Coach specific training
60 hours of coach specific training
Achieving your ICF Coaching Credential
Please note that the information on this is subject to change. Furthermore we do understand that navigating the credentialing pathways can be confusing for some. Therefore, just letting you know that the information on our page does not replace the information on the International Coaching Federation (ICF) website. You should read our page along side the information on the ICF website. And of course contact us with your questions and we will step you through getting your ICF coaching accreditation 🙂
Congratulations on your initiative towards achieving your ICF coaching credentials!
Open Door’s ICF coaching programs can assist you in achieving your professional status and accreditation with the International Coach Federation (ICF).
We are pleased to let you know that on 22nd August 2022, we successfully transitioned and became approved as a Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching Education Provider and our programs transitioned to ICF Coaching Level 1 and Level 2 programs.
Our Diploma of Leadership Coaching 11315NAT is a Level 2 Accredited coach education program (formerly known as the Accredited Coach Training Program) with the ICF, offering a total of 125 coach specific training hours.
Furthermore our Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching 11314NAT program is an ICF Level 1 Accredited coach education program.
LOOKING TO APPLY FOR YOUR ACC CREDENTIAL?
LOOKING TO APPLY FOR YOUR PCC CREDENTIAL?
LOOKING TO APPLY FOR YOUR MCC CREDENTIAL?
Our Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT) program is a Level 1 ICF Accredited Coach Education Program.
By completing the Certificate IV via face to face method you can request a letter from Open Door to confirm your achievements. With this letter, once you have completed your required coaching experience (100 hours of experience) you can apply DIRECTLY to the ICF for your Associate Credentialed Coach (ACC) credential via the Level 1 application pathway. You will also receive access to the ICF Credentialing Exam,
(Note the ICF Credentialing Exam is administered by the ICF Credentials and Standards, and not by coach training providers).
Our Diploma of Organisational Coaching (11315NAT) is a Level 2 ICF Accredited Coach Education Program.
By completing the Diploma via the face to face method (after completing the Cert IV) you can request a letter from Open Door to confirm your achievements. With this letter, once you have completed your required coaching experience (500 hours) you can apply DIRECTLY to the ICF for your Professional Credentialed Coach (PCC) credential via the Level 2 application pathway. You will also receive access to the the ICF Credentialing Exam,
(Note, the ICF Credentialing Exam is administered by the ICF Credentials and Standards, and not by coach training providers).
The Master Credentialed Coach (MCC) credential with the ICF requires 200 hours of coaching education, 2500 plus hours of coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching, successful completion of the Performance Evaluation and the ICF Credentialing Exam. Applicants must hold, or previously held, the PCC Credential.
The MCC credential is held by a limited number of coaches throughout the world, including our CEO Natalie Ashdown.
We don’t currently have an MCC program, but we can tell you our experience in applying and what it takes to take your skills from PCC level to MCC level.
And our Level 1 and Level 2 programs contribute towards your coaching education hours.
Our Level 1 Program includes:
Our Level 2 Program includes:
How our programs contribute to the MCC:
YOUR COACHING IN THE WORKPLACE COUNTS TOWARDS COACHING HOURS
The great news is that if you are coaching in your workplace, these hours of coaching can be counted towards the ‘paid hours’ above. The coaching hours that you do as part of your coach training education does NOT count towards the hours above.
The ACC credential experience requirements
You can view the ACC experience requirements here, but in summary:
- 100 hours of client coaching hours.
- 75 hours can be ‘paid hours’ and
- 25 hours can be ‘unpaid (pro-bono)’ coaching hours.
- You need to coach a minimum of 8 clients across these hours.
The PCC credential experience requirements
You can view the experience requirements here, but in summary:
- 500 hours of client coaching hours.
- 450 hours can be ‘paid hours’ and
- 50 hours can be ‘unpaid (pro-bono)’ coaching hours.
- You need to coach a minimum of 25 clients across these hours.
Giving you a range of flexible options to achieve your ICF credential
Different coaches have different needs when it comes to applying for their ICF credential.
