently pick up the new skill sets used in coaching.

There are three levels of Coach Certification from the ICF. We have briefly outlined the differences below and the basic requirements for each level:

1. Associate Certified Coach (ACC)

• 60 hours of training from an accredited coach training program
• 250 hours of coaching experience with clients
• Satisfactory completion of oral exam
• Agreement to adhere to the ethics and standards as outlined by the ICF

2. Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

• 120 hours of training from an accredited coach training program
• 750 hours of coaching experience with clients
• Satisfactory completion of written and oral exam
• Demonstrated participation within the profession
• Agreement to adhere to the ethics and standards as outlined by the ICF
• Meet required continuing education credits and renew certifcation as indicated

3. Master Certified Coach (MCC)

• 200 hours of training from an accredited coach training program
• 2500 hours of coaching experience with clients
• Satisfactory completion of written and oral exam
• Demonstrated leadership within the profession
• Agreement to adhere to the ethics and standards as outlined by the ICF
• Meet required continuing education credits and renew certification as indicated

If you are considering hiring a coach, be diligent in asking the coach if they have been specifically trained in coaching skills by an ICF accredited school and are either certified or in the process of certification from the ICF. Don't be misled to think a coach is a competent coach because they have other professional credentials or set high fees. If you want more information on the ICF, the credentialing process or the ethics and standards for coaches you can visit their website at www.CoachFederation.org.