Completing a professional coaching qualification is an important achievement. It demonstrates that you have undertaken structured training, developed coaching skills and successfully met the assessment requirements of your programme.
But for coaches who want to take their professional standing a stage further, there is another important milestone to consider: becoming an Accredited Coach.
Qualified and Accredited – What’s the Difference?
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they describe two different things.
A Qualified Coach has successfully completed an appropriate programme of professional coach training and demonstrated the knowledge and skills required by that qualification.
An Accredited Coach, however, has gone a stage further. Generally, their individual coaching practice and their experience has been assessed against the professional standards of a recognised coaching body such as the Association for Coaching (AC).
The Association for Coaching describes individual accreditation as a way for coaches to demonstrate that they are working effectively against the comprehensive AC Coaching Competency Framework. The emphasis is not simply upon what a coach knows, but upon their professional competence and fitness to practise.
In simple terms:
Qualification demonstrates that you have learned to coach. Accreditation demonstrates your continuing development and professional practice as a coach.
This can provide additional reassurance to potential clients, employers and organisations that your coaching has been independently benchmarked against recognised professional standards.
Accreditation Is a Journey
Becoming accredited normally requires more than presenting your original coaching certificate.
Depending upon the accreditation level and pathway, coaches may need to demonstrate coaching experience, reflective practice, continuing professional development, supervision and evidence of professional and ethical practice.
The AC currently provides four stages within its individual Coach Accreditation framework: Foundation, Coach, Professional and Master, allowing coaches to continue progressing as their experience and professional capability develops.
That is why we encourage coaches to think of qualification not as the end of their development, but as the beginning of their professional coaching journey.
The UKCPD Accelerated Route to AC Accreditation
There is particularly good news for UKCPD students and graduates.
UKCPD is an Association for Coaching accredited training provider participating in the AC Accelerated Coach Accreditation framework!
The AC’s accelerated accreditation route is designed for people who have completed training through an appropriately accredited AC training provider. Because relevant competence has already been demonstrated and assessed during the accredited training programme, elements of the subsequent individual accreditation process can be recognised, creating a more streamlined pathway towards Individual Coach Accreditation.
All our AC Coach Training graduates are offered the fast track process to become an AC Accredited Coach. This usually means a little additional coaching hours in their qualification portfolio, client reference etc. We have a process in place to guide and support you through the scheme.
At UKCPD, we are developing additional professional support around this journey, including opportunities for Coaching Supervision, Co-Coaching and Practice Groups, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), reflective practice and support in developing the evidence required for an accreditation application.
Become More Than Qualified
There is enormous value in becoming a qualified professional coach.
But accreditation provides an opportunity to say something more:
“I haven’t simply completed coach training. My professional practice has been independently assessed against recognised coaching standards.”
For coaches seeking to build a professional practice, work within organisations or simply continue towards greater levels of coaching mastery, AC Accredited Coach status can become an important mark of professional credibility and commitment.
At UKCPD, our goal is therefore not simply to help people qualify as coaches.
We want to help them continue developing into confident, reflective and highly professional coaches – and, where appropriate, support them on the journey towards becoming an Association for Coaching Accredited Coach.
Want to know more, schedule a Discovery Call via: https://ukcpd.co.uk/contact and we will be able to answer all your questions.
