Overview of the Training

The Loaves and Fishes program is an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited training, oriented around the ICF Code of Ethics and the eight competencies of professional coaching. It prepares you to seek an ICF certification as an accredited coach. See the FAQ for more information about the ICF requirements for certification.

Our training is a ten-month program that focuses on developing foundational coaching skills aligned with the International Coach Federation eight competencies. The training includes live instruction, real time feedback on observed coaching conversations, cohort discussions and Mentor Coaching that deepens the learning. The Mentor Coach sections of the training also include formative evaluations that lead to successful competition and credentialing.

At the conclusion of the training participants will have the sixty training hours necessary for certification.

The content of the training includes:

  • Three day online intensive (ten hours) in January

  • Monthly online classes, usually two Thursday per month from 1-3 pm EST

  • Summer electives – personalized learning around your interests and coaching goals

  • Observed coaching – five opportunities to receive written feedback from faculty

  • Mentor Coaching – work with Mentor Coach Specialists to refine skills and demonstrate coaching competencies

  • Self paced learning from the text Coaching for Transformation: Pathways to Ignite Personal and Social Change 2nd Ed.  By M. Lasley, V. Kellogg, R. Michaels and S. Brown.

We use the Teachable platform to hold all course materials and requirements. When students enroll, they are given the protected password to register.

Sample Schedule

Eight hours of self-study based on selected chapters from the text Coaching for Transformation: Pathways to Ignite Personal and Social Change 2nd Ed. by M. Lasley, V. Kellogg, R. Michaels and S. Brown. Participants write responses to assigned questions.

Two-hour self-paced study on Coaching Ethics, based on ICF Code of Ethics.

Cohort classes begin in January with a two-hour introduction Class to review ICF Ethics and the distinctions between Coaching and other helping professions.

January Intensive – 10 hours over three days.

  • Creating the Coaching Relationship

  • Creating Trust and Safety

  • Power Dynamics in Coaching

  • Listening Actively

  • Coaching Mindset

  • Coaching Presence

  • Evoking Awareness through Questions

  • Structure of the Coaching Conversation

  • Facilitating Growth though goals and actions

  • Observed Coaching with written feedback

Live Online Classes of the Cohort

  • Getting to the Agreement

  • Closing a Session Well

  • Mentor Coaching group

  • Power and Privilege in Coaching Relationships

  • Coaching Presence

  • Deep Listening

  • Multicultural Coaching

  • Calling out the Power

  • The Coaching Mindset

  • Ethics

Summer – self scheduled

  • Observed coaching

  • Two electives - self paced

September – One five hour day for Team Coaching and Mentor Coaching

October – one four hour day for Closing, Ethics review and Observed Coaching

Mentor Coaching is an integral part of the curriculum. It begins in February with a group class and continues through October. There are four group classes scheduled throughout the ten months, and four self-scheduled meetings with Mentor Coach Specialists to review recorded coaching sessions with your clients. Part of each individual session is a formative evaluation, helping the coach build on their skills with each of the eight competencies.

Weaving in the opportunity to be mentored during the training enhances the formation of each coach and leads to measurable growth of competence and confidence.

Note: This schedule and curriculum are an updated reflection of the January 2027 ICF requirements for training.

ACC Candidate Guide

ICF has created a guide to become an Associate Certified Coach. Click Here to download and read the guide.

 
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