Top 8 Business Coaching Programs to Look Out for in 2021
Whether you’re embarking on your journey to become a business coach and need to figure out what training and certifications best fit your business coaching aspirations—
Or maybe you’re already a seasoned business coach looking for extra training to boost your credentials and refresh your business coaching knowledge.
Whatever your position is—here are our top 5 business coaching programs to look out for in 2021.
But before we dive in, we should lay out some groundwork information to know how to acquire the right training and become a talented business coach with a successful career.
Figuring Out The Type of Business Coach Training Program You Need
ICF Accredited Programs For Business Coaches
First and foremost, it’s important to clarify that there is no consensus within the coaching industry about what training and certifications a business coach needs to become a stellar business coach.
However, the only consensus is that the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the gold standard when it comes to business coaching certifications.
The ICF is a globally recognized nonprofit that is essentially THE global hub for all things business coaching and lends instant credibility when it certifies a business coach, any business coaching services, or business coaching program.
This is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a business coaching program. If a program is certified by the ICF, you can be sure that the program has undergone extensive reviews by industry experts to surpass the highest standards that the ICF requires.
Choose The Training Program Type Best Fits Your Needs
There are 3 different coaching program types that are accredited by the ICF.
It’s important to be aware of the differences between the programs to figure out what training you would benefit the most from to become a successful and strategic coach.
Coaching organizations usually offer one or two types of programs. Each type of coaching certification has its pros and cons and serves different needs and circumstances depending on the individual business coach.
Whether you are already in the business and leadership coaching industry or want to become a life and business coach, an executive business coach, a small business coach—there is a successful coaching program to fit your needs.
1. Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP)
An ACTP is the most comprehensive type of program for novice business coaches. It entails 125 hours (minimum) of business coach-specific training, instructions that deep-dive into ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics, mentor coaching, and an extensive final exam that will evaluate your competence and get you ready for coaching in the real world.
This is the go-to business coach program for business coaches that are just getting started on their business coaching career and want to ensure they are competent in strategic coaching, leadership coaching, and business consultancy.
2.Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH)
An ACSTH is less comprehensive than an ACTP but still requires rigorous 30 hours of coach-specific training, including observed coaching sessions and learning ICF Core Competencies.
This type of program is a great option for individuals who need more flexibility in their training because they can choose their coach mentor and tailor-make their training program and hours to suit their schedule and needs.
3. Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
A CCE program is essentially advanced training for coaches who have completed basic ICF training and already have coaching experience under their belt.
This coach training builds on a coach’s existing knowledge and expands their coaching abilities for the next phase of their coaching career.
According to the ICF, a CCE program “may also include training in skills that contribute to your professional development, such as personal development, coaching assessments, tools, business building, or other materials falling outside of the ICF Core Competencies.”
Now, let’s take a look at some of our favorite business coaching training programs for 2021.
1. Co-Active Training Institute
Coach Certificate Program
ICF ACTP Approved Training
Program Description:
“As the largest and most established professional coach training organization in the world, CTI has trained over 65,000 coaches, including employees in more than a third of the Fortune 100 companies.
After completing Co-Active Fundamentals and Co-Active Coach Training, you will be ready to continue your path to coaching mastery through the Co-Active Professional Coach Certification program. After completing Certification, you will be eligible to earn the prestigious designation of Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), respected worldwide as the gold standard of coaching.”
Why We Love It:
CTI earned its reputation over 28 years of developing coaches and leaders worldwide. We love what CTI calls, “the Co-Active difference,” which delivers relevant and experiential learning that is truly transformational for each coach trainee.
2.Active Results
Professional Coach Certificate Program
150 Hrs. ICF ACSTH Approved Training
Program Description:
"The power of our training is that it is built on a simple model that is quickly understood, memorable, and immediately useable and replicable in the workplace.
The COACH Model®, while simple in concept, offers a profound change of mentality and practice from that of telling and expertise to that of questions and the shared discovery of new solutions.
Our training is built on helping people grasp and use this model in intensely practical ways to solve immediate organizational challenges.
Our goal is to provide the tools and knowledge that will empower you and your organization to deliver extraordinary results while growing your people."
Why We Love It:
Active Results LLC was created and is headed by Dr. Keith E. Webb, who has facilitated coach training in 30 countries, has an M.A. in Intercultural Studies, a D. Min. in Transformational Leadership, and developed the world-renown COACH Model®.
This background is evident in the ever-relevant Cross-Cultural Training Workshops that Active Results focuses on within their training.
This training equips business coaches with the tools to embrace and leverage cultural differences to help business leaders, small business owners, and other business owners to create synergy within their organization, reduce conflict, and facilitate productive communication.
Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding; Active Results is in demand throughout the globe because of their practical, hands-on training that can benefit coaches who want to offer their business coaching services to individuals, teams, and large organizations.
3. Academy For Coaching Excellence
Coach Training Program
174 Hrs. ICF ACTP Approved Training
Program Description:
"Our certification package contains 9 months of webinar trainings where you will develop your skill & a virtual portal of coaching resources.
It includes: A 14-session virtual practice group; and real-time virtual training on the most important aspects of professional coaching, including enrolling clients, ethics, and working with clients in crisis. You may complete our program within 1-2 years, at the pace that works best for you.
