Choice, The Magazine of Professional Coaching

Reproduced with the permission of choice Magazine, www.choice-online.com
industry
news WHAT’S
By Ed Modell, PCC
2010 ICF President-Elect
Credentialing
ICF continues work on professional standards
If you’re like many coaches,
you’ve been following the conversation
around the International
Coach Federation (ICF) Credentialing
program that started late last year.
Proposed changes to the system
gathered a wide variety of comments
from coaches around the world –
ranging from joyful support to much
less enthusiastic feedback. There
certainly wasn’t a lack of passion
when it came to discussing proposed
changes to a system that has been
around for quite some time.
The credentialing program has
seen tremendous growth over the
last few years. Over 6,000 coaches
from around the world currently hold
one of three ICF credentials, and
incoming credential applications
have increased by 12 percent from
2007 to 2009. Certainly the ICF
owes it to credential holders, coaches
working towards a credential and
the public-at-large to make sure the
program continues to be highly credible
and respected as the global standard
for professional coaching.
Over 10 years ago, a group of
visionary coaches and educators
came together to create the ICF Credentialing
program. Since its inception,
the program has provided
coaches with a means of achieving
professional status and ensuring
their ongoing education and commitment
to staying current with knowledge
and practice.
Since 2007, the ICF has been
involved in discussions and research
around enhancing its individual credentialing
program – building on the foun-
GOING ON IN THE COACHING WORLD
“Over 6,000 coaches
from around the
world currently
hold one of three
ICF credentials, and
incoming credential
applications have
increased by 12
percent.”
dation that the system’s originators
created – to ensure that ICF Credentials
maintain their global consistency
and fairness, and are administered in
a timely fashion worldwide.
Late last year, the ICF Board of
Directors presented to ICF members
and credential holders, as well as
other stakeholders, a proposed
schema for the next stage of the ICF
Credentialing program. This schema
was developed with the assistance of
a committed group of ICF member volunteers,
stakeholders, testing experts
with nearly 50 years’ experience as
providers of valid and legally-defensible
certification examinations and ICF
staff members. Additionally, the
responses of over 2,000 coaches to a
2008 survey supported this work.
Following the sharing of proposed
program changes, an open comment
period commenced during which time
stakeholders were encouraged to
share their feedback and ask questions
about the proposed schema.
Based on the input received, the ICF
Board elected to suspend the
schema as presented and continue
with the current system – allowing for
more research and discussion to be
conducted around potential changes
to the program.
During the Board’s January 2010
meeting, the Board reaffirmed its
commitment to shaping the future of
coaching credentialing by enhancing
the current ICF system and took time
to clarify the strategic purpose of the
ICF Credentialing program.
The Board agreed that the threefold
purpose of the program was to:
1) Protect and serve consumers of
coaching services,
2) Measure and certify competence
of individuals, and
3) Inspire pursuit of continuous
development.
…continued on page 48
VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2
47
Reproduced with the permission of choice Magazine, www.choice-online.com