ACTP or ICF Accredited Coach Training Program is ideal for individuals who want to start their career in coaching or are aspiring professional coaches who want to pursue coaching at a professional level. ICF accredited coach training program or ACTP is the right pathway to choose from to apply for ICF credentials and start a coaching career.
What is an ICF accredited coach training program or ACTP?
ICF accredited coach training program or ACTP is an ICF-approved, all-inclusive coach training program. ACTP stands for Accredited Coach Training Program. It is a pathway followed by ICF-approved coach training centres to conduct accredited coaching programs.
ICF accredited coach training program is an internationally recognized all-inclusive ICF certified coach training course is the fastest pathway to achieving coaching accreditation. It is also a cost-effective way to achieve an ICF coaching accreditation.
Achieving ICF credentials Through the ICF accredited coach training program involves self-study hours, peer study hours, one-to-one mentor sessions, course assignments, monitored live sessions with clients, and term-end evaluative examinations. On completion of 125 hours of accredited coach training program and having passed performance evaluation coaches can apply for ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credentials once they have completed the required 100 coaching hours. Building on their experience, once the coach completes the required 500 coaching hours, s/he can acquire Professional Certified Coach credentials by applying to ICF.
Program details of ICF accredited coach training program
The “start to finish” complete ICF Credentialed coach training program through ACTP pathway, has two levels, level 1 consisting of 60 hours of coach training over 4-6 months including individual mentor coaching sessions, peer coaching and assignments and level 2, which includes 65 hours of coach training with mentor coaching and peer coaching.
Students are eligible to apply for ICF ACC credentials after the full completion of 125 hours of ICF accredited coach training program.
Alternatively, people can choose to complete their training via ACSTH pathway wherein they can apply for ACC credentials once 60 hours of training and 100 hours of coaching experience is completed.
Eligibility required to apply for ICF accredited coach training program
Coaches on completion of ICF accredited coach training program and stipulated coaching hours become eligible to apply for different levels of ICF credentials either ACC or MCC. Participants need to complete the following requirements for ICF accredited coach training program:
- Completion of coaching training – Students need to complete 125 hours of ICF accredited coach training program (ACTP pathway) or 60 hours of coach training (via ACSTH pathway). ACTP path training is broken up into two levels of 60 hours and 65 hours but students need to complete the full 125 hours as it’s a complete “start to finish” course. For students opting for the ACSTH pathway, 60 hours of training is sufficient.
- Minimum hours of mentor coaching: Students in their ICF accredited coach training program should complete 10 hours of mentor coaching in level one and level 2. They have at least three hours one-to-one sessions with their mentors and also observe client sessions for coaching experiences. Along with mentor coaching, candidates should complete their course assignments, self-study hours, and pass performance evaluation examinations at the end of the course.
- Acquire prerequisite coaching hours: Candidates eligible for applying for ICF credentials through ICF accredited coach training program must achieve the mandated coaching experience hours. The coaching hours vary depending on the level of applied credentials. For example, for ACC credentials, students need to complete 100 hours of coaching experience, and for PCC credentials students need to complete 500 hours of coaching.
- Coaches become eligible for applying for ICF credentials through ICF accredited coach training program only after the successful completion of Coach Knowledge Assessment.
The ICF ACTP or Accredited Coach Training Program is the recommended and one of the most popular pathways for achieving ICF approved accreditation. However, ACSTH pathway has its own merit too if time is the constraint.