What is an ICF accreditation and why is it important when looking for a professional coaching certification?
Summary: ICF credentials signify to potential clients that you are a dedicated coaching professional who has been trained to the highest standards, or provides the highest standards of training. This accreditation ensures that you meet the most specific requirements that are designed to refine your coaching skills, and support your professional development. All in all ICF credentials are key in becoming an amazing coach.
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What is an ICF accreditation and why is it important when looking for a professional coaching certification?
The ICF is the International Coaching Federation. They represent the gold standard of professional coaching and is recognised worldwide as a mark of credibility and the highest standard of training in the coaching field. The ICF set out and uphold strong principles and standards within the world of coaching, whether this comes to your personal accreditation or the credentials of a coaching training provider.
ICF accreditation for your coaching training provider
When beginning the search for your coaching training provider or coaching bootcamp, looking into their credentials and accreditations is crucial. This can indicate the standard of the training provider and the level of training they will provide you with, all of which is key to the success of your coaching career.
By ensuring that your coach training course is provided by a company that is ICF certified, you are guaranteed the highest standard that is designed specifically for your professional development as a coach. ICF accredited courses like ours are tailored to refine your skills and teach you everything you need to know about coaching. They provide you with the tools you need to excel in this field.
2. Having an ICF credential as a leadership or executive coach
In the same way you will look at the credentials of a coach training provider, a potential client will look at yours to determine your quality as a coach and what you can offer to them as a client. An ICF credential represents commitment to your coaching career and dedication to your development as a coaching professional. It is something that really helps you stand out as a high quality coach.
Holding impressive credentials is highly important to securing clients with 85% of coaching clients stating it is important that their coach holds a certification or credential, according to The ICF. These credentials assure credibility to your client and guarantee you have the experience and knowledge needed to help them achieve their goals and succeed.
3. ICF Credentials
The International Coaching Federation offers three different coaching credentials, all varying in their requirements. Each credential requires a certain amount of education and experience in order to gain the qualification.
The three credentials available are:
Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
Master Certified Coach (MCC)
Each of these individual ICF coaching credentials require between 60-200 hours of coach specific education and 100-2500 hours of client coaching experience. This is all in order to help you meet the specific standard associated with each credential.
In order to earn any of the credentials, you are required to participate in:
Education
Experience
Mentor coaching
Performance evaluation
Exam
All of this is assessed against the ICF competencies, ethics and standards to ensure candidates meet the highest standards.
As an ICF approved training provider, run by ICF certified coaches, we know just how important these credentials are to your coaching career. Our courses, backed by ICF knowledge, give you everything you need to be in the top 5% of coaches worldwide.
If you are looking for a coaching course then look no further. Click here to find out more about the courses we offer, and begin your journey to becoming a certified coaching professional.