Why Hire an ICF Credentialed Coach?
By Amy Ruppert, MCC
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 program specifically
designed to teach coaching skills in alignment with the
ICF Competencies and Code of Ethics;
- 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 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 Credential 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 coach specific training
- 250 hours of coaching experience with clients
- Satisfactory completion of oral exam
- Agreement to adhere to the Code of Ethics as outlined by
the ICF
2. Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- 125 hours of coach specific training
- 750 hours of coaching experience with clients
- Satisfactory completion of written and oral exam
- Agreement to adhere to the Code of Ethics as outlined by
the ICF
- Continued professional development to renew credential every
three years
3. Master Certified Coach (MCC)
- 200 hours of coach specific training
- 2500 hours of coaching experience with clients
- Satisfactory completion of written and oral exam
- Demonstrated leadership within the profession
- Agreement to adhere to the Code of Ethics as outlined by
the ICF
- Continued professional development to renew credential every
three years
If you are considering hiring a coach, be diligent in asking
the coach if they have been specifically trained in coaching
skills and currently hold or in the process of acquiring an
ICF credential. 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 ICF Code of Ethics you can visit
their website at http://www.CoachFederation.org
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