What Is ICF Coaching and Why Should You Become Credentialed?

When any trainee starts on their journey asking how to become a certified coach, the sheer volume of information can feel overwhelming. Becoming a life coach used to be a pretty lawless land. Anybody could call themselves a life coach, and there was practically no regulation on the industry. It was difficult for clients to identify professionally trained coaches versus self-proclaimed coaches.

While life coaching isn’t regulated by any federal agency, in today’s coaching profession professional standards are in place to create legitimacy within the coaching industry. We believe this is for the better for coaching competencies, client’s progression, and global advancement in coaching.

Instead of just starting the process with how to become a certified coach we want to encourage, cultivate and support trainee coaches to become the industry gold standard in coaching.

What is Coaching by ICF Standards?

ICF refers to the International Coaching Federation, a training body that sets the professional standards in the coaching industry. The International Coaching Federation runs an internationally recognized credentialing program that has helped facilitate massive change in the industry, raising the bar for professional potential in coaching.

The ICF defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.”

The ICF core competencies are categorized into four clusters:

• Foundation
• Co-creating the relationship
• Communicating effectively
• Cultivating learning and growth.

ICF approved coach training programs help coaches develop a thorough understanding of the competencies defined by the governing body. This creates a cool standardization and set of guidelines that distinguishes “real coaches” from the “self-proclaimed” coaches.

How Powerhouse Coaching Can Help

As the coaching industry continues to evolve and change, our mentor coaches stay up to date with professional standards to give you a greater understanding of how to succeed. Staying fully informed of the latest changes ensures our curriculum aligns with the International Coach Federation. We deliver coach-specific training not just on ICF core competencies but also on personal growth and the entire coaching process to help you stay up to date with skills and accredited programs.

Our enthusiastic team is passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience, and uses thought-provoking and creative methods to do so. We live and breathe all things coaching and love to meet other professional coaches who share that passion wherever you are on your training journey.

We work tirelessly to make sure your skills improve exponentially, helping you as you navigate the coaching profession. Your success is hugely important to us, and you can see from our reviews that we delight in the achievements of our coaching clients.

As our team of master-certified coaches are ICF accredited, we know firsthand the benefits of achieving this level of training. We can answer all your questions about ICF requirements and credentialing and support you in your training through the independent credentialing program.

What are the Benefits of ICF Coaching Accreditation

Completing ICF accredited training programs can result in various wonderful benefits for coaches. Here’s just some of the reasons you should become accredited.

Increased Client Confidence

When seeking a professional certified coach, clients will consider several different factors to make their decision. It may be based on your reviews or the impression your website or social media makes, but they will always consider the coach-specific training you’ve completed. Many potential clients will be interested in your level of credential (ACC, PCC or MCC), especially third-party coaching providers like BetterUp, Coach Hub, Korn Ferry, etc. 

Having a range of independent certification you can boast on your resume is a great way to reassure potential clients of your professional coaching background and achievements. Building your credibility in this way will help to dispel potential client fears as you demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

Gaining an Edge on Competitors

The life coaching profession can prove competitive, and having ICF credentials can help set you apart from other professional coaches. Achieving credentials right up to master certified coach will help you to stand out from the crowd and give you the edge over other coaches.

If one of your competitors is in a similar location to you, has the same years coaching experience and has reviews just as great as yours, you need a trump card to make your services more desirable to potential clients. ICF accreditation can be that extra advantage that secures you new business.

Striving for Perfection

Continuous education is one of the key things we consider to be the habits of a great coach. When you continue to upskill, you are constantly developing your personal and professional potential, which will benefit your career in many ways.

The professional fulfillment you’ll achieve can help renew your enthusiasm in the coaching industry and helps immensely with job satisfaction.

Achieving High Standards

When you set out to become a certified coach, why wouldn’t you want to be the best? What is the purpose of ICF coach credentialing if not to help you realize your full potential and achieve the highest possible standard? As we say, continuous education and training is how Olympians become Olympians, and why should coaches be any different? Consider this the Olympics of coaching, and ICF members are the best in the business.

Pre Qualify for Business Opportunities

There are now third-party coaching brokers who facilitate the partnering of coaches and clients. For many of these services, the brokers use ICF credentials as the standard to qualify coaches to work with their clients. Being ICF accredited will help you access opportunities like these. As the industry becomes even more regulated, we’ll see more opportunities with assessments like this. ICF accredited training programs give you access to resources not available to everyone and will elevate your coaching skills to the next level.

About the Author

Jennifer Powers is an ICF Master Certified Coach and best-selling author. She specializes in leading ICF Group Mentor Coaching courses for coaches who want to attain or renew their ACC, PCC or MCC credential from the International Coach Federation. Jennifer Powers is the founder of Powerhouse Coaching which strives to develop the best coaches in the world.