Suggested Speciality....
COACH PRACTITIONER
Blended Coach
As a Blended Coach Practitioner, You Get To Choose When and Where You Work...
Blended Coaching is often added to other professions, interests, or specific expertise as a way of adding value and increasing expertise. It might include coaching people or teams towards achieving corporate or personal goals, managing change, motivating teams, or managing health and well being goals.
As a pure coach you don't give advice however as a blended coach, there are times when your specific advice and expertise is needed and requested. For example: as a personal trainer or nutritionist you will tailor an exercise or eating plan to suit your client based on your expertise but you can also use your coaching skills to uncover and help with road blocks to achieving weight loss or a balanced diet.
You might work part time in your own practice and part time in organisations. Your coaching will take place onsite (face to face) or remotely (zoom, skype, conference line or telephone). It's a very very flexible career option for coaches and one that is increasing in popularity.
The following careers are often blended with coaching
Consulting, teaching, mentoring and counselling are very different approaches to problem solving, goal setting and creating change than coaching. But, they do blend well with coaching and especially when the target market is clearly defined.
- Teachers and Educators
- Human Resources
- Health Practitioners (Nurses, Psychologists, Nutritionist, Doctors etc)
- Consultants
- Counsellors
- Project Managers
- Pastoral Leaders
- Accountants or Financial Planners
- Fitness Instructors, Yoga, Personal Trainers
Doesn't sound like you? Maybe Private Practice or Corporate Coaching would be a better suited application?
Certification & Credentials
Organisations are looking for "Certified" coaches when they research their options. A certification issued by an accredited school, with industry credibility and relevance.
In 2004 ICA was the first Australian coach training school to have an online curriculum accredited by the ICF, and we remain one of the leading accredited providers worldwide.
The International Coaching Federation is the peak body for coaching. ICF Accreditation involves rigorous external scrutiny and quality testing of a schools curriculum, faculty, values, and delivery. It is an indicator of the schools industry reputation, relevance and credibility.
What are Certification Pathways?
Certification pathways are where one program can lead into another, or where learning credits from partial completion of one program, can be credited to another program. Because, even the best laid plans, goals, or intentions can change. Your coach education needs to be able to change with you, and with ease.
As an example
You plan to add a coach approach into your workplace and choose a Level 1 program. But, as you learn more about coaching, you decide to pivot direction and pursue coaching as a stand alone career. With ICA’s training you can keep moving forward by crediting your level 1 participation or completion towards a Level 2 program.
What are ICF Credential Pathways?
Coach training certification leads to a coaching credential, with credentialing being highly regarded but optional. Too often we are approached by coaches who have completed their coach training only to find that it doesn’t pathway to an ICF credential. Their choices are limited to not pursing a credential, pursuing a credential via a portfolio pathway (time consuming and expensive), or returning to study and completing Level 1, 2 or 3 training. So, even if you don’t think you will need a credential, keep the option open by pursuing ICF Accredited Training.
Direct Credential Pathway
* Level 1 accredited study (ACSTH) pathways to an ACC credential
* Level 2 accredited study (ACTP) pathways to either an ACC or PCC credential
+ Level 3 accredited study pathways to an MCC credential (but only after completion of a Level 2 program and the achievement of PCC credential)
Not sure which program is best for you?
A question we regularly get asked by prospective students is 'Which program should I choose'. The answer will differ depending on how you plan to use coaching, where you will coach, and who you envision will be your ideal client.
Book a program consultation, bring along your coaching model worksheet, and we'll provide you with some options. Or, begin the process yourself with the Program Selector Quiz.