Coaching Fundamentals:
Level 1 Pathway To The ICF ACC Certification
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Our Mission
Supporting better leaders for a better world through coaching.
Gain the skills to lead effectively and inspire others through our comprehensive, ICF-accredited leadership coach training.
Become an ICF-Certified Coach
Align yourself with the gold standard in professional coaching to gain a competitive edge, instant credibility and demonstrate your proficiency and commitment as a coach.
Advance Your Career
Master coaching as a leadership style to build stronger relationships at work and open doors to new career opportunities in coaching and consulting.
Lead with Impact
Coach your team to peak performance and cultivate a thriving coaching culture within your organization.
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Coaching Fundamentals:
Level 1 Pathway to the ACC
This 6-month (27-week) program comprises weekly 2-hour sessions and offers a dynamic learning experience through live online and self-directed lectures with a small group format of 5 to 15 participants. The curriculum includes video lessons, online live Coaching Practicums and Mastermind sessions, supplemented by private 1-to-1 coaching sessions to ensure you receive comprehensive, hands-on training.
Unlimited Earnings
Get paid well to empower others
No Prerequisites
Prior education not required
100% Online
Learn from anywhere in the world, with leaders from all over the world
Here’s What You’ll Learn
Course Content:
Pillar 1
Self-Awareness and Personality Assessment
Award-winning Lumina Spark Psychometric Assessement provides a personalised portrait of your whole personality.
Pillar 2
Introduction To Coaching
Foundation in principles and practices of professional coaching.
Pillar 3
The ICF Coaching Competencies
Introduction to the 8 essential ICF-defined coaching competencies.
Pillar 4
The Coaching Conversation Model
Structured approaches for effective coaching dialogues.
Pillar 5
The Coaching Agreement
Set clear, effective client-coach expectations and guidelines.
Pillar 6
Cultivating Trust and Safety
Techniques to foster openness and trust in coaching relationships.
Pillar 7
Coaching Presence
Maintain a flexible, open, and confident coaching style.
Pillar 8
Active Listening
Listen deeply to understand context and underlying emotions.
Pillar 9
Evoking Awareness
Powerful questioning to unlock client insights and possibilities.
Pillar 10
Cultivating Learning and Growth
Facilitate actionable steps and sustained personal growth.
Pillar 11
The Coaching Code of Ethics
Uphold ethical integrity and professionalism.
Pillar 12
Developing A Coaching Mindset
Adopt a curious, adaptable, client-centered approach.
Included In This 6-Month Program:
- Weekly 2-Hour LIVE training sessions with your Faculty Coach Educator, totaling 66.5 hours of ICF-certified coach training that can be applied to ICF ACC credentials. These training sessions are made up of:
- 2x Per Month LIVE Mastermind Sessions (2 hours each)
- 2x Per Month LIVE Coach Practicum Sessions (2 hours each)
- Self-Paced Video Learning Lectures (11 hours of Video Lessons)’
- Three 1:1 Private Coaching Sessions with Your Coach Educator or other faculty member
- 182 pages of Printable Companion Guides
- Lumina Spark Psychometric Personality Assessment and 42 Page Personalized Report
- Private Community & Discussion Forum
- Extensive Resource Library
- Accountability Pulse-Checks, Bi-Weekly
- Done For You Coaching Business-In-A-Box Templates and Training Including:
- Coaching Contract Agreement Sample
- Coaching Call Log Template
- Coaching Conversation Guide
- Portfolio Performance Management System
- Coaching Results System for Ethical Reporting and ROI
- Coaching Masterclass Vault: Hand-Picked Webinar Presentations and White Papers
- Dedicated Client Service Staff and Faculty available 9 to 5 ET to support you in real time
- SMART Goal Planner & Daily, Weekly, Monthly Planner
And so much more…!!!
Become A Professional Coach
Coaching Fundamentals Graduates Earn
Coaching Fundamentals Leadership Coach Certificate from The Coaching Academy for Leaders
66.5 hours of ICF-certified coach training that can be applied to ICF ACC credentials
Coaching Fundamentals Digital Badge to share your earned competencies with your network.
Nader Antoine Naser
“After taking Coaching lessons with Corry, it is impressive to find the wealth of knowledge she has around this topic. Best of all, her examples when discussing topics are widely practical samples she has been through in her own career. I’d recommend Corry eyes closed either as a personal coach or for certification.
Thank you Corry for all the time, effort, professionalism and presence that you’ve put into this training.”
