Level 1 (ACC) Pathway: Diploma Programme
The Science and Art of Coaching
The Science and Art of Coaching is part of our Level 1 ICF-accredited coaching education diploma programme. This complete package offers the coach-specific training hours required for those who may wish to apply for their ICF ACC credential and provides 76.25 ICF-accredited coaching education hours.
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:
The Science and Art of Coaching is a Level 1 ICF-accredited coaching education 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 coaching education 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 Group 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 also 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 Associate Certified Coach (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
T
his 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.
Please also see our Credentialing Pathways to help you consider your preferred development timeline.
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 Level 2 (PCC) 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!
Science & Art of Coaching Programme Content
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- The philosophy and definition of coaching and how it differs from other ways of communicating, engaging and working with people.
- An initial framework for a structured coaching conversation.
- Introducing essential coaching skills for internal/external coaches and managers and leaders using coaching skills:
- Listening skills.
- Thought provoking and forward moving questioning skills.
- Effective goal setting and visioning enabling clear and committed forward action with accountability.
- Introduction to the ICF Core Competencies
- Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback.
- Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.
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.
- Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback.
- Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.
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.
- Daily coaching practice with ACC+ level feedback..
- Daily demonstrations of coaching at ACC/PCC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the ICF Core Competencies at ACC+ level.
- Daily exercises to explore the use of models and theories taught in coaching practice.
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.
The Science and Art of Coaching Programme Dates
Autumn 2023: Live Online – SOLD OUT
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Session: September 8, 2023, 10am – 11am (London time)
- Virtual Workshops: September 14, 15 & 18, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice Session: 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)
- Practice Session: 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)
- Practice/Final Session: February 2, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Spring 2024: Live Online
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Session: February 2, 2024, 2pm – 3pm (London time)
- Virtual Workshops: February 8, 9 & 12, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice Session: March 1, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Virtual Workshops: March 21, 22 & 25, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice Session: April 26, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Virtual Workshops: May 16, 17 & 20, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice/Final Session: June 14, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Autumn 2024: Live Online
Module 1: Foundational Skills
- Kick-off Session: September 6, 2024, 10am – 11am (London time)
- Virtual Workshops: September 12, 13 & 16, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice Session: October 11, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 2: Going Deeper
- Virtual Workshops: November 7, 8 & 11, 2024, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice Session: December 6, 2024, 9.30am – 12pm (London time)
Module 3: From Science to Art
- Virtual Workshops: January 9, 10 & 13, 2025, 9 am – 5 pm (London time)
- Practice/Final Session: February 7, 2025, 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 Level 1 Diploma Programme package includes:
- The Science and Art of Coaching (Coaching Education) (10.5 days of learning in our virtual classroom)
- Access to a coaching Resource Pack and in-depth ICF Core Competency video series.
- Live Practice Peer Coaching Groups.
- Complete Mentor Coaching Programme.
- Performance Evaluation and Certification (at ACC Level).
- Access to post-programme Coach Advancement Alumni Community with associated alumni benefits.
£6,540 (including taxes)
We are happy to offer staged instalment payment plans for self-funded students to help spread the cost across your development timeline.
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.”
ALUMNI STORIES
Coaching for High Performance
Andra Tocaciu
Coaching On and Off the Water
Lisa Dickinson, ACC
Coaching for Agility
Femi Odelusi
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