Science & Art of Coaching (ACC Level Pathway)
Equipping You For the Future
Coaching is one of the fastest growing professions and is enabling positive change in people’s communication skills, performance, confidence and many other aspects of their behaviour and mindset.
In an environment that is increasingly complex and constantly changing, coaching is a powerful tool to help people navigate situations, tasks, challenges, goals and aspirations for greater success, fulfillment and wellbeing.
Organisations too, more than ever before, need the skills and principles of coaching in order to develop a culture that is inclusive, accountable, innovative and agile. Organisations with these qualities are better able to handle the complexity and speed of change of today’s business environment. Research clearly indicates that organisations with coaching capability and culture are more likely to be high performing, more equipped to handle change and experience better financial performance and growth than other organisations within their industry sector.
If you would like to become an ICF certified coach and achieve an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential, there are 5 steps to follow:
1. Coaching Education:
Our Science & Art of Coaching (S&A) is an ICF-accredited coach-specific training programme. This complete package offers the coach-specific training hours required for those who may wish to apply for their ACC Credential and provides 76.25 ICF Accredited Coach-Specific Training Hours.
No previous coach training or coaching experience is required.
2. Mentor Coaching:
The purpose of Mentor Coaching is primarily to deepen your understanding and demonstration of the ICF Core Competencies and therefore your skills and confidence as a practicing coach. It is also part of the ICF’s credentialing pathway, which supports and prepares coaches for their performance assessment in pursuit of the ICF credential.
Our Mentor Coaching programme (MCG) has four simple steps:
- Individual programme preparation (1.5 hours)
- Four x two-hour online Group Mentor Coaching sessions (8 hours)
- Three hours of 1-1 Mentor Coaching sessions (3 hours)
- Peer coaching sessions in-between each online session focussing on specific ICF Core Competencies as the programme progresses (6 hours)
This programme fulfils the 10 hours of coach mentoring required for your ICF credential application or ACC credential renewal.
The programme takes approximately 4-months to complete and is accredited with 18.5 Core Competency CCEs or 10 hours of Mentor Coaching plus 8.5 Core Competency CCEs (which is an additional benefit of further CCEs for those credentialed coaches when renewing their credential).
3. Coaching Experience:
To be eligible for an ICF ACC credential you need to have at least 100 hours of coaching experience following the start of your coach-specific coaching education.
4. Performance Evaluation:
The performance evaluation process involves you submitting one recording of you coaching a regular client who has hired you as a coach, and must last between 20- to 60-minutes, along with the corresponding transcript. This will be reviewed by a Performance Evaluator(s).
5. ICF Credentialing Exam:
This is a computer-based written exam (administered by ICF Credentials and Standards) that is designed to measure your knowledge of and ability to apply the ICF definition of coaching, ICF Core Competencies and ICF Code of Ethics.
Our programmes are offered in English.
Recommended for:
Coaches wanting to apply for their ICF ACC Credential
This programme is ideal for those who wish to complete ICF Accredited coach-specific training in pursuit of an ICF ACC Credential.
External and Internal Coaches
This programme is also ideal for those who wish to become external or internal coaches offering their services to and within organisations and individuals.
Leaders, Managers and Individuals
Leaders, managers and individual contributors from all business functions will benefit greatly from this programme. Good coaching skills enable anyone who needs to develop, influence and communicate effectively with others, whether inside or outside of the organisation to achieve greater success.
Agile Coaches
This programme is the perfect companion for an Agile Coach or Scrum Master and offers the opportunity to significantly deepen the Agile Coach’s impact in their work with organisations. We are delighted to work in partnership with the Agile Centre to bring ICF Accredited coach-specific training to the Agile Community.
This programme is offered in English. No previous coach training or coaching experience is required.
The time between starting your coach training and achieving your ICF credential can vary greatly depending upon many factors, such as: how much coaching you are doing, your budgeting preferences and your pace of development or scheduling preferences. The table below offers an approximate/minimum timeline as a guideline; however, you may want or need more flexibility. For example, you may feel ready to complete the Mentor Coaching programme soon after your Coaching Education programme is finished, or you may prefer to take more time to practice, gain experience, plan, and budget etc. and complete the mentor coaching element later on. We are very happy to assist you in finding a timeline that suits you!
Step | Component | Approximate Timeline |
---|---|---|
1 | Coaching Education (S&A) | 6 months |
2 | Mentor Coaching (MCG) | 4 months |
3 | Coaching Experience | 6 months + |
4 | Performance Evaluation (ACC) | 2 months + |
5 | ICF Credentialing Exam | 0-1 month |
TOTAL | ~18 months |
Learn more about the ICF ACC Credential pathway.
If you would like to embark upon a more advanced development pathway and work towards an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential, we refer you to our Stage 2 (PCC Level) Pathway information.
