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How to Become a Certified Professional Coach

Over the years, ICF-accredited executive coaching programs have become an essential component in almost every corporate organization and various other institutions—and for good reason. Millions of people worldwide are beginning to understand and appreciate how effective coaching can be, not just for their clients, but also for themselves.

However, for those who wish to learn more about coach training programs and certification, or simply want to know why managers need coaching skills, there is a lot of information out there that can be confusing, vague, and sometimes downright wrong. 

With a little knowledge about the different levels of coaching certification offered by the International Coaching Federation, you’ll be able to decide what the ideal training path will be for your circumstances.

Intricacies of Coaching Certification

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered the leading governing body in the coaching world–it is responsible for setting the standards of certification within the coaching field. Learning about what the organization does will also make it easier when the time comes for you to look up other elements of certification, such as how long it takes to get a coaching certificate

The ICF provides credentials for coaches that business stakeholders consider to be the gold standard in the coaching world; these include Associate, Professional, and Master Certified. 

Steps to Becoming a Professional Certified Coach

The ICF does not offer training programs, but it accredits training programs offered by other organizations to make sure they meet their vigorous requirements and review processes. By signing up for an ICF-accredited coach training program like Symbiosis Coaching, you will be in a position that will allow you to meet the requirements of an ICF certification after you successfully complete the training.

Embark On a Journey of Discovery and Learning

Before you decide to become a certified professional coach, outline your personal ambitions. Determine if you are interested in helping people, have the necessary resources to sustain your duties, and establish what you have to offer to those seeking coaching services.

Many potential coaches started their career journey when they participated in a coaching program as a client. This helps a person gain information and firsthand knowledge about the entire process and profession before getting involved in a training program. You can search for ICF-certified coaches in your area and get in touch with them directly–they will be skilled and adhere to the professional standards and codes of coaching set by the ICF.

Getting the Necessary Certification

After much thought and consultation, your next step toward becoming a certified professional coach is to search for a reputable school or platform with ICF-accredited programs and enroll. Having proper certification will increase your credibility in the profession and with prospective clients as you build your reputation in the field. Whichever route you take, make sure the training program you choose aligns with ICF core competencies and code of ethics.

Obtaining the Necessary Credentials

Because coaching is not a strictly regulated industry, people have a lot of flexibility when deciding what certification is right for them. A simple internet search can help you find your way among the various options.

It is possible to get your credentials once you are through with sixty hours of coach-specific training that meets ICF standards and requirements. The commitment will vary depending on the type of certification you are looking for—Associate, Professional, or Master Certified.

To Conclude

There are inevitable ups and downs in both the corporate and personal sides of life that sometimes interfere with achieving goals. Individuals can find it easy to continue on the path set for them, while others may have difficulty figuring out which steps to take next. Being a certified coach lets you help such individuals navigate the more difficult periods in their personal and corporate lives, and Symbiosis Coaching can provide the perfect training to help you do just that.

Certified NLP Coach

Program Description: The Certified NLP Coach program allows you to incorporate very powerful NLP techniques you’re your day-to-day coaching practice.

ICF Training Hours: 65

Duration: 25-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Organizational Development Coach

Program Description:

The Certified Organizational Development Coach program is an exclusive and very unique program, designed for coaches who wish to coach entire organizations with their Organizational Development and Change Management goals. This program provides you with 65 ICF training hours - more than enough for the ACC credential. Over a series of 25 weekly lectures, it prepares you to deal with volatile group dynamics across entire organizations. Topics including OD interventions, Team Engagement, Buyer Behavior of internal customers, The Tripod of Success, Ensuring Sustainability, Performance-Retention correlation, Strategies to influence behavior - and many more - are covered in detail.

Coaches are introduced to the ARCS Model, as well as to the Organizational Culture Audit Toolkit. Employee motivation, satisfaction, and productivity are discussed, as well as their impact on the performance of the organization as a whole. Students are introduced to various Change Management models including Lewin's Planned Change model, the ADKAR Change Management model, and Kotter's 8 steps of Change Management. Resistance to change and its manifestation are discussed, as is Behavior Modification.

Upon completing this program, Certified Organizational Development Coaches will have all the tools they need to affect positive transformation within organizations, and will be able to coach teams and personnel at all levels - including initiators, decision makers, influencers, and intervention implementers.

In addition to coaches who are launching their own Corporate Coaching practices, this is an essential program for HR professionals, Training and Development Professionals, Managers, and Corporate Leaders who wish to implement internal policies and OD processes to guide their companies and people through ongoing change.

ICF Training Hours: 65

Duration: 25-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Executive Coach

Program Description

The Certified Executive Coach program has been designed for coaches who wish to coach managers, executives, and corporate leaders. The goal of this program is to cultivate a deep understanding of how the executive coaching process works as well as some of the challenges that come up in executive coaching conversations.

This program has been approved by the International Coaching Federation for 32 hours, and it comprises of 12 live, instructor-led, fully interactive virtual classes offered over zoom. These classes cover various aspects of executive coaching including, but not limited to Effective Collaboration, Performance Management, Upskilling, Conflict Management, Effective Collaboration, Developing Team Members, and many more.

This program has a very unique, hands-on, experiential structure. Classes are focused on active participation by students through real life Coaching Challenges and discussions of real life executive coaching situations.

ICF Training Hours: 32

Duration: 12-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Certified Life Coach

Program Description:

The Certified life Coach program is an essential program for anyone considering coaching as a profession. The goal of this program is to create a deep understanding of the coaching process, along with how and why it is effective in catalyzing shifts in the mindset to create positive, sustainable transformation.

The training is based on the ICF’s core coaching competencies. It focuses on skills that lead to effective coaching conversations and that are required to build a successful coaching business. It evokes awareness about how identity, thoughts, and feelings determine mindset; and why a change in Think Feel Do impacts the achievement of goals though a change in this mindset.

This program is approved by the International Coaching Federation for 95 hours and comprises 24 live, instructor led, fully interactive virtual sessions offered over Zoom. These lectures cover all aspects of coaching – topics such as Human Emotions and the Brain, Coaching through Emotional Intelligence, The Belief System, Coaching Process and Structure, Deep Listening, Setting Worthy Goals, Asking Insightful Questions, Addressing Client Resistance, Coaching Groups, The Business of Coaching, and many more. These are complemented with a library of reading and reference material, coaching challenges based on various real-life coaching situations, extensive hands-on coaching practice, and assignments designed to trigger reflection on and mastery of coaching skills.

ICF Training Hours: 95

Duration: 24-weeks

Schedule: One 2-hour class per week

Includes certificate: Yes

Class Schedule
ProgramStart DateClass TimesClass Schedule
Certified Life CoachMonday, Dec 11th9:30am ET
2:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 24-weeks
Certified Organizational Development CoachTuesday, Dec 12th9:30am ET
2:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 25-weeks
Certified Executive CoachWednesday, Dec 13th9:30am ET
2:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 12-weeks
Certified NLP CoachThursday, Dec 14th9:30am ET
2:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 2-hours, for 25-weeks
Level 1/2 - ACC/PCC
Mentoring
Friday, March 22nd10:30am ET
2:00pm ET
8:00pm ET
Once a week, 1-hour
for 6-sessions PLUS 4 one-on-
one sessions with mentor