Perhaps you’ve completed coach training but your organisation wasn’t recognised by the ICF?
Alternatively, you need some more coach training hours to top up?
Furthermore, you need mentoring coaching?
The easiest pathway to ACC is to complete the Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT) or our Level 1 Accredited Coach program.
In addition, easiest pathway to PCC is to complete the Diploma of Leadership Coaching (11315NAT).
However, we have a lot of different scenarios depending on your requirements or past training.
Importantly, us what you want to achieve. And we can help with all these scenarios. We summarise the options below. However please do contact us.
| Program and delivery method | ICF Accreditation and application pathway | Contribution towards ACC Credential | Contribution towards PCC Credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT)
Delivery method: Face to Face in the classroom or via ZOOM. | ICF Accreditation: Level 1
Application pathway: | 1. 60 coach specific training hours; 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching; and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for ACC | 1. 60 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 65 more hours for PCC); 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching 3. The Performance Evaluation is for ACC level (not PCC) |
| Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT)
Delivery method: Self-paced online study | ICF Accreditation: Partial completion of a Level 1 program.
Application pathway: ACSTH | 1. 30 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 30 more hours for ACC); 2. 5 hours mentoring coaching (you will need 5 more hours for ACC); and 3. The Performance Evaluation that you can submit to ICF for evaluation. | 1. 30 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 95 more hours for PCC); 2. 5 hours mentoring coaching (you will need 5 more hours for PCC); and 3. The Performance Evaluation that you can submit to ICF for evaluation. |
| Diploma of Leadership Coaching (11315NAT)
Delivery method: Face to Face in the classroom or via ZOOM. | ICF Accreditation: Level 2
Application pathway: | 1. You will complete 125 coach specific training hours (but you only need 60 hours for ACC); 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching; and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for ACC | 1. 125 coach specific training hours; 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching; and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for PCC |
| Diploma of Leadership Coaching (11315NAT)
Delivery method: Self-paced online study | ICF Accreditation: Partial completion of Level 2 program.
Application pathway: ACSTH | 1. 60 coach specific training hours 2. 4 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 6 more hours); and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for ACC | 1. 60 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 65 more hours for PCC); 2. 4 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 6 more hours); and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for PCC |
| Advanced Coaching Certificate
Delivery method: Face to Face in the classroom or via ZOOM. | ICF Accreditation: Partial completion of Level 2 program.
Application pathway: ACSTH | 1. 40 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 20 more hours for ACC); 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching; and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for ACC | 1. 40 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 65 more hours for PCC); 2. 10 hours mentoring coaching; and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for PCC |
| Advanced Coaching Certificate
Delivery method: Self-paced online study | ICF Accreditation: Partial completion of Level 2 program.
Application pathway: ACSTH | 1. 20 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 45 more hours for ACC); 2. 4 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 6 more hours); and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for ACC | 1. 20 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 105 more hours for PCC); 2. 4 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 6 more hours); and 3. The Performance Evaluation required to apply for PCC |
| Coaching Culture Certificate
Delivery method: Self-paced online study | ICF Accreditation: Partial completion of Level 2 program.
Application pathway: ACSTH | 1. 25 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 35 more hours for ACC); 2. 0 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 10 more hours); and 3. No Performance Evaluation (you will to complete this to achieve ACC) | 1. 25 coach specific training hours (you will need to accumulate 100 more hours for PCC); 2. 0 hours mentoring coaching (you will need to accumulate 10 more hours); and 3. No Performance Evaluation (you will to complete this to achieve PCC) |
How to apply for your credential?
You need to apply to the International Coach Federation (ICF) directly using the appropriate application and by paying the appropriate fees. Open Door does not submit applications or collect fees on behalf of the ICF. We do not have any control over how quickly your application is processed or whether your application is successful or not.
How to maintain your credential once you have achieved it?
