Level 1 (ACC) Pathway: Diploma Programme

Coaching is one of the fastest growing professions and enables positive change in people’s communication skills, performance, confidence and many other aspects of their behaviour and mindset.

In an increasingly complex and constantly changing environment, coaching is a powerful tool to help people navigate situations, tasks, challenges, goals and aspirations for greater success, fulfilment and well-being.

Organisations too, more than ever before, need the skills and principles of coaching in order to develop a culture that is inclusive, accountable, innovative and agile. Organisations with these qualities are better able to handle the complexity and speed of change of today’s business environment. Research clearly indicates that organisations with coaching capability and culture are more likely to be high performing, more equipped to handle change and experience better financial performance and growth than other organisations within their industry sector.

If you would like to become an ICF certified coach and achieve an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, there are 5 steps to follow:

1. Coaching Education:

The Science and Art of Coaching is a Level 1 ICF-accredited coaching education programme. This complete package offers the coach-specific training hours required for those who may wish to apply for their ACC credential and provides 76.25 ICF-accredited coaching education hours.

No previous coach training or coaching experience is required.

2. Mentor Coaching:

The purpose of Mentor Coaching is primarily to deepen your understanding and demonstration of the ICF Core Competencies and, therefore, your skills and confidence as a practising coach. It is also part of the ICF’s credentialing pathway, which supports and prepares coaches for their performance assessment in pursuit of the ICF credential.

Our Mentor Coaching Group programme (MCG) has four simple steps:

1. Individual programme preparation (1.5 hours)
2. Four x two-hour online Group Mentor Coaching sessions (8 hours)
3. Three hours of 1-1 Mentor Coaching sessions (3 hours)
4. Peer coaching sessions in-between each online session focussing on specific ICF Core Competencies as the programme progresses (6 hours)

This programme fulfils the 10 hours of coach mentoring required for your ICF credential application or ACC credential renewal.

The programme takes approximately 4 months to complete. It is also accredited with 18.5 Core Competency CCEs or 10 hours of Mentor Coaching plus 8.5 Core Competency CCEs (an additional benefit of further CCEs for those credentialed coaches when renewing their credentials).

3. Coaching Experience:

To be eligible for an ICF ACC credential, you need at least 100 hours of coaching experience following the start of your coach-specific coaching education.

4. Performance Evaluation:

The performance evaluation process involves you submitting one recording of you coaching a regular client who has hired you as a coach and must last between 20 to 60 minutes, along with the corresponding transcript. This will be reviewed by a Performance Evaluator(s).

5. ICF Credentialing Exam:

This is a computer-based written exam (administered by ICF Credentials and Standards) that is designed to measure your knowledge of and ability to apply the ICF definition of coaching, ICF Core Competencies and ICF Code of Ethics.

Our programmes are offered in English.

Coaches wanting to apply for their ICF ACC credential

This programme is ideal for those who wish to complete ICF-accredited coach-specific training in pursuit of an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential.

External and Internal Coaches

This programme is also ideal for those who wish to become external or internal coaches offering their services to and within organisations and individuals.

Leaders, Managers and Individuals

Leaders, managers and individual contributors from all business functions will benefit greatly from this programme. Good coaching skills enable anyone who needs to develop, influence and communicate effectively with others, whether inside or outside of the organisation to achieve greater success.

Agile Coaches

This programme is the perfect companion for an Agile Coach or Scrum Master and offers the opportunity to significantly deepen the Agile Coach’s impact in their work with organisations. We are delighted to work in partnership with Tracy Sinclair to bring ICF-accredited coach-specific training to the Agile community.

This programme is offered in English. No previous coach training or coaching experience is required.

Online Courses

• We require delegates to use a laptop, computer or device with a large screen to ensure they can participate without the limitations of using a smaller device.
• A reliable internet connection is vital.

Module 1: Foundational Skills

• The philosophy and definition of coaching and how it differs from other ways of communicating, engaging and working with people.
• An initial framework for a structured coaching conversation.
• Introducing essential coaching skills for internal/external coaches and managers, and leaders using coaching skills:
  • Listening skills.
  • Thought provoking and forward moving questioning skills.
  • Practical goal setting and visioning enable clear and committed forward action with accountability.
• Introduction to the ICF Core Competencies
• Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback.
• Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.

Module 2: Going Deeper

• Developing rapport and building the coach-client relationship.
• Transactional and transformational coaching.
• More profound questioning skills to expand and explore thinking, perspectives and possibilities.
• Advanced listening skills using all of the senses.
• Identifying and exploring limiting and empowering beliefs.
• Professional and ethical practices, including organisational contracting.
• Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback.
• Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.

Module 3: From Science to Art

• Neuroscience and coaching.
• Psychological models to enhance understanding of how human behaviour impacts performance.
• Using intuition as an effective coaching tool.
• The place of feedback in coaching.
• Accessing and leveraging client learning.
• The coach-client partnership.
• Structuring and developing your coaching practice.
• Developing the coach as well as the client.
• Practical ways to use coaching skills in the organisation.
• Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback…
• Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
• Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.

It is possible to complete certain modules of this programme as standalone training. Please get in touch with us to discuss this.
This programme can also be run internally for a group or organisation. Please get in touch with us to discuss further.