Happy 25 years to the International Coach Federation! The ICF was founded in 1995 to give credibility to the coach profession. Coaches have a shared belief that we can positively impact individuals, organizations, communities and even the world.
There are currently over 29,000 certified coaches in 130 countries. 48% are in North America. The beauty is that most coaches work virtually. That means that although I live in Wilmington, NC, my clients are all over the world.
I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). What does that mean? PCC coaches need at least 125 hours of coach specific training, which includes ethics and ICF core competencies. They need to work for 10 hours with a mentor coach, have at least 500 hours of client experience, and pass a rigorous Coach Knowledge Assessment. Every PCC must have submitted two recordings with a client for review to the ICF.
If you plan to work with a coach, please ask them about their credentials and their training. It is imperative to work with a coach that meets the high standards set up by the ICF. For further information, contact me at joann@joannskinner.com.