Introducing CoachCertifications.com

This is a blog feature:

Since the 1990’s the coaching industry has exploded and now represents a variety of specialty coaching areas. There are tens of thousands of coaches and even more prospective coaching students worldwide. Additionally, hundreds of schools and organizations offer coach certification training programs.
Is it important for a coach to become certified? Although not required, with its rapid expansion the coaching industry has become even more competitive with increasing requirements. Here are some additional considerations:

• Coaching industry professionals note that a coaching certification may differentiate a coach from other coaches who don’t possess a certification.
• Possessing a coaching certification can add credibility to a coach’s credentials as well as a perceived “instant trust” with new customers or clients.
• A coach may feel more confident about coaching skills and increase his/her efficacy by becoming certified.

As the coaching industry grew, a number of accrediting bodies were born. These accrediting organizations qualify and certify schools and/or organizations that train coaching students so they can obtain a coaching certification. The accrediting organizations require that a school’s training certification program adhere to their coaching competencies, model their ethics and values, provide high quality and rigorous certification training, and use an assessment process before granting certification status. Some of the more widely known accrediting organizations are the following:

• International Coaching Federation (ICF)
• Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC)
• IIC&M
• Association for Coaching (AC)
• Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE)
• European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC)
• International Association of Coaching (IAC)

For a prospective coach navigating the decision-making process to select the best certification program for her/himself, it can be a confusing and overwhelming process. Most coaching students conduct searches randomly on the web, inquire with other coaches when participating in various venues, or visit some of the websites of accrediting organizations toreview their list of approved training schools and organizations. What was missing was a central unbiasedresource for coaching students or coaches representing approved schools from all of the accrediting organizations, and—in one place.
Audrey J. Beach, RCC and J. Matthew Becker, M.Ed., PCC, coaches themselves and now the Principals of CoachCertifications.com, recognized the need to create this unbiased “all in one” resource where coaching students can cut through the certification confusion and embark on a clearer path to certification. Audrey and Matt launched CoachCertifications.com in late 2014.
Although still new and earning its stripes in the virtual world, CoachCertifications.com is beginning to expand and establish an increasingly important presence.
As a free, global resource, prospective coaching students or coaches can research, review, compare and select premier coaching schools’ certification programs. Additionally, coaching students can read actual reviews of programs from graduates of schools.
CoachCertifications.com member schools and organizations are provided the opportunity to be showcased to a broader market. Graduates of member schools are encouraged to share their impressive learning experience. As a premier member of this coaching school community, schools’ training programs can be viewed by thousands of potential coaching students and coaches each day!
Whether a training school or organization, prospective student or coach, Audrey and Matthew invite you to visit www.coachcertifications.com. They can be reached at info@coachcertifications.com or 937-265-4049 (USA).
 
Audrey J. Beach is Principal of CoachCertifications.com. Sheis a designated Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) and has been a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) since 2005. She is a senior executive coach and the Principal of Succeed with Coaching. Her advanced coaching training and coursework includes Certified Coach Intensive Training. She brings to coaching more than 25 years of experience, including positions in senior management, coaching, facilitation and training. Her career spans the industrial sector, research and development, healthcare, manufacturing, business services in both public and private organizations, the government—including the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. Audrey has coached and consulted internationally while based in Singapore and serving Southeast Asia.
 
J. Matthew Becker is Principal of CoachCertifications.com. Mattis a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation (ICF)). He has over 7 years as a leadership coach and is the Principal of Authentic-Excellence, LLC. He specializes in working with new leaders looking to start strong, individuals that long for a fulfilling career, executives striving to develop an effective organization, and coaches interested in developing their skills and preparing for certification. Matt is the co-leader of the Internal Coaching Community of Practice for the ICF and published Who’s Coaching Your Rookie Managers? in Choice Magazine. Matt was recently featured on The Coaching Show, an internet radio talk show hosted by Christopher McAuliffe, MCC and CEO of Accomplishment Coaching.