The renewal of your ICF credential requires you to undertake Continuing Coach Education (CCE) to be completed in the three years since the initial award of your credential or since your last credential renewal, as follows:
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC) at least 30 hours
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC) at least 40 hours
- Master Certified Coach (MCC) at least 40 hours
Open Door Coaching runs regular Coaching Cafe webinars that help you earn your CCE hours
Here’s some more important background information on ICF Coaching
Our history of ICF accreditation
We were one of the first programs in Australia to achieve ICF Coaching accreditation way back in 2007. Furthermore, we have maintained our accreditation since then with a focus on continuous improvement. In addition satisfying the requirements of the ICF as the coaching industry evolves. This includes updating our programs to ensure that the latest version of the ICF Core Competencies are incorporated into our training programs.
Importantly, we are proud of our continual renewal. Furthermore our commitment to support our clients in achieving their professional status in the industry. We successfully received the renewal of ACTP approval on 30 December 2021, just before all the big changes were announced. In April 2022 we submitted our application for transition to Level 1 and Level 2 coach education programs. Subsequently, as mentioned, since August 2022 we are approved under the new Standards for Coaching Education.
Our Mission
Our vision is that organisations build a culture of coaching conversations in the workplace such that ‘coaching is the way we do things around here’. We see coaching as a way of enabling leaders to create workplaces that we can be proud of! Workplaces where people want to come to work; where innovation is encouraged; where people speak up and ideas are encouraged (not knocked down and swept under the carpet).
We believe in people’s strengths and that by playing to your strengths people build competency that leads to organisation results.
Furthermore, we believe in bringing out the best in people – that as leaders, it’s our role to bring out the best potential in people.
It is important that we are achieving results that are sustainable, measurable and tangible. We don’t believe in ‘airy fairy’ and ‘ra ra’ motivation – we are real and practical.
Our mission is to enable this vision by being a world leading provider of coach education that meets the ICF global standard for coach education.
We coach managers and leaders to coach their teams to the ICF global standard and the ICF Core Competencies are built into all our programs.
As a team we have coaching qualifications, ICF credentials, business qualifications, proven track records and years of experience. But most importantly we have the passion, enthusiasm, drive and commitment to help clients make a difference in the workplace. We do this with fun, honesty, practical skills, and a focus on relationships and innovation.
At the same time, continuously set new benchmarks for workplace coaching and coaching education in Australia.
Why are ICF coaching credentials important?
From our perspective, achieving your ICF coaching credential is one of the steps that you can take to establishing your professionalism in the coaching industry in Australia and across other countries around the globe.
As we find in other industries, methodologies and practices, being part of an industry body, committing to a code of ethics and standards and commitment to on-going professional development are all part of being part of a professional industry.
Do I need a ICF coaching credential to become a coach?
We have noticed changes over many years. Particularly in government tenders and large coaching tenders that ask coaches to state their qualifications. In addition their ICF coaching credentials. In some cases the request for credentials has been stated as ‘mandatory’. Furthermore, we have noticed that it is becoming an influential factor and a way of differentiating yourself.
Having said all this, a number of clients say ‘no-one has ever asked me for my ICF credentials’. Therefore, our thinking is that clients may not ask for credentials. However, they have already checked out whether you have ICF coaching credentials or not. Alternatively, they assume that you do. Importantly, despite whether clients ‘ask or not’ for us, credentialing is about your professional status in the industry. Furthermore your commitment to development.
Why did we become an ICF accredited coach training provider?
We chose to become a coach education provider back in 2007 and have maintained our accreditation every year since, because we believed that to build the professionalism of coaching in Australia we had to set and continue to meet a global standard for coach education. This belief is alive and well and even stronger today.
We believe that coaching qualifications and credentials are important because they (a) set a standard for coaching in the industry; (b) ensure consumer of coaching education are receiving quality training that is fit for purpose; (c) provide coaches and organisations with confidence in their investment in themselves.
That’s the reason that we consider that moving towards the achievement of your ICF credential is a worthy goal.
This profession is our life’s work. We have dedicated nearly 20 years to this profession and ensuring that consumers of coaching education have the highest quality of coach training and the supportive services to enable their successful completion of the program. It means that every day we are striving for excellence, and we are delivering world-class services that make a difference on a daily basis.
Who are the Level 1 and Level 2 Programs designed for?
