What to look for when comparing different coach training providers
Summary: Keep in mind, that while the ICF stands for a high standard of credibility and quality, they are not in charge of the programme content or how it is delivered - so it’s still important to see what each individual programme has to offer.
Author:
Ridhima Dosani
Read Time: 5 mins
Table of Contents
What to look for when comparing different coach training providers
ICF is the internationally recognised gold standard for coaching. Many providers understand the prestige and significance of the qualification, as well as the desire for all aspiring coaches to achieve this credential. But not all of them are the same! With so many options on the market offering programmes at varying price points, let’s take a look at the most cost-effective way to become an ICF certified coach.
What have we found out through competitor analysis and why we do things differently
Of course, we regularly keep an eye on the coaching market to ensure we provide our students with the best, most up-to-date information, advanced techniques with a flexible schedule and an all-inclusive price point. Here’s what we’ve found through analysing other programmes:
Drip-feeding information: our programme only requires you to book 3 days off for the bootcamp options. The rest of your training and coach experience can be flexed and integrated within your schedule. This means, while you can take longer if you need to, our students can complete their certification within 3-6 months! It’s because we don’t drip-feed information over the course of various classes here and there, which can take up to a year to complete.
Hidden costs and fees: with us, the fee you pay is the only fee you pay. While many coach training providers seem cheaper, you’ll often find that they charge extra for advanced level materials, on-going membership fees and other hidden charges. Our student portal provides access completely free - so you can continue using our rich library of information anytime, anywhere!
Theoretical, basic level knowledge: many students come to us after completing more general coaching qualifications and finding that they don’t have the confidence or the skills to coach top-level clients in senior leadership positions. Although these programmes have leadership coaching somewhere in their curriculum, it’s far more vague and theoretical. We give you advanced coaching methods and show you exactly when and how to use them - there are detailed guides on how to handle every coaching situation you’ll come across, and you’ll get practical experience in actually applying them. All of our students, without fail, leave our 3-day bootcamp confident to coach executive clients straightaway!
Limiting training materials to ACC: limiting training materials to ACC (Associate Certified Coach or entry-level credential) is a common issue we see in training providers. Often, they either don’t provide training up to PCC (Professional Certified Coach) level, or, they may offer PCC level training at an additional cost. But this is what most clients will be expecting when choosing their leadership coach, so with us it’s included in the price.
Additional costs for coach experience: sadly, this is where you may incur additional costs with some coach training providers. Your coach experience hours are crucial for achieving your ICF certification. With us, you can either use your coach experience hours from existing clients, or use our coach matching service to match and barter with other coaches. Of course, all of this is free and included in our programme!
Assessments are not done in-house: our longstanding relationship with the ICF means we are authorised to provide your mentor coaching assessments in-house. This will save you the time and hassle of organising and sending off your recordings. With us, you’ll get feedback that you can start implementing straightaway!
Lack of support and mentorship: we don’t want you to be left to your own devices! We have a large international student body, private members groups and, most importantly, you will be doing your bootcamp with a small, friendly cohort of likeminded coaches. We also provide on-going 1:1 mentorship throughout your studies and on-going support even after you finish!
SOUND GOOD SO FAR? KEEP ON READING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME…
2. Understanding ICF credentials
When you’re considering any programme for your ICF certification, pay close attention to the training that they offer. The ICF has strict training requirements for each of their certification levels:
ACC (Associate Certified Coach)
PCC (Professional Certified Coach)
MCC (Master Certified Coach)
Not all training providers that offer ICF certification are the same. Some may only offer enough training hours to meet the ACC requirements. We always recommend that our students go for the PCC certification, as it’s the industry standard for professional coaches, and a much more credible qualification level. ACC is considered entry-level, so you may find yourself paying more later down the line to achieve the PCC level. Worse still, some coaching providers may ask you to pay to meet the requirement for coach experience hours, so look out for those hidden fees.
This is why Executive Coaching Bootcamp includes PCC certification in our programme - we want to ensure your professional success and provide the necessary accreditation for it. There are no more hidden fees. All training requirements are covered in the costs.
3. What are the PCC credentialing requirements?
So, what do you receive when studying for your PCC certification level? Here’s the breakdown of our programme, according to the current ICF requirements:
62.5 hours of live teaching - with us, this comprises of a 3-day intensive bootcamp, 2 x 90min follow-up sessions, 12 hours of mentor coaching and 21.5 hours of live web classes (or only web classes, for self-study and essentials options). There is no need to book any additional time off outside of the bootcamp, which gives you the most amount of flexibility to study your way. Plus, thanks to our small class sizes, you’ll get plenty of time with your mentor, while meeting a great mix of coaches from around the world. The live web classes are run by members of Center for Executive Coaching (CEC), giving you a great breadth of knowledge from different coaches.
62.5 hours of offline learning - here your offline learning hours are split between 25 hours of self-guided study and 37.5 hours of archived web classes from the CEC. You have complete flexibility of choosing your own learning materials or using the ample amount of resources found in our student portal.
500 coach experience hours - these give you plenty of time to develop your coaching style and become a seasoned professional in your field. Once you sign up, you can track your coach experience hours from existing clients or, if you’re still looking for coaching clients, take advantage of our coach matching service.
ICF credentialing exam - by providing all the training you need, we are confident you’ll breeze through your credentialing exam.
4. Get the support and guidance to propel you towards success
We are the Western European provider for Center for Executive Coaching and our programme has been approved by the ICF for over 15 years. This long-standing relationship means we are trusted by the ICF to give live mentor feedback.
There’s no need to send off your coaching recordings to the ICF and wait up to 3 months for feedback - we are authorised to give you feedback directly, which makes a huge difference to how you navigate the programme. This, coupled with our intensive 3-day bootcamp allows our coaches to get certified in as little as 3-6 months.
Additionally, you’ll get on-going 1:1 support with our mentors - Ridhima Dosani, Sheri Boone and Andrew Neitlich, who are all esteemed coaches with a wealth of experience in the industry. We are not interested in just having you tick boxes of certification requirements - we are keen to ensure your on-going success in the industry, so our mentors are with you every step of the way.
What makes us the most cost-effective?
We provide the full ICF PCC certification with no additional costs, hidden fees or requirements to continuously book time off work and other commitments. Executive Coaching Bootcamp programmes have been structured in a way that won’t cost you anything extra in terms of time or money.
Looking for any additional credentials? Our programme not only meets the requirements for ICF PCC level, but also the BCC (Board Certified Coach) qualification. Which means, if you were also considering becoming BCC certified, you can do so through us, at no additional cost.
You’re never left to your own devices. We are here to help you navigate your coach certification and making those very important steps in your career.
Additionally, our focus is on the longevity and sustainability of your coaching career. That’s why we have plenty of guidance and support on marketing yourself, developing your business and creating coaching packages for lasting client relationships. With the guidance of our mentors, the how-to coaching guides and learning materials available, you are set up for success!
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