If you’re not sure about which pathway or programme to choose, we invite you to attend our next Think with a Drink webinar or fill out this form and we will be delighted to help find the right pathway for you!
NOTE: Our programmes are currently in the process of transitioning to the ICF’s new Level 1 and Level 2 programme accreditation system. This will take effect in 2023 and will not impact the curriculum, dates, timings, or pricing of our 2023 cohort offering.
Programme Content
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- What is the philosophy and definition of coaching and how it differs from other professional ways of working with people?
- An initial framework for a structured coaching conversation
- Introducing essential coaching skills for leaders, managers and internal/external coaches:
- Listening skills.
- Thought provoking and forward moving questioning skills.
- Effective goal setting and visioning leading to clear and committed forward action with accountability.
- Module includes demonstrations of coaching plus plenty of practice opportunities with feedback.
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Developing rapport and building the coach-client relationship.
- Transactional and transformational coaching.
- Deeper questioning skills to expand and explore thinking, perspectives and possibilities.
- Advanced listening skills using all of the senses.
- Identifying and exploring limiting and empowering beliefs.
- Professional and ethical practices including organisational contracting.
- Module includes demonstrations of coaching plus plenty of practice opportunities with feedback.
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Neuroscience and coaching
- Psychological models to enhance understanding of how human behaviour impacts performance
- Using intuition as an effective coaching tool
- The place of feedback in coaching
- Accessing and leveraging client’s learning
- The coach-client partnership
- Structuring and developing your coaching practice
- Developing the coach as well as the client
- Practical ways to use coaching skills in the organisation
- Module includes demonstrations of coaching plus plenty of practice opportunities
It is possible to complete certain modules of this programme as standalone training, please contact us to discuss.
This programme can also be run internally for a group or organisation, please contact us to discuss further.
Programme Dates
Spring 2023: Live Online
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Webinar: February 3, 2023, 2pm – 3pm (London time)
- Virtual Workshops: February 9, 10 & 13, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: March 3, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Virtual Workshops: March 23, 24 & 27, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: April 28, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Virtual Workshops: May 18, 19 & 22, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: June 16, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Spring 2023: Live in Person, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Webinar: April 28, 2023, 2pm – 3pm (London time)
- Face to Face Workshops: May 10, 11 & 12, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (St. Helier)
- Webinar: June 5, 2023, 1pm – 3.30pm (London time)
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Face to Face Workshops: June 27, 28 & 29, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (St. Helier)
- Webinar: July 10, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Face to Face Workshops: September 5, 6 & 7, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (St. Helier)
- Webinar: October 6, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Autumn 2023: Live Online
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Webinar: September 8, 2023, 10am – 11am (London time)
- Virtual Workshops: September 14, 15 & 18, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: October 13, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Virtual Workshops: November 9, 10 & 13, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: December 8, 2023, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Virtual Workshops: January 11, 12 & 15, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Webinar: February 2, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
This programme can also be run internally for a group or organisation, please contact us to discuss further.
Your Investment
The Stage 1 package includes:
- Science and Art of Coaching (Coaching Education)
- Mentor Coaching Programme
£4,950 (plus VAT if applicable)
We are happy to offer instalment payment plans for self-funded students.
NOTE: There is an additional fee payable to ICF for the Performance Evaluation process and the ICF Credentialing exam.
We value our alumni community. Once you’ve completed a coach training programme with Coach Advancement by Tracy Sinclair, you will unlock a number of exclusive benefits including discounts, coaching clinics, peer coaching, social impact project opportunities and more! Learn more about the ways we continue to support coaches who have trained with us here.
“Where does one start… Tracy has the uncanny knack of making everything seem so easy, I even dared to mention it because she literally made a coaching exercise look as if it had been rehearsed (which I totally accept was not the case). If that was not enough, her facilitation technique and ability to engage us all with the conversion made me feel 100% engaged and inspired in the art of coaching.
“A fantastic course professionally run to a high standard. The modules stood alone and built upon each other to leave me with a very clear understanding and knowledge of the highest levels of professional coaching. The course was diverse, inclusive and supportive, and I would recommend it to beginners as well as coaches wishing to expand their skills.”
“Thank you for the Science and Art of Coaching programme. Alongside the course, I enjoyed the book, Becoming a Coach: The Essential ICF Guide. It is a great go-to reference, and like the coaching course itself, it will be a valuable influence on me and many others way beyond our initial ICF Training. These excellent courses will have a lasting impact on the profession as well as the people in it.”
“Anyone who wants to be a coach and wants to be an amazing coach, I will recommend them to go to this course. The format, structure, quality and tutors are outstanding. Tracy and Hilary have very high standards of work and ethics. Their dedication and commitment to train excellent coaches is evident in every detail of the programme. I feel very lucky to have found this programme.”
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