To provide you the absolute best experience as a student, we offer at least two cohorts a year with whom you may begin your studies.
Our work is rooted in ontology, the study of being. We look at what it truly is to be human: The values we live by, the heroic journey we are each here to take, and, ultimately, the gift to others we want to be known for."
Why We Love It:
Apart from their holistic and spiritual approach to coaching that is influenced by pragmatic, transformational, compassionate, socially conscious, and universal ideals, this organization makes it their mission to make their training accessible and affordable for anyone.
They charge individuals on a sliding scale so that you pay what your income allows you to pay; furthermore, their flexible training programs allow individuals to complete their training at their own pace.
This is especially useful for coaches who are new to the coaching business and are still juggling another job while they complete their training.
4. ACT Leadership at Brown University
Next Level Coaching Program
49 Hrs. ICF CCE Approved Training
Program Description:
“Our program is currently offered virtually for the time being (COVID) and in Providence, RI at the Brown University Campus.
The ACT Leadership and Performance Coaching Program incorporates the 11 ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics necessary to become a ACC coach. The program is contextualized in organizational and leadership development.
Participants will develop confidence and competence in being able to coach a range of different personalities within organizations using concepts from disciplines such as Developmental Psychology and Leadership Development.”
Why We Love It:
It goes without saying that the Ivy League prestige of Brown immediately lends authority and credibility to this coaching program.
Apart from this program’s prestige and its keen focus on the ICF’s Core Competencies, it’s an excellent program for equipping coaches with a wide range of tools and coaching styles to be able to turn any business into a successful business.
The program aims to prepare coaches to be proficient in coaching individuals, teams, and large organizations by digging deep within themselves to find the innate strengths that will prepare them for anything.
5. Center for Executive Coaching
Coach Certificate Program
ICF ACTP Approved Training
Program Description:
“The Center for Executive Coaching (CEC) is a leading coach training & certification company for professionals seeking success as coaches to leaders, executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, and up-and-coming talent.”
Why We Love It:
The program is small and selective, which means more personalized training and support. CEC goes a step beyond ICF’s core competencies, has a royalty-free license to 24 coaching toolkits, and offers a phenomenal network of coaches.
6. Radiant Coaches Academy
Holistic Coaching + Credentialing
125 Hrs. ICF ACSTH Approved Training
Program Description:
“Our progressive, award-winning holistic coach certification program contains curriculum based on cutting-edge science and business education.
We incorporate neuroscience and neuropsychology into our curriculum, as well as business and marketing training.
More importantly, we teach differently: we use a strong anecdotal model designed to help people retain more information.”
Why We Love It:
The holistic coaching program at Radiant Coaches Academy is holistic for two reasons. The first reason is that it prepares coaches for dealing with every element of a client’s life and within their own business.
The second reason is that it exposes coaches to different areas of coaching within the program to better see what they’re good at and find their niche.
7. Coach Academy International
Coach Certificate Program
125 hrs. ICF ACSTH Approved Training
Program Description:
“Coach Academy offers a condensed experience that blends together the science of rapport, communication, and performance excellence (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) with the proven best practices of coaching reflected in the ICF Coach Competencies. Coach Academy's innovative Coach Certification Program is conducted in a combination of virtual modules and an “intensive” in-person event. We conduct a lot of supervised practice coaching with individual attention and feedback by highly experienced faculty.”
Why We Love It:
With its comprehensive and all-inclusive curriculum, this program excels at supporting their coaches with the support they need during their time within the program, and even after completing the program, they receive support when “out on their own.”
This focus on the well-being and success of their coaches is an attractive feature, especially to those who are completely new to the world of coaching.
This program also excels in preparing its coaches for the modern world of coaching by offering telephone and virtual coaching courses.
8.NYU School of Professional Studies
Coach Certificate Program
ICF ACSTH Approved Training
Program Description:
“NYU SPS offers two certificates in coaching: the Certificate in Executive Coaching and the Certificate in Professional Coaching. Both focus on developing coaches using a three-pronged approach: the theory and science, evidence-based models and tools, and International Coaching Federation (ICF) core competencies. Through applied practical sessions, students apply these skills and techniques in a variety of client scenarios. Each course is 12 weeks long and provides 36 synchronous hours and 14 asynchronous hours, which will entitle students to earn 50 coach-specific training hours with ICF per course.”
Why We Love It:
There are two effective approaches to the coaching discipline. With the Certificate in Executive Coaching, aspiring coaches learn the process to help leaders achieve personal and organizational professional goals.
The Certificate in Professional Coaching focuses on professionals who want to learn or improve their coaching skills in everyday personal and professional situations. It’s a fit for new and currently practicing coaches based on the (ICF) core competency model.
We love the idea of developing coaching principles for use within formal coaching practices and among leaders in workplace settings. That’s definitely a part of what we mean when speaking about “coaching for all.”
Bottom Line
Last thing: it's important to keep in mind that after choosing your program and completing it, it’s imperative to get your ICF credentials that validate and accredit your training. There’s a specific path for each program.
Remember to choose a program that is aligned with your values and goals so that you become a business coach capable of coaching your ideal client.
If you're a coach that has received stellar training from a program not mention, please share below, we would love to hear about your positive experience: