ICF – Certified Leadership, Executive, and Business Coach Training Programs Compared [2022 Edition]

If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you want to become an ICF certified?leadership coach ,?business coach , or?executive coach , and you’re doing your due diligence to compare the programs and tuition! If that’s you, you’re in the right place.?

Tuition, access, training, and programs vary greatly between the available coach education schools that offer online training, and it’s important to understand your options and weigh the factors that are most important to you.

We took a look at the top 8 ICF accredited programs (including – full disclosure – our own program,?The Coaching Academy for Leaders ) that are currently offering Leadership or Executive Coach Training Programs. We compared the tuition prices, duration, and overall strengths of the various programs. A note that there are many?types of coaching, ?but here we aren’t looking at life coaching programs or training that is only available in person, instead we are concentrating on the best leadership and executive coaching programs available in an online format.

Confused about what ICF accreditation and certification really mean? Have a look at our article outlining?ICF credentials and certification . An important thing to know this year is that the ICF is overhauling its accreditation in 2022, so when you’re comparing leadership and executive coach training programs, be sure to ask how the program you’re considering will be adapting to the changes. We will be updating this article as new information is released by the ICF.

Let’s begin!

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Disclaimer: Our coach education and training comparison is as accurate as possible as of the date of publication, but programs change frequently, so we suggest you verify with the institutions listed. All prices are USD.

Institution and Program Name

Goal Imagery Institute –?Holistic Life, Career, and Executive Coach Training

ICF Accredited Training Hours

ACSTH – 62 hours, ACTP – 125 hours

Time Commitment

Approx 5 hours per week

Course Duration

6-month ACSTH program, 10 to 12-month ACTP program

Tuition

$2799 ACSTH or $5497 ACTP

Overview?

The Goal Imagery Institute includes a wide variety of coaching niches and approaches, such as positive psychology/strength-based coaching, emotional intelligence (EQ), and neuroscience/brain-based coaching. The training caps at 10 students per class, and is offered in Russian, German, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Thai.

Pros and Cons

This coach education program is a good choice for coaches who are not sure of their niche because of the broad nature of the training. The training is also very cost-effective offering 62 hours of accredited training for $2799. The broad focus of the program can be a drawback for professionals who want to concentrate on leadership development organizational culture. Students will include life coaches, health coaches and other specialties as well as those who are focusing on executive or business coaching.

Institution and Program Name

Co-Active Training Institute –?Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)

ICF Accredited Training Hours

Not listed

Time Commitment

3 to 5 hours per week

Course Duration

6-month program

Tuition

$6675 for Fundamentals and Coach Training, $12,665 for training and certification

Overview?

Co-Active Professional Coach Training is one of the largest and most established coach education programs available. Co-Active (formerly CTI) has trained over 65,000 coaches worldwide, and with over 100 different courses available in different languages and timezones, you are sure to find training to fit your schedule.

Pros and Cons

The sheer volume of courses and availability is a huge plus, along with the well-established and professional process that you go through as you earn your certification. Their CPCC designation is well-recognized in the industry. Cons include the price (one of the highest in the industry) and potentially less personalized training that comes with a large organization. Class size is not listed.

Institution and Program Name

The CAPP Institute (Coaching and Positive Psychology) –?Certified Personal and Executive Coach Program

ICF Accredited Training Hours

CCEs – 60+ hours

Time Commitment

Not listed (22 hours training, 45 hours coursework)

Course Duration

6-month program

Tuition and Additional Fees

$3495

Overview?

The CAPP Coach Training program introduces coaches to key principles from positive psychology, as well as core coaching fundamentals and business development webinars. Intensive 2 or 3-day seminar-style training is supplemented with weekly coursework, over a 6 month period.

Pros and Cons

This program is well suited for coaches who want to incorporate positive psychology into their practice. The program also includes a strong business development component including marketing, branding, and website development. Coaches who want to obtain their first ICF accreditation cannot use this program as it is not accredited for ACSTH or ACTP, however, coaches who already have their ICF credentials may enroll to obtain their?continuing coach education credits, or CCE’s .

Institution and Program Name

The Coaching Academy for Leaders –?Certified Leadership Coach (CLC)

ICF Training Hours Provided

ACSTH – 153.5 hours

Time Commitment

2 hours of live training per week, plus homework and practice (about 30 minutes per week)

Course Duration

6-month program per phase, 3 phases

Tuition

$1785 per phase or $5355 total program

Overview?

The Coaching Academy for Leaders is a coach education and certification program that specifically focuses on leadership and executive coaching for those who want to learn coaching as a leadership style. Training happens within small groups of 5 to 15 participants and also includes 1-to-1 coaching with a faculty member. Building a coaching culture within an organization is emphasized.?

