Coaching Business Training

Is Coaching a Good Career Choice for You?

Coaching is quickly growing as a career choice, and professional coaches are increasingly in demand. Career opportunities exist for many different types of coaches, including life coaches, business coaches, spiritual coaches, and others.

Before you decide to pursue coaching business training, it is a good idea to research the field and decide if it is a good option for you. Most coaches are self-employed, so it is important to consider whether or not you are ready to become an entrepreneur in addition to providing coaching services to clients. Individuals who enjoy and are experienced in mentoring, tutoring, and advising others are often well suited for a coaching career.

What Do Professional Coaches Do?

Coaches guide clients to accomplish their personal goals. Business coaches, for example, help entrepreneurs grow and develop their businesses. Career coaches help people determine and reach career objectives. Coaches assist individuals to make better decisions, become more productive, and take actions to accomplish their goals. Coaches help clients discover who they really are, and guide them toward fulfilling their potential.

International Coaching Federation

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a nonprofit professional association for business and personal coaches. ICF’s mission is to build, support, and preserve the integrity of the coaching profession. The Federation provides a variety of professional development programs for its individual members, develops standards of practice, promotes the profession, and accredits coaching business training programs throughout the world. To learn more about becoming an ICF member, click here.

The International Coaching Federation suggests that individuals who are thinking about pursuing a coaching career should start by hiring a coach. Working with a coach can help you determine if coaching is a good career choice and also allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the coach-client relationship. ICF advises those who decide that coaching is right for them to complete an accredited coaching training program prior to opening a practice.

ICF Accredited Coaching Training Programs

Accredited programs are compliant with content and training delivery standards established by the Federation. ICF Accredited Coach Training Programs (ACTP) include a minimum of 125 clock hours of training specific to the practice of coaching. Additionally, students are required to complete six coaching sessions under the observation and supervision of an experienced coach. Students must also pass a comprehensive final exam designed to evaluate their coaching competency.

Where to Get Coaching Business Training

There are a number of ACTP training programs located in the United States and around the world.

ACTPs in the United States Include:

• Academy for Coach Training
• Accomplishment Coaching
• The Institute for Life Coach Training
• Coach for Life
• Coach U
• Coaches Training Institute (CTI)
• CoachVille
• Co-Creative Alliance
• College of Executive Coaching
• Corporate Coach U International (CCUI)
• Fielding Graduate University
• Georgetown University, Center for Professional Development
• Gestalt Center for Organization & System Development
• Institute for Life Coach Training
• iPEC Coaching
• Mentor Coach
• New Ventures West
• Newfield Network
• SECA
• Success Unlimited Network (SUN)
• The Hudson Institute
• University of Texas at Dallas

Worldwide ACTP Choices Include:

• International Coach Academy: Australia
• Life Coaching Academy Pty Ltd: Australia
• Results Coaching Systems: Australia
• FUTURE Training-Beratung-Coaching: Austria
• Trinergy International: Austria
• Integrated Coaching Institute: Brazil
• Adler School of Professional Coaching: China
• Coaching de Gestion Inc.: China
• Erickson College: China
• Integral Coaching: Canada
• Royal Roads University: China
• Top Human Technology Limited: China
• Coaching Hall International de Colombia: Columbia
• International MOZAIK l'ecole du devenir: France
• Corporate Coach U Italia: Italy
• Coach 21 Inc.: Japan
• Escuela Europea de Coaching: Spain
• Instituto Internacional Olacoach: Spain
• IDC, Institut de Coaching: Switzerland
• Academy of Executive Coaching: UK
• Coaching Development, Ltd.: UK
• International Teaching Seminars (ITS): UK

Selecting a Coaching Training Program

There are many factors to consider when choosing an ICF accredited training program. Some programs are classroom based, and others are online and/or teleconference-based. Some schools provide training for many different types of coaching careers, and others focus on particular specifications. Many schools provide free teleconferences and information sessions for prospective students. For example, the Academy of Coach Training offers a free Introduction to Coaching teleseminar. Visit the websites of ICF programs that appeal to you to learn more about the specifics of each program.