Cathy Liska 
When you are getting started, the Certified Professional program is the first step, and it is a pre-requisite for the Certified Master Coach program. The Foundational Cohort Level 1 and Advanced Cohorts include the Certified Professional Coach program. Choosing which dates for each of the programs involves several considerations:
· Level of Training – the Certified Professional Coach is 30 hours, which is part of what is required to join ICF or earn a credential. It is an option for getting started, completing initial training for coaching skills to use in other roles, or deciding if you want to be a coach. The Foundational Cohort Level 1 and Advanced Cohort Level 2 serve to earn an ACC or PCC credential respectively.
· Schedule – Because options are available online, many choose a class based on a schedule that works best for them.
· Type of Coaching – the initial training is focused on developing your competency as a coach and providing a process. The advanced training options include choosing the designation within the area you plan to coach – a value-add because the focus is on your coaching niche or specialty. While the content for all programs is tied to developing yourself as a coach, the focus, discussions, stories, and examples are tailored to the type of coaching. Additionally, when you offer your services, including your niche in your certification designation lets your clients know about your focus.
· Desire to earn a Credential – the Foundational Cohort Level 1, Growth and Advanced Cohorts Level 2 support you in completing the required training hours, recording assessments, and mentor coaching to earn the ACC or PCC credential with ICF.
At the Center for Coaching Certification, we encourage you to call and speak with the connection team or coach trainer to gain an understanding of the program and ask questions to ensure that we are the right fit.
