The purpose of this report is to make generally available in summary form the results of research carried out between January and June 2007 by Meyler Campbell into the opportunities that are available both nationally and internationally for the accreditation of business coach training organisations and business coaches as individuals. Much information was obtained, some of it sensitive; accordingly the report below covers the key facts only. We would be happy to amplify the data on a confidential basis on request to members of the MC Business Coach community.
Business coach training organisations and individuals form a broad church. Meyler Campbell’s research indicates that the bodies presently offering accreditation are similarly broad as to both compass and rigour. They are summarised below. There is also a plethora of bodies self-accrediting their own courses, which are not covered in this document.
| Accrediting Body & Website | Status & Membership | Accreditation Offered | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Organisations | Individuals | |||
| Association for Coaching | Non-profit independent members’ association. 1600 members |
No, but offers “course recognition” | Yes, launched in 2005 | Chair & founder: Katherine Tulpa. Some international, but main focus is on coaching in the UK. Some business, but majority life coaching. |
| Association for Professional Executive Coaching & Supervision (APECS) | Membership association. 54 members |
No | Yes | Co-founded by John O’Brien and Patti Stevens. Focuses on senior practitioners with psychotherapy emphasis. |
| British Psychological Society: Special Group in Coaching Psychology (SGCP) | A BPS subsystem. Forum for psychologists engaged in coaching, but actively welcomes non-psychologist coaches as well. 2000+ members |
No, but under review | No, but under review | Run by elected Committee. Presently a forum for sharing research and applications that relate to the psychology of coaching. |
| Employers’ National Training Organisation (ENTO) | For-profit independent private limited company. | No, but offers course recognition against its standards. | No | A national training organisation for vocational skills sector. |
| European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) | Non-profit members association. 850 members |
Yes | No, but under review | Covers both coaching and mentoring. |
| Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) | Registered charity, part of City & Guilds of London Institute. | Yes | No | Largest qualification awarding & professional membership body for management in Europe. |
| International Coaching Federation (ICF) | Non-profit members association. 12,000 members in 80 countries. |
Yes | Yes | Dominant in USA, some European presence but small in UK. Predominantly life coaching. |
| Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) | For-profit privately incorporated company in Canada. | Yes | Yes | Exclusively for business coaching. Promotes good practice by research, knowledge exchange and accreditation. |
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