How to Get a Coaching Certification
You have the opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life when you choose a career as a coach. You can get a coaching certification at an approved coaching school without a lot of time or money investment, unlike other allied health students who practice similar skills. Coaching is not a regulated field or overseen by any local, regional or national body. However, a global organization sets the quality and integrity thresholds within the coaching field and its educational programs therein.
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Instructions
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How to Get a Coaching Certification
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Consult a coaching school accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The ICF is global organization or regulating body that sets the quality and integrity of the coaching field. Other accrediting agencies do not have the accepted recognition like ICF, and other organizations are either new and unaccounted for, or substandard at best.
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Determine what kind of coaching career you want. Learn about the other branches or specialties within the field of coaching. Each field of coaching specializes in a demographic, such as a life coach, a career coach, or an executive coach. Although some of the fundamentals of coaching may be the same, essentially they are different.
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Determine which school is best for your coaching field. Coaching schools online is convenient and economical for some students. Those who take classes at local or distant training sites get more hands-on experience, but it may cost more and secure reasonable transportation and accommodations for those attending events and workshops held out of town. Use the Resource box for more information on coaching schools.
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Check the school's credentials. Often, students become victims of diploma mill swindles. Organizations that pose as accreditation agencies or other legitimate institutions, forfeit the integrity of the coaching institution, along with other fine industries. Check the ICF accrediting website for information about a particular coaching school.
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Be sure you meet the prerequisites before apply to the school. You may need a high school education or meet other criteria. The school may also charge an application fee, and if you do not qualify for the coach training, you lose the money spent on those fees. Check with each school for more information.
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Contact your local community college for coach training programs. Some courses may enhance graduates or professionals with continuing education credits. Other schools offer graduate programs for those interested in a career as a coach, as opposed to a professional in any industry with coaching skills.
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Complete your courses as required for your coaching curriculum. Once you graduate from an approved school, you have the credentials and certification from a respectable accrediting agency.
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Tips & Warnings
Fund your education. Most coach schools and training programs do not qualify for federal student aid, but some schools offer a convenient payment plan. Your employer may pay for continuing education courses or reimburse you for tuition costs. Check with the human resource department where you work and see if you qualify. Work on building an impressive resume. Most coaches work independently, so you need a convincing resume to gain potential clients. Volunteer or publish articles for professional and trade journals. Certification comes from the global accrediting agency and not from local governing bodies, but be sure you contact the insurance and regulation department in your state to be sure that you can legally practice as a coach in your area.
Investigate an online school before applying to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. You may not get a refund or any kind of restitution from a diploma mill.
Resources
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Comments
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Rob Stringer
Feb 25, 2010
Hi Cheryl ... As a person who became a Certified Professional Coach myself, I agree with all the steps an advice you share in your article. Just one additional point that is not always obvious ... and that is to ask questions about the price. Foe example, does it include ALL expenses related to graduation? The reason I mention this is because I found many schools did not include the cost related to hiring a coach yourself (hiring a coach and experiencing coaching yourself as a client is often a requirement.) These extra fees can add hundreds to the cost of certification. One of the reasons I chose International Coach Academy (ICA) was that it not only offered an excellent program and flexible hours, but that all costs were stated upfront. Other schools I investigated were not so transparent. Yours in support & success, Rob Stringer BA, BEd, CPC, Parenting & Youth Coach, Youth Coach C...