Generally speaking Open Door Coaching’s Level 1 and Level 2 programs are designed for managers, leaders and coaches who would like to be coaching in the workplace or would like to set up a business as a workplace or executive coach. Whilst we don’t specifically focus on ‘life coaching’, all of the tools on the program can be applied to both an individual coachee’s personal or professional life.
The Diploma of Leadership Coaching (11315NAT) Level 2 Accredited program is targeting a more advanced level of coaching and the implementation of a culture of coaching. So it is perfect for experience coaches who are keen to develop their skills and leaders who are focussed on the strategic implementation of coaching.
What are the pre-requisites for individuals to enrol?
For the Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT) there are no specific pre-requisites other than standard literacy requirements.
For direct entry into the Diploma of Leadership Coaching (11315NAT) you are required to be coaching at an ACC level, with prior coaching specific training. Please see more information about the pre-requisites here.
Languages that are used to deliver the training? The program is delivered in English and no translation is available. However, you can dial in from around the world to participate in the program. In addition, our programs are being delivered in the USA by our international partner Emma Doyle.
Delivery methods, dates, locations?
Delivery methods? You have two options for the delivery of your program:
- Fully self-paced online study: with this option you have full access to our eLearning system with workbooks, videos and resources. You will work through the modules at your own pace and submit your assessments. Of course you have access to full support including access to Coaching Buddy Sessions, Coaching Cafes for on-going learning and the Open Door team.
- Face to face study with a facilitator: To increase flexibility for our students, our public programs are currently being delivered using a blended approach with access to our eLearning system and facilitated LIVE sessions with our facilitator delivered via ZOOM. We have returned to face to face training in the physical classroom for in-house programs but are also implementing a hybrid approach, so please contact us about your requirements.
Dates and locations of the program: You can find out the dates and locations of the program by clicking here. In terms of locations, all programs are delivered via ZOOM at the moment, unless the program is delivered in-house specifically for your organisation. We deliver on-site for organisations.
Your Organisation Faculty
The Director of Education for our Level 1 and Level 2 programs is our, Natalie Ashdown. Natalie holds the MCC (Master Certified Coach) credential with the ICF. Your mentor coaching and performance evaluation will be conducted by Natalie, or by our Learning and Development Manager, Brigitte Calvert. Brigitte holds the MCC (Master Certified Coach) designation with the ICF.
In addition, you have the full support of the Open Door Team. You can find out more information about the team who will support you through your coaching program and beyond, by checking out our BIOs here.
Before, during and after your program
It is very important to us that before, during and after your program you feel like you are receiving not only great coach training, but excellent customer service. After the program, we don’t just issue you with your certificate and that’s it! We offer free of charge, on-going professional development to enable you to continue to grow your coaching skills. Most importantly, this enables you to achieve free ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE’s) that you need to collect to maintain your credential.
We do this via our weekly Coaching Cafes and you can register for the topics that interest you. Alternatively, catch up on our blog.
How do I make an informed decision about ICF coaching accreditation?
We have been alerted to the fact that other organisations may be advertising Level 1 and Level 2 ‘certification’ or ‘accreditation’, and the use of different terminology across the industry can be confusing.
We want you to be comfortable and to make an informed decision about your program, so we encourage you to ask:
‘What do I have to do to get my ACC? or ICF Level 1 accreditation?’
And ‘what will it cost?’
And also ‘are you a Registered Training Organisation or do you partner with an RTO?’
Or alternatively, just contact us and we promise to step you through the process in an open and honest manner.
More information?
Contact phone number/email/organisational contact list: You can contact us for more information.
More information about your rights as a student: you can find out more background information by downloading our Student Handbook. In here you will find a lot of information, for example, about your rights as a student including our complaints and appeals process, our statements around diversity, equity and inclusion and what you can expect from working with a representative of Open Door.
Making an informed decision: We want you to be comfortable and to make an informed decision about your program, so we encourage you to contact us.
You need to know that this information is subject to change. It does not replace the information on the ICF Global website. You should read this information along side the information on the ICF Global website.
