Coaching Credentials
Gain awareness of training schools, qualifications and abbreviations and understand what each one represents.
What Is Credentialing?
Coaching is not a regulated industry and “coach” is not a legally protected term. Therefore anyone can call themselves a coach of any description (life coach, executive coach, ADHD coach etc).
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Like many other industries and sectors, coaches established voluntary governing bodies to set minimum ethical and professional standards for the industry and coaches who wish to be credentialed by that particular coaching body must meet these minimum standards.
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Therefore, when a coach says they are accredited by a particular coaching body, it means that they have:
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Minimum number of practice hours
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Coaching practice hours
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Specific amount of training hours
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Working with a mentor & receiving feedback
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Sitting theoretical assessment/exam
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Skills assessment through recordings
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Continued professional development
What is
Involved
Requirements of Credentialing Process
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Coaching practice hours
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Specific amount of training hours
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Working with a mentor & receiving feedback
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Sitting theoretical assessment/exam
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Submitting recorded coaching sessions for assessment
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Continued professional development
Why Credentialing is Important!
Credentialing is crucial for coaches as it establishes credibility, builds trust, and ensures a consistent standard of care. It demonstrates that a coach has undergone professional training, and adheres to ethical guidelines, which reassures clients of their professionalism and expertise.
Credentialing also encourages continued education, enabling coaches to stay current with the latest research and strategies, and provides accountability through oversight by credentialing bodies.
If somebody is describing themselves as an accredited coach but they are not subscribed to a coaching code of ethics or subject to a complaints or investigation process for unethical conduct, then that leaves coachees at risk of harm.
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This differentiates trained professionals from unqualified individuals who may cause harm to coachees. By prioritising credentialing, coaches can deliver effective, reliable support while instilling confidence in their clients.
Global Credentialing Bodies
Certified Training Programmes
Other Training
Listed below are coaching schools that offer ADHD Training.
They are not certified by PAAC.
JST
JST Coaching and Mentoring offers two pathways for working with ND clients:
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Empowering Students Through Coaching (ESTC): ICF Level 1
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Coaching Neurodivergent Learners: requires prior coach training & offers ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE's).
iACT
The International ADHD Coach Training Center is certified by the ICF.​
They offer 3 pathways:
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Associate: with 73.5 training hours with iAC certification.
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Certified with 124.5 training hours with CALC certification.
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Advanced with 175.5 training hours ACALC certification.
Gold Mind
Gold Mind Academy, is certified for ICF CCE's (Continuing Coach Education) and offer two trainings:
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Certificate in ADHD-Informed Coaching: 6 month coaching training
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Certificate in ADHD-Specialist Coaching:12 month training for already trained coaches:​​
Top
Tip
Ask potential coaches about their coach training, neurodivergent education, experiences, and certifications and memberships.
Important
If your coach lacks credentials or registration with the bodies mentioned above, there’s no guarantee of ethical practice, no accountability to standards, and no external support if issues arise.