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Get These Premium Member-Only Resources Included With The Program!
Our comprehensive training gives you everything you need to succeed as an executive or leadership coach:
BONUS 01
The Leadership Coach Community Membership
Unlock 3-months FREE ACCESS to The Leadership Coach Community when you enroll in Coaching Fundamentals.
This premium membership not only connects you with a vibrant network of ICF coaching professionals but also provides monthly live sessions with leading experts in marketing, social media, business development, and professional coaching. You can also earn up to 20 CCE’s for your participation in the live sessions!
These interactive sessions offer direct access to industry leaders, allowing you to ask questions, gain insights, and receive personalized advice to propel your coaching business forward. Elevate your professional journey and stay at the forefront of your field with this dynamic community.
BONUS 02
Get Listed On Our Exclusive Coach Bench and Start Accepting Clients!
Graduates earn the opportunity to be listed on the Corry Robertson ICF Coaching Bench upon graduation. This exclusive directory is a gateway to gaining new clients immediately. As part of our respected network of ICF-certified coaches, you’ll be recognized as an ICF Coaching Professional, giving you instant credibility and making you highly visible to potential clients actively seeking expert coaching services.
Step into your coaching career with a distinct advantage and start building your client base immediately.
Who Is This Leadership Coach Training Program For?
This ICF Accredited leadership coach training is for anyone who wants to become a professional leadership coach, uplevel their development and performance, learn coaching as a leadership style for their workplace, serve clients, and officially add the title “Certified Leadership Coach” to their credentials.
Executives and Managers
HR, OD, and Leadership Development Professionals
Emerging Leaders
Consultants
High-level Entrepreneurs
Board Members
Our Students Are Supporting Better Leaders For A Better World At World-Class Organizations
Join an elite list of changemakers in leadership and executive coaching.
Yvonne Bernier
Vice President of Operations
“Coaching is a way of life that everyone should consider adopting. This class was the perfect introduction. The mix of coursework, mastermind groups and practice was a great way to learn. The fact that it was a weekly commitment helped keep me focused and motivated. Corry and Brian are experts and their passion is contagious.”
Learn from the best in the world
Certification and Accreditation
Our certification provides the training requirement for ICF credentialing.
Add Mentor Coaching To Your Program
Mentor Coaching for ICF Credentials
Individual and group mentor coaching to meet your ICF credential requirements.
Students who wish to pursue credentialing with the ICF must participate in Mentor Coaching as part of their training. If you wish to pursue your ACC or PCC credentials, or renew your ACC, we have you covered! Add this valuable training to your program.
Here's What Our Alumni Are Saying...
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The ICF Core Competencies
Becoming a professional coach starts with mastering the ICF Core Competencies. These competencies are essential for being a trusted strategic thinking partner to your clients while embodying the values of the ICF. Our Coaching Fundamentals program takes a deep dive into each core competency.
- Demonstrates Ethical Practice
- Embodies a Coaching Mindset
- Establishes & Maintains Agreements
- Cultivates Trust and Safety
- Maintains Presence
- Listens Actively
- Evokes Awareness
- Facilitates Client Growth
Definition
Understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards of coaching.
Adhering to this principle helps you to:
- Conduct yourself with integrity
- Earn trust from your clients
- Maintain a high level of professionalism
- Build a strong relationship with your clients
- Establish credibility in the field
- Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct
Definition
Develops and maintains a mindset that is open, curious, flexible and client-centered.
Developing an open mindset allows you to:
- Effectively support your clients’ growth and development
- Listen to your clients deeply
- Understand your clients’ perspectives
- Adapt your coaching approach to meet your clients’ needs
Definition
Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans and goals.
Establishes agreements for the overall coaching engagement as well as those for each coaching session.
Learning how to establish and maintain agreements helps you:
- Establish clear agreements that help define the coaching process, goals and expectations.
- Set the stage for effective collaboration between you and your client
- Foster trust
- Maintain boundaries
- Ensure commitment from both parties
Definition
Partners with the client to create a safe, supportive environment that allows the client to share freely. Maintains a relationship of mutual respect and trust.
Knowing how to cultivate trust and safety allows you to:
- Create a supportive environment
- Encourage honest sharing
- Promote deeper exploration
- Enhance client commitment
- Build stronger coaching-client relationship
Definition
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident.
