Your Executive Coach Training Provider Checklist!
Before you choose your coach training provider, check if they meet these requirements…
Author:
Ridhima Dosani
Read Time: 5 mins
Table of Contents
Your Executive Coach Training Provider Checklist!
Are you choosing the right executive coaching programme for you?
With so many programmes and coach training providers out there, it’s so easy to get lost and confused. You want to make the right investment in yourself and your career, one that’s going to propel you forward and really make you stand out in front of your potential clients. So, how do you know that the coach training programme you’re looking at is the one to do that?
These are the requirements we think every executive coaching qualification should meet!
1. Are they ICF accredited?
So, why ICF? ICF stands for International Coaching Federation and has been leading the market as the standard for executive coaches. ICF is a regulatory body and being accredited by them means that your training programme will meet certain requirements for training hours and the quality of learning material, which will give you the skills you need to compete in the saturated coaching market.
Of course, there are other coaching qualifications available. What we are seeing, however, is that many experienced coaches are now re-training in ICF programmes, as this is what clients are looking for. ICF is also a globally recognised coaching qualification, which opens more doors for you to coach clients overseas.
2. Are they authorised to provide mentor coaching on behalf of the ICF?
Part of the ICF certification process involves receiving feedback from a mentor on your standard of coaching to ensure that you meet certain quality expectations. With some providers you have to organise your own recordings (featuring you coaching a client) and send them off to the ICF for your mentor coaching feedback. With us, you don’t have to! Because of our long-standing relationship with the ICF, we are authorised to provide feedback on their behalf which means your assessments are all done in-house. So there’s no need to send recordings anywhere. Get your feedback straightaway from our mentors and start implementing it in the rest of your coach training experience immediately.
3. What level of qualification can you achieve?
Just because a programme is accredited by the ICF, doesn’t mean that it’ll automatically give you the credibility senior leaders are looking for. Many programmes out there only provide material for ACC credential, which stands for Associate Certified Coach. This is the entry level qualification. What we recommend, and teach ourselves, is the PCC level (Professional Certified Coach). This will prove your expertise to high caliber clients and really set you apart from more generalist coaches.
4. How much support do you get?
The beauty of online programmes is that they give us full flexibility to learn from anywhere, at any time! The bad side? They can feel impersonal and isolating. But they don’t have to be!
We have structured our programme in a way that you get to learn alongside a cohort of likeminded coaches, you get access to our exclusive members groups, affinity groups and more. So there’s plenty of camaraderie and we have a huge international student body.
Plus, with our on-going support and 1:1 mentorship, you’ll never be left to navigate the world of executive coaching on your own! Our mentors and programme co-ordinators will guide you every step of the way.
5. Are there any hidden costs?
Don’t get sucked in with a low price point, as you can end up paying more later down the line!
Always check that the programme costs include training materials up to PCC level
Ensure there are no hidden fees or on-going membership fees - with us, you get access to our student portal and on-going support completely free
Some coach training providers charge extra for helping you get your coach experience hours, so make sure you don’t get any unexpected surprises later down the line
Ask if there are any additional fees, admin costs or add-ons you will encounter. The low price may not always be as low as it seems
6. Do you get support with your business?
Having the right skills and qualifications to be an exceptional executive coach is one thing - but how do you navigate the current market, position and pitch yourself in front of the right clients, and carve out your own niche? Ensure that the training provider you choose to go with helps you with launching a successful coaching practice too.
We have a breadth of materials on starting your coaching business on our student portal as well as marketing guides and advice. Not to mention, our mentors have decades of experience of working as organisational and freelance coaches, and we know exactly what high caliber clients in senior leadership positions are looking for - and we know how to pass that knowledge onto you so you can make the most out of it!
7. Will they give you the practical skills to start coaching clients confidently?
All of our students walk away from our bootcamp confident to start coaching clients at an executive level, straightaway. Why? Because we don’t focus too much on your listening skills, the benefits of coaching or just give you the theory without practical application.
Everything we teach covers coaching basics, as well as advanced coaching techniques, which are broken down in step by step guides, exercises and applications on when and how to use them best. Plus, you immediately dive into practical exercises when you study with us, growing that coaching confidence from the start. And, with the ICF certification pathway, you will gain coach experience hours either through your existing clients or by using our free student matching service, where you can get real-life experience through barter coaching.
Does our programme tick all your boxes? Book your FREE strategy session and speak to one of our experts!
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