Your 2024 ICF Wellness Certification Coaching Program Guide
14 Feb 2024
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” ~ Lao Tzu
Now more than ever, people from all walks of life are determined not only to introspect and transform their lives but also to inspire and support others in changing their own. I am Gillian McMichael and I run ICF Wellness Certification coaching programs that meet all ICF certification requirements. As an ICF Certified Master Coach, I have trained and mentored over 8000 students to reach their wellness coaching certification and become the coaches they always wanted to be.
Becoming a coach is a journey that is much more than guiding and inspiring others, it is a commitment and an honour to support those who seek change, pursue fulfilment in their personal and professional lives and gather the confidence to succeed. It’s not only about unlocking another’s potential but also about nurturing, facilitating, and empowering them with the right mindset and beliefs. It’s also about igniting their self-worth and becoming their champion even if no one does. It’s also a deeply personal journey that will force you to uncover parts of yourself that you never knew existed. Becoming a coach is more than just getting the title - helping others means being accountable and being held to higher standards. It is your responsibility as a future coach to gain an in-depth understanding of human behaviour, the ethical standards of this profession, get evaluated and mentored in a coaching program that is recognised and accredited by the International Coaching Federation. So here is a step-by-step guide to getting started on this journey of becoming an ICF-accredited coach:
Why Choose An ICF Wellness Coaching Certification?
This is the big question. The ICF accreditation is considered as the global hallmark of excellence, the gold standard in coaching. You will be aligned with professionals all over the world who embody everything that the profession stands for credibility, knowledge, understanding, ethics, willingness to learn and a commitment to continuous learning in service of your clients.
The ICF Certification Requirements And Process
Step 1 – Levels of learning: There are 3 levels of certifications for coaches: Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach and Master Certified Coach (MCC). You must complete 60 hours of training in either an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or the Approved Coach Specific Training Hours Program (ACSTH) to complete the foundation level – ACC. Each level comes with its own ICF certification requirements.
Step 2 – Practice: At each of these levels, candidate coaches must log the required coaching hours that will count towards their ICF wellness coaching certification. Not only do you get real world experience, but you will also learn to fine tune your coaching abilities and style. At the ACC level, you need to log 100 hours of practice with clients.
Step 3 – Getting Mentored: While mentorship is mandatory, it helps elevate your skills, get guidance, and gain a unique perspective from those who have been through this process. You will need at least 10 hours of mentoring at the ACC level.
Step 4 – Evaluation: Your submissions will be evaluated against the ICF core competencies.
Step 5 - Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA): Last but not least, each level has a rigorous assessment of your competencies to gauge your abilities to facilitate and guide your clients in making meaningful changes in their lives. Once you pass, you will receive the ICF wellness coaching certification for the level you have completed.
Now that you know what is needed to become a wellness coach, please feel free to reach out to me with a 1-on-1 call to learn more about my transformational retreat packages or if you require a little more support in your next steps as a wellness coach. I offer holistic wellness coaching and support designed to set you on the path to growth, understanding and deep awareness. Feel free to tune into my podcast every Monday where we discuss honest mental health conversations with individuals who have overcome challenges and found peace in their lives.