Maintaining presence is what helps you:
- Gain clearer perception of your clients’ needs
- Deepen client connection
- Facilitate client-centered coaching
- Encourage authentic communication
- Support your client’s emotional awareness
- Create mindful interventions
- Enhance client empowerment
Definition
Focuses on what the client is and is not saying to fully understand what is being communicated in the context of the client systems and to support client self-expression.
Active listening gives you the power to:
- Build trust and rapport
- Ensure accurate understanding
- Uncover underlying issues
- Validate client experiences
- Enhance client engagement
- Improve communication
- Encourage reflective thinking
- Support emotional safety
- Promote effective problem solving
Definition
Facilitates client insight and learning by using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor or analogy.
Learning to evoke awareness is what allows you as a coach to:
- Facilitate self-discovery
- Encourage reflection
- Support goal achievement
- Help clients build emotional intelligence
- Foster accountability
- Promote adaptability
Definition
Partners with the client to transform learning and insight into action. Promotes client autonomy in the coaching process.
Becoming an expert at facilitating client growth is what allows you as a coach to:
- Encourage deeper self-discovery into values strengths, and aspirations
- Promote sustainable changes in behavior and mindset
- Strengthen clients’ self-efficacy
- Help clients cultivate resilience
- Foster profound and lasting transformation
By the end of the program you will have learned how to:
Uphold Professional Integrity
Adhere to the ICF Code of Ethics, ensuring your coaching practice is conducted with integrity and responsibility.
Manage Confidentiality
Cultivate a Non-Judgmental Perspective
Nurture awareness of your own biases, maintain an open, non-judgmental attitude towards clients, fostering an inclusive coaching environment.
Adopt a Growth Mindset
Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Demonstrate Empathy
Be Fully Present
Provide Feedback and Support
Self-Reflect and Self-Regulate
Navigate Ethical Dilemmas
Build Trust
Acknowledge and Validate
Encourage Critical Thinking
Jessica Tana
Senior Manager - Human Resources
“I really loved sharing and exchanging with the other intellectuals in the session. The practice sessions were most useful for me as they got me out of my comfort zone.
This program allows for a different way of learning and it helps to identify skills that you didn’t know you had.”
Start Your Coaching Journey Now!
Certification
- Coaching Fundamentals Leadership Coach Certificate from The Coaching Academy for Leaders
- 66.5 Hours ICF Accredited Training – ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC
Duration
- 6-Month Program (27 Weeks)
- 2 Hours of Instruction per week
- Up to 30 minutes a week of self-directed learning
Language & Delivery
- Course is offered in English
- Small group format of 5 to 15 participants per cohort
Choose Your Cohort Start Date:
Upcoming Program Start Dates
Feb 9th, 2025 – Nov 23rd, 2025
February 13th, 2025 – Nov 25th, 2025
Thursdays, 8AM – 10AM ET
Sep 16th, 2025 – April 21st, 2026
Tuesdays, 11:30AM – 1:30PM ET
ICF-Accredited Coach Training Program Faculty
Corry Robertson, PCC
Director of Education, Coach Educator,
Mentor Coach
Corry Robertson is an award-winning expert on coaching culture, engagement, and retention and a Registered ICF Mentor Coach with a client list of Fortune 100 companies. Corry is the Founder and CEO of The Coaching Academy for Leaders and an award-winning coach, listed among Montreal’s top 20 coaches by Influence Digest. Corry’s primary areas of expertise include supporting executives and emerging leaders through human performance improvement, organizational culture management, executive team development and leadership and high-potential development programs.
Brian Duggan, PCC
Coach Educator, Mentor Coach, Accredited Coach Supervisor
Brian is an Executive Coach, Coach Trainer and Mentor. A life-long learner he has completed two Royal Roads University Graduate Certificates in Coaching Practices. His first book Coaching From the Inside Out: A personal approach to coaching for change was published in June of 2019. Brian is a member of the International Coach Federation, with a PCC accreditation.
Melanie Briand, M.Sc., ACC
Coach Educator
As an associate certified coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and trainer, Melanie assists individuals and teams in developing awareness surrounding their thoughts, feelings and behaviours in order to develop a strategy to optimize their potential. Melanie knows how to adapt to the needs of people and by paying particular attention to their psychological needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy. Specialized in Organizational Behaviour, she also lectures at the John Molson School of Business. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys swing dancing, yoga and hiking in nature.
