The following is taken from David’s Independent Report on Coaching Training and Certification.

OK – suppose you’ve decided you want to be an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) or a PCC (Professional Certified Coach). How is it done?

The ICF accreditation for Associate Certified Coach (ACC) requires the following:

1. 60 coach-specific training hours. Training must be aligned with the 11 ICF competencies, and at least 48 hours must be interactive with the trainer – either live, or via telephone.
2. 250 coaching hours, of which 225 hours must be paid.
3. Letters of reference from 5 clients.
4. Two letters of reference from ICF accredited coaches who have heard you coach.
5. Passing of an oral examination.

The following is taken from David’s Independent Report on Coaching Training and Certification.

While certification is not necessary for a full practice, we do believe it is important for the development of your skill and for the development of the coaching profession. The more certified coaches the stronger the profession, and the better for all of us. If every coach decided to skip certification, we would have lower standards, which might invite public mistrust, and eventually tight Government regulation.

The following is taken from David’s interview with Mike Turner in 10 Super Coaches.

Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?

Yes, if only because, as the profession settles down, organizations will increasingly only use certified coaches.

If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?

From as early as possible, be clear what the accreditation criteria are and work towards satisfying them. That way, if the accreditation question comes up, you can say that you are working towards accreditation and state which of the requirements you have met or are close to meeting.

Are there any particular school(s) you would recommend?

The London-based School of Coaching, which is part owned by the Work Foundation (a charity that campaigns to improve the quality of work life). Whilst the fact that I am on the faculty might suggest that I would be biased, the reason I work with the School is because of the high quality of its work.

Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?

I did as soon as I could, through I haven’t surveyed my clients to see if my certification influenced their hiring me. I think with the number of people who are calling themselves coaches with questionable experience and training that the public will eventually look for certified coaches.

I recommend certifying as soon as you can and I think the ICF has the most credible independent coach certification credential.

Are there any particular schools you would recommend?

The Coaches Training Institute is where I did my primary training, from my connections to other coaches over the years, I would also recommend (in alphabetical order) Academy for Coach Training, Coach For Life, The Newfield Network, and Success Unlimited Network.

The following is taken from David’s interview with Michael O. Cooper in 10 Super Coaches.

What training, experience and qualifications did you have when you started coaching?

None! My first client told me they wanted to hire me before I even knew what coaching was. She gave me an article about coaching, told me I would be perfect for it, and wanted to hire me on the spot. I spent about four weeks reading all I could, enrolling in Coach U and hiring my own coach before our first session.

I subsequently discovered that I had been using a coach approach in managing teams, working with clients and developing strategy in my role as a management consultant.

What were the biggest doubts you had in your early months?

The need to be an expert! My own coach helped me see that I was rarely an expert in my role as a management consultant, but that I had a methodology, framework and best practices to help clients improve their businesses and systems – it was an easy shift to apply this same approach to my coaching business.

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

You do not need to be accredited to begin coaching. At the time of this writing I know of no country which requires certification. However, long term, I believe it’s important for your career and for the profession of coaching.

A good reason to get certified is because you believe in the philosophy of the training school you choose. And, because you want to continually improve your coaching skills.

A bad reason to get certified is because you think that will get you more clients or in some way make you ‘worthy’ as a coach. My experience has been that it does neither. It might look good on the wall and it feels good to be able to say it – but in coaching two hundred clients, I think ONE asked me if I was certified. Don’t try and use it as a crutch – you don’t need it.

Ironically, the International Coach Federation requires at least 250 paid coaching hours under your belt before you get to their first certification level (ACC). So you’ll need to become confident coaching without the crutch of certification – which I think is a good thing. Use it to support your coaching; don’t rely on it.