Short version: I passed my coaching exam (CKA) and received my second certification/credential as a life coach!

As of this month, March 2022 I am officially an ACC credentialed professional coach certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF)!

If you’re wondering, “what does that mean?” Great! Because in this post, I’ll explain exactly what an ICF credential is, and what had to be accomplished to receive this honor, and what this means to me, because this is a very significant milestone in the career of a coach.

What does it mean to be an ICF Accredited Professional Coach?

ICF Credential-holders are part of a self-regulating group of elite coaches who provide accountability to clients and the coaching profession as a whole. We complete rigorous education and practicum requirements that provide unquestioned legitimacy to our commitment to excellence in coaching. In addition, we pledge to uphold the ICF’s code of ethics, which you can view here. 

Achieving a credential through the ICF signifies a coach’s commitment to ethics, quality of coaching skills and services, and a coach’s dedication to respecting and protecting their clients. 

Becoming an ICF credential holder requires passing a 3 hour exam called the ICF Coach Knowledge Assessment, completing an ICF approved coach training program, receiving mentoring from a more seasoned/experienced coach who provides feedback and opportunities for improvement, and completing at the bare minimum 100+ hours of coaching hours within your coaching business. 

The hours requirement for the ICF is similar to the kind of practicum required of other helping professions, except coaches only count the hours we are actively in sessions with clients. We do not count the hours spent preparing for sessions, following up with or coordinating with clients, organizing materials, designing plans and coaching agreements, doing administrative tasks, assisting other coaches, or anything of that nature. So trust me, the practicum hours are only a small fraction of the hours dedicated to an ICF professional’s skill development.

What sets this credential apart from other “coaching certifications”?

Regardless of whether someone is looking to hire a coach or not, I think it is important to know that, as with any other helping profession, consumers need to be careful and selective about who they hire. 

They need to be able to trust that the coach takes their profession seriously, that they’ve had extensive training and practice, and that they have taken the necessary steps to protect their clients. 

So, if you know someone who is considering hiring a coach, encourage them to ask the coach, “Do you adhere to a particular code of ethics? What is your confidentiality policy? And what training and certifications do you have?” 

The ICF is THE ONLY internationally recognized regulating body and credentialing program for coach practitioners. But beyond that, the ICF is composed of leaders who set high standards across the board for the coaching industry and all of its facets. The ICF is recognized among professionals worldwide for:

• Developing the coaching core competencies (essential skills coaches must possess and demonstrate in their coaching practice).
• Establishing a professional code of ethics and standards
• Setting guidelines through accreditation for coach-specific training programs
• Providing continuous education through world-class events and Communities of Practice (CPs)
  • (P.s. I’m proud to say I’ve recently joined the Life Vision and Enhancement Coaching Community of Practice)
• And leading conversations and conducting research on coaching, outcomes of coaching, and the future of the profession.

What this credential means to me.

I’ve been dreaming of getting this credential for years, and now it’s finally happened! I passed my ICF Coach Knowledge Assessment exam on March 4th, and received my credential and badge last week (which is now proudly displayed on the home page of this site).

Receiving this means that I have demonstrated and committed to upholding the highest standard of ethics and quality of services within my coaching practice.

For total transparency, I had been waiting to expand my business to working with groups and teams until I received this credential. So soon, my hope is to begin doing some group work! 

Speaking of, I’d love to thank Susanna Borgelt at Empower People’s Agency for inviting me to partner with her in facilitating group conversations around creating safe and harassment free work environments, as well as conflict resolution workshops. I can’t wait to dive in!

As I mentioned above, being a part of the ICF also allows me to pursue continuous education and learn from a global network of professional coaches. This is an incredible resource for me to keep refining my practice, learn new tools and skills, and find what works best for my clients. 

The goal for me, all along, has been to refine the unique skills required in coaching, make these transformational services more accessible to middle and working class people, and support others in navigating their lives more freely. As one of my coach friends likes to say, we’re about helping people live life by design, not by default. 

If you’d like to learn more about this milestone, or how professional coaching services could make a difference in your life

Sign up for a free kickstart call with me here. Even if you’re not interested in my current offerings, I’m always happy to connect and chat about whatever’s on your mind, no strings attached, and confidentiality guaranteed.

---

Did this post resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send me a message to share your thoughts. For more uplifting content, check out some other posts on my blog, follow me on instagram @morgan_barbret, or sign up for the Self Love Atlas Newsletter!

Much love, 

Morgan Rita Barbret