ICF’s Role in the Professionalization of Coaching

Janet Harvey, MCC, ICF Global President

ICF by the numbers

• Members: 21,700+ in 110 countries• Chapters: 120+ in 50 countries• Credential holders: 8,000+ in 81 countries

– ACC: 5,203 – PCC: 2,547– MCC: 631

New ICF Membership Eligibility Requirements

What is the new policy?• As of April 1, 2013, individuals must have

completed at least 60 hours of coach-specific training to remain a member of the ICF, in addition to paying membership dues and agreeing to abide by the ICF Code of Ethics.

What does it mean?

• To continue as an ICF member: complete 60 hours of coach-specific training by April 1, 2013

• For new members to the ICF: be enrolled in an ICF-approved (ACTP or ACSTH) – 60 hours minimum – coach training program by April 1, 2012

M.E.R. at a glance

Why is the ICF doing this?

• Support for the ICF as the leading coaching organization in the world.– “…ICF members represent the highest quality in

professional coaching.” (ICF Strategic Plan)• Raises the standard for the profession overall

(recognition that coaching does involve specific competencies and training).

• Provides a level of quality assurance for purchasers of coaching services from ICF member coaches.

What’s in it for me?

• Individual members benefit from:– Increased credibility;– Being sought after as a member of the world’s

leading coaching organization;– Being part of the trusted “go-to-place” for

coaching inquiries from news media, schools, and potential clients; and

– “A rising tide lifts all our boats.”

What do I need to do?

• If you have a current ICF Credential:– Do nothing and renew your membership

• If you don’t have a credential, but have completed at least 60 hours of coach-specific training:– Do nothing and renew your membership

What do I need to do?

• If you have not yet completed 60 hours of coach-specific training:– Current members have until April 1, 2013 to

complete 60 hours.– New members to the ICF need to declare

enrolment in an ICF approved (ACTP or ACSTH) - 60 hours minimum - coach-training program – as of April 1, 2012

How do I get the 60 hours?• Ensure the coach-training program meets the

ICF requirements:– ICF ACTP program: Yes (automatic 125 hours minimum)– ICF ACSTH program: Yes, if it’s at least 60 hours of

training!– ICF CCE program: Yes, you need 60 hours total AND

• All hours approved in Core Competencies will be accepted; and• A maximum of 12 hours outside of the Core Competencies will be

accepted.– Check the training program search service:http://www.coachfederation.org/icfcredentials/program-search/

How do I get the 60 hours?

• Ensure the coach-training program meets the ICF requirements:– Non-ICF approved program: Ensure it is

training that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills, that teaches coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies.

Equivalency

• ICF membership requirements may be met by a competence equivalency of coaching credentials awarded by other coaching associations. Learn more at: http://www.coachfederation.org/MER/.

More nuts and bolts• At least 48 of the 60 hours must be:

– Direct interaction with a trainer (voice-to-voice or in-person training; not cyber courses, mail-in courses, or self-study).

– From a program other than ICF conference, SIG, Virtual Education, or chapter events.

– Teaching the ICF Core Competencies (all Core Competencies must be covered).

– The remaining hours may be self-study, from an ICF event, teaching coaching-related topics, or a combination. However, all hours must be part of a program with the purpose of training coaches.

Even more nuts and bolts• Training that is accepted as coach specific training:

– Training from an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or a program that has received the ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) designation

– Training from a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Provider, subject to these limitations:

• All hours approved in Core Competencies will be accepted• A maximum of 12 hours outside of the Core Competencies will be

accepted

– Training that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills, that teaches coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies

MythsX I need to have an ICF Credential (ACC,

PCC or MCC) to retain ICF membership.√ You need 60 hours of coach-specific training.

X I need to send in all my certificates, diplomas, CCEU documents, etc.√ You need to declare / attest to your level of

training and/or credential – keeping in mind that mis-representation of qualifications is prohibited by our ICF Code of Ethics!

2012 ICF Global Coaching Study

The Challenge• To conduct one of the most ambitious

pieces of global industry research ever conducted on the field of professional coaching.

• 9 languages• Mobile device compatibility• 6 month survey field time

The Outcome

• 12,133 valid responses

• 117 countries

• All 50 U.S. states

• Not one “zero return” day!

Coach-specific training

I have not received any coach-specific training

I have received coach-specific training through a university based program

I have received coach-specific training through a program that was not accredited/approved by a professional coaching organization

I have received coach-specific training through a program that was accredited/approved by a professional coaching organization

0 20 40 60 80 100

2

7

13

78

More than three quarters of coaches have received accredited / approved coach-specific training.

