Coaching from once being seen as an informal, not so serious profession, has attained popularity today. People now see coaches as serious professionals who can serve a higher purpose by helping individuals achieve their goals. Professional coaches help clients discover themselves, encourage the clients to pursue their goals and aspirations, and provide them clarity about life’s decisions. This acknowledgement of a coach’s role has led to an increase in the number of people wanting to become coaches and pursue coaching as a profession.
Alongside with the acceptance of coaching, recognition of accreditations and certifications has also grown. Almost all coaching clients profess to want to work only with a credentialed coach. Accredited coaches inspire the clients to maximize their potential for both personal and professional satisfaction. The most widely accepted accreditations are those by ICF – the largest body of coaches in the world.
Coaching and International Coaching Federation credentials
ICF or International coaching Federation oversees the standards of coaching institutes that provide coach training programs. We recommend people interested in becoming professional coaches do so by working towards an ICF accreditation. After completing an ICF-recognized coach training program, individuals can apply for ICF credentials that are validated across the world. There are many pathways for acquiring ICF credentials. One of the most popular pathways to get ICF credentials is ACTP or Accredited Coach Training Program. Individuals can become ACC or PCC ICF accredited coaches with the two-level ACTP coach training program.
What is ACTP coaching?
ACTP coaching is an “all-inclusive” coach training program. This coach training program is the right choice for fresh and experienced coaches looking to become ICF certified ACC or PCC professionals. ACTP is a fully contained, start to finish coach training program provided by one single coach training provider within a pre-designated time.
ACTP is a 125 hours coach training program. One can apply for ACC accreditation after completing coach training and 100 coaching hours, and is eligible for applying for PCC accreditation after completion of the 500 coaching hours.
What are ACTP coach training requirements?
To graduate with the ACTP coach training pathway and be able to apply for an ACC or PCC accreditation, candidates need to complete their designated hours of coach training, observed coaching sessions with clients for practice, one-on-one mentored sessions, peer discussions, self-study, assignments, and course-end evaluation. After completion of ACTP coach training, graduates can apply either for ACC or PCC ICF credentials. ACC and PCC final application is evaluated by the mentor coaches of ACTP course providing institutes.
To be eligible for applying for ICF’s ACC and PCC credentials through ACTP coaching , an individual must complete the entire ACTP coach training program. ACTP coaching, a virtual coaching program, has 10 hours of mentored one-on-one coaching. The course is spread over 4-6 months, depending on the institutes providing the course. The trainees during ACTP coach training have a live practice session with clients under supervision. These sessions are monitored and evaluated.
ACC through ACTP coaching
ACC or Associated Certified Coach is a basic level ICF credential that one requires to practice coaching as an accredited professional. ACTP or Accredited Coach training program provides a fast pathway to apply for ACC credentials through ICF after the completion of its coach training program and 100 coaching hours.
To become an ACC coach, students must maintain a log of live coaching experience, complete their assignments, and must undergo course-end evaluation by the course faculty. ACTP coach training candidates need to appear for the Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA) examination to prove their understanding of the ICF core competencies and ethics before being eligible for applying for ACC credentials through ICF.
PCC through ACTP coaching
PCC or Professional Certified Coach is the higher level ICF credential that one applies for after the completion of 125 hours of ICF approved coach training and after completion of 500 coaching hours.
To apply for PCC coaching through ICF, an individual must have a recorded log of their client sessions, complete their ACTP coaching course assignments, and clear final evaluative examinations conducted by their institute faculties. PCC applications are approved by ICF only after the trainees pass CKA examinations.
Who benefits from ACTP coaching training?
ACTP coaching is beneficial for both aspiring coaches and coaches with coaching experience who want to enhance their skills and become accredited professionals. It is the correct pathway to becoming a professional coach.
