Frequently Asked Questions  (updated March 19, 2008)

If I purchase your 9-CD coach training course, will I become a certified coach?

No. There is more to becoming a certified coach than listening to a self-study program. If you are brand new to coaching, think of the CDs as a starting point to becoming a certified coach. They are a very useful tool but they do not replace an in-person coach training program.  If you have no prior coach training, you will likely also need to enroll in a program where you can interact with and get feedback from the instructors and other students. On the other hand, if you already have coach training and experience - the CDs will provide you with the "finishing touch" you need to pass the IAC certification exam.

There's so much information on the Internet. How do I sort through it all?

I recommend starting with this ebook "How to Become a Coach". Author Sue Bond has researched all the information about training programs, certification and the business of coaching and compiled it into one place. Her information is current (she updates it every year) and objective.

Note: This book is mainly about how to research the profession, decide whether it's for you, and choose a training program.  Although it does touch on what's involved in having a coaching business, it is not a "how to build your practice" book.

I'm trying to decide which coach training program to enroll in.  Do you suggest a live course or an online program?

Live is great but online education (teleseminar via conference call) is very common in coach education and it works well (that's how I did my training).  Don’t be put off by it.
 

Which coach training program do you recommend? 

If I was just starting out, I would probably enroll with The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) because they have a comprehensive and well-supported program based on my favorite coaching skills book.  I also like what I’ve seen from Erickson College, The Institute for Life Coach Training (primarily for therapists and other helping professionals), CoachU and the Academy for Coach Training (ACT). Here is a chart comparing the prices and programs of the above-mentioned coaching schools. You probably can't go wrong selecting one of these schools. (Keep in mind that this is not an official or complete list. Just because a certain school is not on this list does not mean that it is no good.  It might just mean that I haven't encountered it yet.)
 

If you want more details, this report covers 40+ coach training programs

If you want a more comprehensive comparison of coach training programs, you can get this 25-page report "Coach Training Compared" with the purchase of Sue Bond's ebook "How to Become A Coach."  In my opinion, this bonus report alone is worth the price of the ebook. It will save you hours and hours of research.  

I know you are Canadian.  Can you recommend a coach training program based in Canada?

Erickson College is based in Vancouver.  Royal Roads University (Victoria) has a well-respected executive coaching program.  I think CTI holds weekend trainings in major Canadian cities.  I recommend all three of these programs. As mentioned above, there may be other schools that are just as good that I don't know about.  

What's the difference between ICF and IAC certification?

Generally speaking, the ICF certification is based on education completed and number of paid coaching hours, whereas the IAC certification is based solely on passing a series of exams.  The IAC certification does not require completion of any particular training program or number of hours of coaching.   

Which certification, ICF or IAC, would be best for me?

It depends on your needs and your client group.  Right now ICF certification is more recognized because the ICF has been around longer.  For coaches wanting to work with corporate clients, ICF may be better because corporate clients are more familiar with that designation.  For coaches wanting to work with private individuals or groups, certification does not seem to be as much of an issue.   

ICF website  www.coachfederation.org

IAC website  www.certifiedcoach.org

What's involved with passing the IAC exams?

The IAC certification based on demonstrating knowledge and ability in The Coaching Masteries™.  A workbook describing the 9 Coaching Masteries™ is available at certifiedcoach.org.  The test involves an on-line exam and evaluation of two taped client calls.  Although it may seem that the IAC certification is a faster or easier way to become certified compared to the ICF, the reality is that achieving the level of mastery required to pass the IAC exam requires a great deal of coaching skill and experience. My 9-CD coach training program covers what you need to know to pass the IAC exam.
 

How do I record my coaching calls? 

Go to www.coach.audioacrobat.com and sign up for a subscription. It's 19.95 a month and the first month is free.  And here is my step-by-step article on how to record using the AudioAcrobat service.
 

I've been "coaching" all my life but I just haven't called it that.  Would being certified benefit me? 

You don't necessarily need to be certified, but you do need to be trained. When people say they "have been coaching all their life" they usually mean they've been a good and caring listener all their life.  Or they've been the one people turn to for advice. There's much more to coaching than this (and in fact, giving advice is a very small part of coaching).
 

What are the legal requirements to call yourself a professional business or life coach?

At present, there is no legal requirement that coaches be certified.  This may change within the next few years, so working towards certification is a wise move.

Has anyone done research into the coaching profession?
Yes, there is a growing body of research on coaching. For example, in 2008 Dr. Vikki Brock completed her Ph.D. dissertation titled "Grounded Theory of the Roots and Emergence of Coaching." This 693 page document (including appendices and references) is the result of three years and 170+ interviews, and is available for free at The Foundation of Coaching's Research Repository. 
 

Can I hire you as my mentor coach?

I only take on a few mentees at a time, and they have to be highly motivated and fast learners. f this describes you, and you would like to discuss a possible mentor coaching relationship, please send me an email answering the following questions:

1) Where are you at in your coaching development? (training, experience, clients)
2) What do you want to achieve in the next six months?
3) How many hours each week are you prepared to devote to coaching development? 
4) Why do you want to work with me?

I look forward to hearing from you.  My fees for mentor coaching range from $450 - $600 USD a month.