100% no- you do not have to be ICF accredited to become a coach.
Although keep in mind that ICF coaches earn more on average then non-ICF accredited coaches.
But the average client often has no knowledge of the ICF and who they are. Clients do want to know you are trained and certified though.
Think about it: If you were looking for a coach and you had the choice between a professionally trained and certified coach and one who was not, who would you want to work with?
The good news is this: At the end of our programs you will be an experienced, trained and certified professional coach.
Whether or not you go on to apply to the ICF is your choice, but you will have the coach-specific hours needed and coaching experience (we pair you with a buddy coach to practice your skills and gain hours with) if you decide to do so.
Coach Mackenzie
About 98% of clients have not heard of the ICF, unless you are coaching in the business and executive or leadership sectors. So ICF accreditation is not necessary in all cases. Coach Calvin
Even though ICF accredidation is not necessary, I think it is more of a personal goal and choice for me. It is something for me to aspire to.
I believe that being trained will show withina few sessions. I’ve been coached in two different areas and I could tell that one had been trained and the other person was very knowledgable in their area but not a good coach. I spoke to someone at the company later and found out that the later had not been trained. It showed. To stay in business and have success, get trained.
Having the ability to work towards my ICF accrediation was important in my choice of coaching schools. Although it’s not needed, I liked knowing that the training I received from CANA was accrediated by this respected coaching association.
Coach training is necessary if you are truly committed to providing the absolute best service to your clients. Assisting someone through their life’s transition periods is something that is a privledge and I highly value it. I want to do my best for them and provide the best tools and techniques to guarantee their success therefore training is a must!
People who love helping others might be drawn to the field of coaching but without training they will never learn how to properly coach someone. For example they wouldn’t know that it isn’t about advice giving even though that would seem like the most natural thing to do. Only through proper training will they learn how to really help someone get to where they need to be.
It seems to me that if I do not decide to pursue IFC accreditation, I can always state that I was trained at an IFC approved academy. If the question is every posed to me by a life coach client, which I doubt, that seems like a suitable answer.
I think if ICF keeps pushing on the way it has been we will probably get to the point where it will be mandatory to get certified by them. For now I think it’s fine to keep going along as we’re going and keep their criteria in the back of our minds.
If the time comes where we have no choice we’ll probably have fulfilled most, if not all, if their requirements anyway.
Good points, Hindy, they do seem to have alot of power. But it is true, the more we practice, the easier it will be to fulfill their requirements.