Benchmark shares tips to guide aspiring coaches in getting certified

MANILA, Philippines - The most recent Global Consumer Awareness Study of the International Coach Federation, the largest and leading global organization for coaches, reveals that certification or credentials is imperative for professional coaches to have. 

Out of the 15,000 respondents, aged 25 and up, from across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, 84 percent of those who had been in a coaching relationship and 73 percent of those who had no experience with coaching at all considered certification as “important” or “very important.”

According to the study, the top motivations for getting a coach were to optimize individual and/or team performance, expand professional career opportunities, improve business management strategies, increase self-esteem and manage work-life balance. 

Satisfaction levels were very high among those who have been involved in coaching (83 percent) and even higher for those who had an ICF credentialed coach (92 percent).  

Former ICF president and master certified coach (MCC) Giovanna D’Alessio said, “In coaching, as with any profession, consumers want the security of knowing they are working with a trained and experienced professional.”

As the voice and authority in coaching, ICF continuously strives to advance the profession by setting high industry and ethical standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches.

Having an ICF credential indicates to clients that a coach has met stringent educational, training, and experience requirements to deliver coaching in the most effective and ethical manner.

ICF credential holders demonstrate a working knowledge of the ICF core competencies, and code of ethics through a rigorous examination process.

Locally, aspiring coaches can train under Benchmark Consulting to be an ICF-accredited coach. The firm is the pioneer and sole provider of ICF-approved coaching programs in the country. It is also the only Filipino firm training aspiring coaches in Singapore.

Benchmark managing director, ICF-Philippines founder and the only Filipino professional certified coach Julius Ordonez said, “Aspiring coaches need to build their knowledge, skills and credibility. They will need to invest in a coach-training program that will boost their development and success.”

Ordonez cited three key factors to consider before investing time and money on a coach training program.

Verify if the program is ICF-approved. A legitimate coach training program is one that is not just aligned but specifically ICF-approved and delivered by an ICF-credentialed coach. It entails a thorough learning process not completed in just a couple of days. 

The best module incorporates classroom training, “real” playing and actual client interface, immersing participants in the rudiments of the coaching process. 

Ultimately, it should be able to help participants get their desired certification, whether they aim to be an associate certified coach (ACC), which requires 60 coach training hours and 100 hours of coaching experience; a professional certified coach (PCC), which necessitates 125 coach training hours, plus 750 hours of coaching experience; or a master certified coach (MCC), which entails 200 coach training hours and 2,500 hours of coaching experience.

Check ICF credential of faculty. This is a must as ICF is regarded as a prime mover in the global coaching industry and it offers the only independent credentialing program recognized anywhere in the world. Go for faculty who are practicing coaches and have a PCC or MCC credential to ensure that they have expertise and experience to teach the art and science of coaching.

Mentor coaching. Working with a PCC or MCC mentor coach for at least six months is mandatory in attaining certification so opt for a coach training program that guarantees this.

Mentor coaches should be able to personally supervise the competency progress of trainees, guide them during actual client interface and help them pass the ICF comprehensive final exam.

Also, mentor coaches are expected to give reference letters, which is part of the application for the ICF comprehensive exam and certification. 

To be sure that they get the best coach-training program, aspiring coaches are encouraged to enrol in Benchmark Consulting’s Accelerated Coach Training Program (ACTP), a 68-hour, four-month training specifically designed to fulfill the all requirements for ICF accreditation, including practicum and mentor coaching, which are not offered by other providers.

Participants in this program are assisted every step of the way — from the learning process to the application, the passing of requisite exams — until they become full pledged ICF credentialed coaches. 

The first phase of this program is set to kick off on Sept. 6-9. For more information, call Benchmark Consulting at 812-7177, e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.benchmark-consulting.net.