For now, there are about 71,000 coaching practitioners worldwide. However, considering there are an estimated 4,380,000 coaches globally and around 71,000 are registered, you can concur that only about 1.6% of coaching practitioners are certified. Just like any professional industry, certification is essential in coaching as well. When it comes to selecting a coaching professional, a coaching certification course is essential for professionals to prove their credibility without any setbacks. Confused about accreditation in coaching? Here’s a definitive guide from the experts to help you out. Dive in!
Different accreditation bodies and what they represent
As per the ICF Global Study in Coaching, 81% of clients assert that they prefer a credentialed or certified coach. While evaluating a coaching certification course, there are a few things to look for. One of them is considering the coaching accreditation body with which the training program is affiliated. In case you are searching for some information, here are four of the most widely recognized accreditation bodies worldwide:
International Coach Federation (ICF)
ICF represents the gold standard in coaching. ICF has been in the coaching industry since the coaching’s inception. ICF is the most recognized body offering credentials to coach practitioners since its establishment in 1995.
European Coaching and Mentoring Council (EMCC)
EMCC represents the best practice in coaching, mentoring, and supervision across Europe. The coaching accreditation body offers accreditation for individuals, training programs, and organizations. Established in 2002, EMCC is popular in European countries.
Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE)
CCE is primarily a non-profit organization that provides advanced professional coaching accreditation for individuals. Based in the USA, CCE currently offers BCC (Board Certified Coach) credentials for subject matter experts who have obtained coach-specific training.
Association for Coaching (AC)
The Association for Coaching is a non-profit professional body providing credentials for coaches, coaching trainers/providers, and organizations. At present, AC offers four different types of accreditations for coaches.
International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the most recognizable and widely accepted coaching credential among coach practitioners and organizations.
Is certification essential?
The coaching industry is unprecedentedly booming right now on nuclear levels. The estimated global revenue from coaching touched the $3 billion milestones in 2020. In the exploding world of professional coaching, about 84% of people believe that coaching certification or credentials are necessary to decipher the professional credibility of a coach.
In addition to being a method to showcase credibility, a coaching certification program also equips aspiring coaches with the tools and techniques that can help their clients succeed. A coach certificate can establish legitimacy for a coach who has completed coach-specific training and understands the professional ethics of the industry. It boosts the reputation of a coach as a true professional and creates opportunities for those who want to integrate with the global network of coaches and clients.
Conclusion
Do you know that in the year 2020, a search for “coaches” on LinkedIn resulted in about 6.28 million results? Coaching isn’t just a profession; it is a passion to create a difference in the world and at the organizational forefront. As coaching has become a hot commodity in the modern world, opting for a coaching certification course is now a mandate to stay relevant as per the coaching standards in the enterprise landscape.
Team Transformation offers professional coaching certification courses for leaders and executives who wish to get ICF-accredited coaching training. Do leave a comment if you found this blog helpful.
