Coaching brings a rich history in business and profession; however, it’s only in recent years that it has become more popular and recognized as a profession. To make it more formalized, coaching credentials were introduced and globally accepted ethical practices were developed. Furthermore, coaching training programs started to ensure the coaches are geared with all the necessary tools.
Although the coaching profession is not yet regulated, coaches are expected to demonstrate certain standards and competencies. Clients, especially from the corporate sector, demand to see a coaching certificate before hiring a coach for internal or consulting positions.
If you are planning to start your career in coaching and join a relevant training for it, you must check a few things to evaluate a program. It’s a considerable investment in terms of time and money, so you must do homework before signing up for a coaching course.
Here are a few questions you can ask while inquiring with coach training providers.
Is your course accredited?
There are three main coaching bodies that offer valid credentials- International Coach Federation (ICF), European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and the Centre for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Out of these, it is the ICF that gets the most applications for credentials from all over the world. All these three bodies have set requisites for coach training providers to ensure the delivered curriculum is aligned with best practices of coaching. These coach training providers are required to obtain their accreditation which is like a business license.
Some course providers are transparent about the accreditation, for others, you may look for ICF, EMCC and CCE logos on their websites. If you don’t see the logos simply ask them. But it is very important to verify that they are accredited. If the program is not accredited, you will not be allowed to apply for a coaching credential upon course completion.
Do your trainers have coaching credentials?
Not just the institute, but also check whether the trainers you will be working with have coaching credentials. You should look for credential acronyms like ACC, PCC, MCC, etc., which they typically use as a prefix to their name. Ask the consultant you are communicating with for your coaching training about what credential your trainer holds or just ask the trainer directly. You can verify the provided information by going to ICF, EMCC and CCE’s websites.
This is important because it proves that the trainer has subject matter expertise and can teach others on the subject. The basic idea is that having a credential means your trainer has experienced the process, which you’re just embarking on.
Is mentoring included in your course fee?
One more thing you need to check before committing to a coach training institute is if they will provide a mentor or not. If yes, is the cost included in the coaching course fee or has separate charges? Many institutes charge extra for mentoring that is provided only by credentialed coaches. A low-priced coaching program may suddenly double up with the additional mentoring charges.
When you receive the quote for program fees, look for “mentoring included” or “mentoring not included.” If you are unable to find these, ask straight, “Is mentoring included in the fees? If yes, for how many hours? Mentoring is an essential part of coaching training to learn ethical practices and other requirements.
Will your promises be fulfilled?
A few coaching training providers sometimes promise the moon, which may sound true. However, watch for languages that include unconditional “yes” to whatever you request. Be mindful of their hesitancy to put things in the document, immediate offer of discounted fees, no installment payment options, statements like “we will sort it out later,” etc.
Don’t fall for things like you will get your credential within 2-3 months because that is impossible. ICF requires programs to cover a minimum length of time. Such overpromising institutes may also try to lure you with an offer of giving clients all the coaching hours you need to log in. This could be true but beware of the hidden charges.
The relief is that such problems are typically found at lesser-known or small training institutes. In that case, it is always to go with a well-recognized coaching training provider like Coach Masters Academy.
Bottom Line
You need to be very smart before signing up for a coaching course. Do not hesitate in asking questions as the answers to those questions will help you make your decision.
For a safe move, you can enrol on Coach Masters Academy’s coaching training programs. They offer a coach certification training program, approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF). CMA provides a transformative coaching training program that brings progressive and scalable results to meet your professional goal and development.
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