Enza Cignarella, MBA, PPCC, ACC
Coach Educator
Enza is a strategist in human-centered business design and implementation offering a broad spectrum of senior experience in the pharmaceutical, educational and leadership development fields. An ICF Certified professional business coach with a penchant for developing talent, elevating teams to higher performance and optimizing enterprise results, Enza is appreciated as an articulate communicator capable of synthesizing information and bringing people together behind a common purpose. Fuelled by relentless curiosity and learning, Enza speaks and writes fluent English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Allison March, M.A., PHR, ACC
Coach Educator
Allison has worked as a Coaching Professional since 2012. She specializes in empowering her clients to identify and achieve their goals by using deep inquiry-based coaching informed by Cognitive Psychology. She has studied within Columbia University’s Coaching Certification program as well as The Coaching Academy for Leaders. Allison is an ICF-accredited and certified Executive Coach. In her coaching she uses her knowledge gained from three masters degrees in Cognitive Psychology, Science of Education and Organizational Psychology, as well as her certification in Conflict Resolution form Columbia University.
Helena Hlavenkova, M.A., PCC
Mentor Coach
Helena is a professional certified coach, organizational consultant and a designer and facilitator of comprehensive developmental programs, mostly in the areas of leadership, succession, emotional intelligence, engagement and conflict management.
Helena believes that coaching is a key component of sustainable change, and she incorporates individual, team or group coaching into all developmental initiatives she delivers to her clients. Helena works with diverse groups and teams; indigenous, multicultural as well as cross cultural, helping people and organizations develop, grow and change.
Explore How the Coaching Academy for Leaders Can Transform Your Career.
FAQ
The Coaching Academy for Leaders Leadership Coach Training Programs
Who should enroll in Coaching Fundamentals?
This program is designed for aspiring coaches who want to start their coaching career, existing coaches looking to enhance their skills, professionals such as managers and leaders who wish to integrate coaching techniques into their work, and anyone seeking to earn their ICF ACC or PCC certification.
How is the training delivered and what is the curriculum?
Will I get a certification?
Yes! Upon successful completion of the program, you will become a Graduate and receive a certificate acknowledging your training in Coaching Fundamentals which is required to pursue your ICF Certification. If you wish to complete the ICF pathway to the ACC, we will work with you to become a Certified Graduate. A Certified Graduate is a student who completes the training, as well as the mentor coaching and performance evaluation required to apply for an ACC.
Is this program accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF)?
Yes, the Coaching Fundamentals program is a Level 1 Pathway to ICF ACC accreditation and regularly audited by the ICF to ensure that it meets the ICF’s gold standard for coach training. Completing the program gives you the coach training hours required to apply for the ACC credential. When paired with Mentor Coaching and Performance Evaluation, you will have the required elements to apply for your ACC. Learn more about ICF Certification here.
What is the difference between Coaching Fundamentals, Coaching Essentials, and Leadership Excellence?
- Coaching Fundamentals is designed to build a solid foundation in coaching skills. This course is ideal for those starting their coaching journey or for managers who wish to integrate coaching into their leadership style. It prepares participants to start a private practice, work as an internal coach, or lead teams more effectively.
- Coaching Essentials takes your coaching skills to the next level with our advanced practicums, focusing on advancing your knowledge about creating and sustaining a coaching culture. This course is perfect for those who want to contribute significantly to their organizations or expand their private coaching practice with skills that foster employee engagement and organizational growth.
- Leadership Excellence bridges the gap between coaching and leadership, emphasizing the application of coaching as a leadership style and deepening understanding of leadership theories. This program is suitable for both aspiring and seasoned leaders and coaches who specialize in leadership development, offering tools to effectively lead and develop high-performance teams.
What kind of support will I receive during the program?
Will there be opportunities for practical coaching practice during the program?
Can you run a private training program just for my employees?
Is this a board-certified coach certification?
What is the cost of tuition?
What is the payment schedule?
Payment plans are available, for full details please visit our Upcoming Program Schedule page.
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Step Into Your Future As A Successful Professional Coach Today
Starting your coaching journey and using your talents to support those who aspire to make a positive impact is within reach. With just one simple step, your life could transform.
Whether you’ve envisioned going out on your own and building a rewarding coaching practice, empowering your colleages to reach their potential, or helping your organization strengthen their teams, it all begins by investing in your coaching aspirations.
Let’s embark on this journey together and turn your aspirations into reality. Your coaching success is waiting to unfold.
Ready to become a professional and ICF-certified coach?
