In both cases, the coaches I spoke with last week felt their training program promoted the training as leading to ICF credentials. They put money, time and heart into this training. For these coaches, this isn’t a question of do they “need” credentials. They want ICF professional credentials.

If you want ICF professional credentials:

• Look to the ICF website to verify the status of the training you are considering. Programs that have been ICF approved or accredited will be listed at the site.  Don’t just take the word of the school; confirm with ICF.
• If your training has not been approved or accredited, you may still be able to get your credential through the ICF portfolio application process. You will have to provide robust documentation that demonstrates your training meets specific qualifications and the results are not guaranteed, but a portfolio application is definitely an option to consider.
• Begin keeping records and documentation of your coach training as soon as you start.
• Establish and maintain your client log as soon as you start coaching.
• Work with a mentor coach who holds an ICF credential at or above the level for which you are applying.

Use the ICF website:

• To verify that coach training programs are approved or accredited
• To learn what is required and how to apply for a credential (the ACC for example, here)
• To understand how coaching skills are evaluated at each credential level
• To see a sample client log (template at bottom of this page)
• And of course much more – it is a very informative and reasonably easy-to-navigate site.

Finally, to find Christian coach training that is ICF approved or accredited, get The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training. The eBook version is only $19 and for a limited time includes a bonus – the new book, Becoming a Coach: Wisdom From Leaders in Christian Coach Training.

Want ICF credentials? You can do this! Go for it!

As the author of The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training the most asked question I hear

TAKE ACTION

I encourage all coaches to research and become aware of credentials available through the International Coach Federation. Pray through decisions about credentials. Look at your credentialing opportunities in light of the unique vision to which God has called you.

• Research the International Coach Federation (ICF) credentials at www.coachfederation.org.
• Check out the professional development opportunities at Christian Coaches Network International (CCNI) at www.christiancoaches.com.
• Read my book – The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training – 2016 edition – which simplifies your efforts, shortens your research, and profiles 13 top Christian coach training programs – many of which offer training that leads to ICF credentials. Get help right now, right here.
• Hear me speak on Empowering Impact with Coach Training, Credentials and Professional Development at the Clarity Telesummit next week, February 24 and 26. Dr. Betsy Lavin has invited me to join seven other speakers to offer Christian coaches resources for gaining focus and clarity as you develop your coaching business. It’s free – sign up here.

WAYS TO DISCERN OPPORTUNITIES BY JUDY SANTOS

As coaching for Christians becomes better known, a fertile ground is provided for opportunists. Sometimes, opportunities arise to be involved in coaching companies, training situations, speaking engagements, media opportunities, etc. Some are great – others are not. Here are some guidelines and things to watch for that may be helpful in making decisions that you will not later regret.

Used by permission.

Now, why would you want an additional credential from the International Coach Federation (ICF) or the Christian Coaches Network (CCN)?  What is the value of a credential from a source independent from your training school? 

COACHING CERTIFICATION FROM COACH TRAINING SCHOOLS

Training programs often offer “certification” to their students for completion of certain requirements. From program to program, the requirements vary greatly. These certifications may also be referred to as “credentials.” There is no current standard for the certifications that programs offer. Anyone can offer certification and name it what they please. For example, there are several certifications available, each from different organizations, called “Certified Christian Coach.” The requirements for each of these “CCC” certifications are different.

Requirements for the various certifications available may include attending classes (the number of hours widely varies), practicing coaching (again, the number of hours required varies widely), mentor coaching or “being coached” (hours and/or duration of time varies), reading and writing assignments, letters of recommendations, and knowledge and skills tests. Some certifications can be obtained by video training and independent study only, while others require significant voice-to-voice instructor contact.

Certifications or credentials awarded to students by training programs may represent stellar training and excellent proficiency – or they may not.

COACHING CREDENTIALS FROM AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE

Credentials awarded by ICF and CCN are independent of any one training program.  These organizations provide external and objective validation of training programs and coaches.  ICF and CCN credentials identify coaches who have met the same rigorous professional criteria although they may have taken classes from different training programs.

COMBINING YOUR EFFORTS TO RECEIVE BOTH

Some coach training schools provide training that will lead to both a certification from the school itself and at the same time will apply toward a third party credential from ICF and/or CCN.  If this is your goal, it’s important to plan ahead to make sure you are charting a course that will get you the results you desire.  Find help in my book, The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training – 2014 edition – here.

Learn more on this topic: 

The value of third party credentials is highlighted in Dr. Keith Webb’s excellent recent post which includes Four Reasons to Get Your Certification From An Association.

For more on credential requirements for each organization go to the ICF website and the CCN website.

Some of this post is adapted from my book The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training -2014 edition – which you can find here.

