This is a quote from an article published in The Age earlier in the year… it highlights the problem of everyone being able to call themselves a coach:
“But here’s the bottom line: your coach does not need one day of training in anything to call themselves a coach. In Australia, several bodies such as the ICF offer credentials to coaches and training programs. The ICF, for example, requires a certain number of coaching hours and training to qualify for its three tiers – associate, professional and master – and has a code of ethics and complaints process.”
So how do you know if you are engaging a credentialed coach?
The good news is that you can use this link to verify if your coach hold’s a credential with the International Coach Federation (ICF).
To be awarded an ICF credential as an Associate Certified Ccoach, a Professional Certified Coach, or a Master Certified Coach (ACC/PCC/MCC) you need to have a combination of: coach education (more extensive at each level), coaching experience (more extensive at each level), mentor coaching, performance evaluation and pass a written exam. You also need to renew your credential every 3 years and submit evidence of participation in continuing professional learning and development.
It is worth noting that the ICF (a global coaching body) it is the most well-known in Australia, but it is possible that a certified coach may belong to another coaching association. For example, the Association for Coaching (most well known in the UK) is growing its membership in Australia.
I am a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF and I am also certified through the AC as a Professional Executive Coach.
If your coach isn’t certified through the ICF, ask them which coaching association they hold certification with. If they don’t hold certification as a coach, they may be providing some other type of valuable service… but it’s probably not coaching.