Pros and Cons

This program is ideal for managers who are looking for a leadership development program and for aspiring coaches who want to specialize in business or executive coaching and earn the title Certified Leadership Coach. Because of the small-group focus, you have lots of opportunities to interact directly with the faculty members, and 1-to-1 private coaching is included in the tuition. One drawback is that the course may take longer to complete than other coaching programs because of the microlearning modules delivered over several weeks. This is designed specifically to cater to busy professionals who have limited time available weekly for lessons and coursework, and to promote better learning retention.

Institution and Program Name

Center for Executive Coaching –?Executive Coaching Certification

ICF Training Hours Provided

ACTP – 125 hours

Time Commitment

Varied, self-paced program

Course Duration

5 to 7 months

Tuition and Additional Fees

$7500

Overview?

The Center for Executive Coaching focuses on providing the ICF core competencies within the framework of training business professionals to coach. The program includes self-paced training webinars that you can join according to a set schedule, taught in stand-alone mini-modules. The program includes business development and the ability to achieve a specialty certification.

Pros and Cons

This is a well-established program that caters specifically to coaches looking for training to become executive coaches or business coaches. The weekly self-paced webinar format makes it a good choice for people with varying schedules. The drawback of the self-paced format is that you don’t get the benefit of accelerating your learning with a core group of peers who share your journey.

Institution and Program Name

Coach U –?Professional Coach Training Program ?

ICF Training Hours Provided

ACSTH – 149 hours

Time Commitment

Various options – self-paced and fast track available

Course Duration

6 to 15 months

Tuition and Additional Fees

$8090 (regular program) or $9090 (fast track)

Overview?

Coach U is a leading global provider of coach training courses and programs. Programs are geared towards professionals, although they are not specifically designated as leadership or executive coaching programs. Coach U offers a professional coach training program with 2 phases, Core Essentials and Professional Essentials. Fun fact – our Director of Education Corry Robertson completed her first 200 hours of coursework at Coach U!

Pros and Cons

As a large coach training institution, Coach U benefits from a varied and comprehensive list of training opportunities, and they provide a fast track option (a 6-month program) for professionals wanting to become certified quickly. The scope of their offering also provides self-paced learning opportunities. Cons include the lack of 1-to-1 coaching and the higher price tag.

Institution and Program Name

iPEC –?Certified Professional Coach

ICF Training Hours Provided

ACTP – 320 hours

Time Commitment

6 hours per week, approx

Course Duration

9 to 12 months

Tuition and Additional Fees

$11,950

Overview?

iPEC offers a comprehensive coach training program that focuses on the core coaching competencies taught in three 3-day live intensive modules, spaced out 3 months apart each (for a 9-month total program). iPEC offers specialization in business coaching and executive coaching, and offers 3 certifications in their proprietary processes – Energy Leadership, CORE Dynamics, and CORE Leadership Coaching.?

Pros and Cons

iPEC is a comprehensive program with many opportunities to specialize within the main training. The one program offers 3 certifications on completion and is ideal for students who prefer seminar-style all-day immersive training and includes a whopping 320 hours of training time! Along with the higher price tag this coaching program requires 6 or more hours of dedicated time per week which may not be ideal for professionals adding coach training to their schedules.

Institution and Program Name

Academy of Creative Coaching –?All Online Design

ICF Training Hours Provided

ACTP – 60 or 125 hours

Time Commitment

Not listed

Course Duration

6-month program

Tuition and Additional Fees

$3195 (60 hours), $6195 (125 hours)

Overview?

The Academy of Creative Coaching provides core coaching competencies with an emphasis on a creative approach using positive psychology concepts. Coaching topics include modules that cover diversity training, marginalized communities, and toxic environments. There is also a business development module including marketing and business plan development.

Pros and Cons

The Academy of Creative Coaching is best for students who desire to integrate approaches to creative change into their coaching, using neuroscience and positive psychology. The program offers additional courses that cover justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) training, which makes it a good choice for those interested in transforming social landscapes. Although geared towards professionals, this program may not be the right choice for coaches wanting to deeply explore leadership development and organizational coaching culture.

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Coaching programs can be difficult to compare, so we created this at-a-glance chart to help you see the differences!

ICF – Certified Leadership, Executive, and Business Coach Training Programs Compared

Summing It Up

Comparing coach education and training programs is not an easy task, there are many options, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. For some learners, the course duration or cost is most important, for others, the delivery method is what tips the balance. And for some students, the focus of the program and course content itself will be the deciding factor.

But if you are considering an ICF accredited program, you are already making a great start because this, in my humble opinion, is the ONLY path to mastery in coaching

As an ICF credentialled coach, you’ll be joining a group of elite coaches who provide accountability to clients and the coaching profession as a whole. They pursue and complete rigorous education and practice requirements that provide unquestioned legitimacy to their commitment to excellence in coaching.

Here’s to your success in pursuing a career in coaching!?

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Want to learn more about The Coaching Academy for Leaders?

>?Learn more about the program here

>?View the curriculum here

>?Download the brochure here

>?Understand the tuition and policies here

>?Book a discovery call to apply to the program here