Base: 12,113

ICF member- 82%

Non ICF – 70%

ICF member - 16%

Non ICF – 25%

(combined responses)

%

The importance of being credentialed….

Series1

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

-8-2 41 35

Three-quarters of coaches (76%) agree that the people and organizations who receive coaching expect their coaches to be certified / credentialed

“The people and organizations who receive coaching expect their coaches to be certified/ credentialed”

Base: 12,104

Slight differences between ICF and non-ICF members (77% and 73% agreement)

In 2007, 52% of coaches agreed that “the people we coach increasingly expect us to be credentialed”

In 2010, 84% of adult consumers who had experienced a coaching relationship felt that it was important for coaches to hold a credential.

Neither / Nor

14

Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree

Profile of the Profession – 3 Key Statistics

• Total no. of coaches: 47,500

• Total revenue generated by coaching: $m 1,979 USD

• Average annual revenue generated by coaching:

• $47,900 USD

Among active coaches (87%)

Profile of the Profession – 3 Key Trends

• Average fee for 1-hour coaching session: $229 USD

• Average number of clients currently coaching:10

• Average hours per week working: 13 as a coach: 13

Looking back: A volume driven recovery

Number of clients Average fee for 1 hour coaching session

Number of coaching sessions

Annual revenue / income

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

16

6

14 16

25

57

38

29

59

37

48

55

Decreased No change Increased

While the number of clients, coaching sessions and revenue had increased, the average fee for 1-hour session has remained the same over the past 12 months

Base range: 9,820 – 9,927

%

Looking ahead: Will key indicator trends remain the

same?

Number of clients Average fee for 1 hour coaching session

Number of coaching sessions

Annual revenue / income

0

20

40

60

80

100

4 25 4

19

56

33

20

77

42

62

76

Decreased No change Increased

Both ICF member and non-ICF member coaches have the same positive outlook over the next 12 months

Base range: 9,786 – 9,883

%

Did the global economic downturn bring coaches together?

I have not made any changes to my coaching business model

Other (please specify)

Joining professional coaching organization

Rebranding my coaching business

Achieving coaching certifications / credentials

Offering services in addition to coaching

Increasing collaborations with other coaches

0 20 40 60

14

16

32

35

36

41

47

More ICF members (36%) than non-ICF members (25%) have joined a professional coaching organisation in the past 12 months

Base: 9,810 %

The regulation of coaching….

Yes 53%

No 23%

Do you believe that coaching should become regulated?

Who do you believe would be best placed to regulate the coaching industry?

More than half of the coaches surveyed feel that coaching should become regulated. Among these coaches, and those who remain unsure, the majority feel that professional coaching associations are best placed to handle this responsibility

Base: 11,401

Individual coach practitioners 6%

Government entities 10%

Professional coaching associations 84%

ICF:87%

Non ICF: 80%

ICF: 55%

Non ICF: 51%

Base: 8,732 (those who answered yes or unsure to previous question)

Unsure 24%

The regulation of coaching….

Yes No Unsure0

20

40

60

80

100

42

30 29

68

15 17

62

1622

62

1721

73

13 14

52

25 24

54

22 24

North America Latin America and the Caribbean Western EuropeEastern Europe Middle East and Africa AsiaOceania

Coaches in North America are significantly less likely to see the need for regulation

Do you believe that coaching should become regulated?

Base: 8,732

%

The biggest obstacle in the future…

Other

Increased demand for services that compete with coaching

Over regulation of coaching

Coaches under-pricing their services

Coaching market saturation

Marketplace confusion about the benefits of coaching

Untrained individuals who call themselves coaches

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

7

3

3

5

9

30

43

More than 40% of coaches believe the biggest obstacle for coaching over the next 12 months will be untrained individuals who call themselves coaches

Base: 11,280 %

The biggest opportunity in the future….

Other

Positive portrayal of coaching in the media

Increased demand for coaching

Improved general perception of coaching

Credible data on the Return on Investment

Increased awareness of the benefits of coaching

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

2

8

11

14

28

36

Just over one third of coaches believe that increased awareness of the benefits of coaching is the biggest opportunity for the next 12 months

In 2007, more than three quarters of coaches agreed that “the profession will become more grounded in Return on Investment (RoI)…”

Base: 11,300%

Learn more about the study at Coachfederation.org/coachingstudy2012

Contact ICF

ICF Headquarters2365 Harrodsburg Rd, Suite A325Lexington, KY 40504 - USA+1.859.219.3580

icfheadquarters@coachfederation.org www.coachfederation.org