These are all important questions that can contribute greatly to your wise decision-making process as you partner with God in pursuing the vision for coaching He has put in front of you.  There is a lot of information to gather and sort through in order to make the best decisions for yourself.

This process can cause two unproductive responses.  The first is to feel overwhelmed, to avoid getting enough information and to jump into decisions too quickly. The second is to get stuck in analysis-paralysis, completely avoiding making a decision altogether.  I’ve seen both of these responses many times as I’ve consulted with and coached those thinking of becoming coaches.  I’ve seen frustration and discouragement – due to wasted time and opportunity and money.

You know yourself and where you fall on this spectrum.  You know whether you tend toward impulsively making decisions without gathering enough information or if you tend to over-analyze and avoid making decisions.  What can you do to successfully get the information you need without getting stuck in research and analysis? 

You can hold yourself accountable in this process.  Practice self-awareness and pay attention to whether you feel you’re getting obsessed with information-gathering or tempted to jump into decisions too quickly.  Be intentional about managing this for yourself.

You can wisely get information from a variety of credible sources rather than relying on information from just one coach or just one training organization, for example.

You can work with a coach to help you through your decision-making process.  A coach can hold you accountable to gathering enough information but not getting stuck in your process.  A coach can help you make the choices that are right for you.

You can pray though all of this.  You know this, but I’m compelled to remind you.  You can bring every one of these questions directly to God in prayer.

Accessing God’s wisdom and peace by prayer will ultimately be the way to discern when the information you have is what you need to move forward toward the coaching vision He has for you.

Let me help you with your questions about what it takes to create a successful Christian coaching business or ministry at the next free teleseminar – The Business of Coaching:  What Does It Take – at 1PM ET on Thursday, February 20.  For more information and to register click here.

What were his options? Well, he can certainly proceed with setting up his business without the ICF credential. But he wants the ICF credential because to him it represents credibility and approval according to professional industry standards. In the past, he has worked as a licensed counselor and in the same way that his counseling credentials are important to him, so are coaching credentials.

I’m hearing similar stories, more and more frequently. After taking several courses over the last few years from one training organization, a woman who consulted with me last fall decided to “start over” and in a couple of weeks will start new classes with a completely different program that will lead her to ICF credentials.

I will say, as I most always do when I talk about this subject, that not all coaches need ICF credentials. But for those that do want training that leads to credentials known as the “gold standard” of the profession, there are Christian coach training programs that will lead you there. If you are looking for ICF accredited, approved or aligned training that is taught within a Christian context, it is available!

Please learn what you need to know about ICF credentials before you choose coach training so you can make informed decisions that will get you to that vision of where you want to go. For more information, please read my previous post: Professional Coaching Credentials: What You Want to Know.

It grieves my heart when people end up on a path of training that doesn’t lead them to where they think it will. That is why I’ve revised The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training annually. And the 2014 edition is available now here.

Before I go further, I will say as I often have:  I don’t believe every coach needs ICF credentials.  You need training that will help you fulfill your unique purposes.  You may simply want to gain some coaching skills to enhance your current ministry effectiveness or job performance and you may not need to pursue credentials.  Of course you would want quality training whether or not you plan to pursue credentials – and either way you can find information about great training programs in my book The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training.   

But if you want professional level training that can lead to industry-recognized credentials, know the following:

• The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the industry standard accrediting and credentialing organization.
• If you want to get professional credentials from ICF, you need to know that the training you’ve taken will be considered as part of your application.  Acceptable training can be from an ICF accredited/approved school or from a non-approved school that they determine meets their standards.
• If you are considering taking training that isn’t ICF accredited or approved and you want to obtain professional credentials, you can do some research in advance of taking your training that will help you know the chances of your credentialing application being approved.
• If you want to research your chances of your non-ICF-approved training being approved, start by familiarizing yourself with the portfolio application for ACC credentialing at the ICF website.
• As you consider a training course or program that is not ICF approved, ask the director if students from their school have applied and been approved for ACC or PCC credentials using the courses you are considering.  The directors of non-ICF approved schools should not tell you that “yes,” in fact you will be approved – because they can’t speak for the ICF.  However, if students from their training have a history of being awarded their ACC’s or PCC’s from ICF, then you have evidence to believe that your chances of approval are positive.
• Be aware that ICF standards for acceptable training include that courses involve 80% “student contact hours.”  Here is a quote from ICF about this:  “Student contact hours – clock hours spent synchronous (real- time) interactions between faculty and students… A minimum of 80% of all training must be delivered in synchronous activities.”  In other words, acceptable training includes predominantly live, real-time interaction between students and instructors.  A small percentage can include independent study (for example by pre-recorded video or audio).

