Caught in a Board Certified Coach vs ICF Credential debate and not knowing which path to pursue? Take heart, for this article will give you some basic ideas on both credentials and lead you to the path that suits your life’s purpose. So, let’s begin.

 

There are countless life coaching schools that exist around the world but only a few provide quality training. Even some universities are also offering training for different coaching programs.

To give their coaching programs credibility and to spread brand awareness, most of these life coaching schools offer unique certifications for life coaches who have completed training from them. Some of these certifications take a longer time period to complete while some can be obtained by attending a weekend workshop.

Due to the availability of a wide range of coaching training programs, different governing bodies have decided to establish a specific standard of training, ethics, and education among coaches.

Board Certified Coach vs ICF Certified Coach Credentials

Let’s look at two of the most well-known governing bodies offering credentials that are most commonly sought after.

Board Certified Coach Credential

BCC is a source of credibility for clients and a sign of distinction for a credential holder. It follows the coaching standards that have been established by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CEE). CEE is a non-profit organization which has been providing certifications to counselors for years.

A BCC credential demonstrates that a professional coach has fulfilled various requirements such as meeting the training and educational requirements effectively. This means, the coach has passed a psychometrically sound coach-specific examination and gained experience in the field of coaching. He has professional peer references, accountability to ethics codes, and commitment to continue his education.

Getting a BCC certification can solidify the professional identity of the coach. This certification is best for those who want to get third-party verification to achieve coaching competency standards.

To pursue this path, check the different requirements required for different backgrounds before enrolling. The following are the requirements (see if you possess one of the requirements below):

• Master’s or Ph.D. in counseling.
• Doctoral degree in a social or behavioral science (e.g., social work, education, health, business).
• Master’s degree or higher in social or behavioral sciences (e.g., social work, education, health, business).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in any field.
• Recognized coaching credential and a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field.
• At least 2,500 hours of experience over a period of at least five years and a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field.

Source: https://www.cce-global.org/Credentialing/BCC/Requirements

The International Coach Federation Credentials

The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the largest organization of professional and highly trained coaches around the world. The credential holders of ICF are a major part of an elite group of coaches who provides accountability to clients and the coaching profession. They complete the required education and have practiced all of its requirements to provide an unquestionable commitment to coaching excellence. ICF offers three distinct coaching credentials:

• Associate Certified Coach
• Professional Certified Coach
• Master Certified Coach

Board Certified Coach vs ICF Credentials: Choosing the Right School

When choosing the right school or when you are doing a Board Certified Coach vs ICF Credential research, pay attention to the following things:

• Experience of the school of being in the industry.
• Feedback of Board Certified Coaches vs ICF Certified Coaches.
• The training fee which you have to pay and also see whether the school provides any scholarship or not.

Life coaching is an emotionally satisfying and fulfilling profession but becoming a coach is not easy. To become a successful life coach, you have to adopt the right attitude as well as the proper training. With good training from a life coaching school plus the right attitude, you can be a very effective life coach who could make a positive change in the lives of others.

Would you like an endless stream of new coaching clients? Simply click the image to the right and email and I’ll send you free videos with step-by-step blueprints for generating a massive income from high paying coaching clients.

Jeannie Cotter
Editor/Writer
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community