Are there Christian programs and courses accredited and approved that can apply for your ACC or PCC credential with ICF?  Absolutely!  And are there Christian programs and courses that are not approved but have had students use their courses in their applications resulting in obtaining their ACC’s or PCC’s?  Yes, definitely!   Get my book, The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training to identify which might be options to help you meet your unique purposes and God-give vision.

I do not want you to experience a sad story of money, time and heart spent on coach training that didn’t meet your expected outcomes.  I am passionate about helping you and I offer three resources that can help you find the right training path for your vision.

• The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training – Get my ebook for more on the coaching profession, accreditation and credentialing, Eleven Factors in Decision Making, and two page profiles on 18 top Christian coach training programs.
• The Explorers Class – Self-paced video and includes a download of The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training, expands the info and helps you with deciding what training is right for you.
• Explore Coaching with Linda – Consulting package that includes a 60 minute session with me for personalized help with identifying your next steps toward training and/or a possible career or ministry in coaching.  Access to the Explorers Class and a download of The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training is included.
• Get these resources at www.mychristiancoachtraining.com.

What besides coach training contributes to your success as a coach?

Coach training is key, but not the only answer for your success as a coach in business or ministry.  Of course, first and foremost your success is defined by God’s call and work in your life.  And most likely God will use your coach training as key to the success to which you’ve been called.  But he will also use other factors in your success as well.  Completing an excellent Christian coach training program will not be the sole factor.  Other factors God may use include  your previous business and technology expertise, your established network of contacts, your personal community of support, ongoing mentor coaching, and your investment of time, money and hard work. 

Before you invest your money, time and heart into coach training, become familiar with options.  Even before you evaluate your options, get very clear on your unique God-breathed vision.  Use that vision as a guide for choosing the training you will take.  Then follow God’s lead as you make the best use of your training and resources to step into the coaching vision to which you’ve been called.

For more information on your options:  www.mychristiancoachtraining.com

What basic curriculum is covered included in an effective program of coach training?

Coach training curriculum will teach you coaching skills, challenge you to apply coaching to yourself and train you in business start-up skills.  To be successful at starting up a business or ministry you will need knowledge and skills in each of these areas.  Each program will address these areas in different ways and to different extents.  Some will offer a basic introduction to each of these things in one class while others offer separate classes for each topic. 

Based on your background and what you know about your own experience, plan your training accordingly.  For example, if you have no experience with starting up a business and you plan to start a coaching business, you will need training in this area.  Ideally the coach training program you choose will cover all you need to know about creating a business.  But if the curriculum in your training program is not thorough with the business start up information you need, you may have to supplement your training in other ways – for example with alternative business-focused workshops and/or mentor coaching.

In honor of International Coaching Week, I’ve been posting every day on Five Things to Know About Christian Coach Training.  As the author of The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training (ebook), my hope is that you find the coach training that is uniquely right for you.  The posts this week have been dedicated to supporting the decision about coach training that will be the best match for the vision that God has uniquely called you to.  

The current edition of The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training features fifteen programs that teach classic coaching in a Christian context.   Included are thorough descriptions of certification and accreditation.  Eleven decision-making factors for how to choose coach training are identified.  The ebook goes beyond answering the obvious questions and equips those new to the field with the answers they need in order to make great decisions for themselves.  Learn more about the ebook by clicking HERE. 

During this 13th annual International Coaching Week observance, I’m posting on Five Things to Know About Christian Coach Training.  Here is Post 3:

Questions about certification and accreditation are probably not the most important ones.  At least, they are not the first questions to ask.  Most importantly, make your initial questions about what your unique vision is and how to clearly identify what you’ve been called to do.  This is a great time for you to work with a coach.  Determining what you believe God has called you to do will reveal your answer to other questions like whether certification and accreditation are important for you.

Sorting out the meaning and value of the various types of certification offered, and that of accreditation of schools, is challenging.  It is primarily important to know that the terms “certified” and “accredited” mean different things in different conversations.  So expect to confront a learning curve if you decide to evaluate this for yourself.  Many schools offer proprietary certificates and titles – with widely varied requirements amongst schools.  The current professional standard for certification and accreditation is found with the International Coach Federation (or “ICF” at www.coachfederation.org).

There is no “one size fits all” answer to the questions about certification and accredited training.  One can point out that it’s possible to be a coach without certification and without attending accredited training.  That is very true.  Furthermore, there are examples of successful coaches who have never had formal coach training of any kind.

To offer you a personal example, the ICF accredited training I took mattered to an employer who contracted with me for coaching and consulting services.  The Christian coach training I chose was part of the fulfillment of the vision God had for me.  The question for you then becomes, what training (accredited or not) and then what certification (if any), is necessary for you to fulfill the unique vision to which God has called you?