If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you want to become an ICF-certified leadership coach, business coach, or executive coach, or perhaps you want to learn how to be a coach so that you can improve your leadership style and bring coaching into your organization. Either way, 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.

Changes To The ICF Credentialing Pathways

There have been big changes in coaching certification in the past year, most notably the retiring of the ICF ACSTH and ACTP accreditations and the change to Level 1, 2 and 3 accreditations. This switch has required all ICF-accredited coaching education programs to go through a new, rigorous evaluation of their education programs.

According to Luke Davis, Vice President of ICF Coaching Education, “the new structure will enable coaches to find a clearer path to quality education that prepares them for the nuance, complexity and sophistication of today’s coaching consumer.”

The new and updated accreditation structure has replaced both ACTP and ACSTH with levels tied to ICF Credentialing pathways.

• The Level 1 Pathway to the ACC. 
• The Level 2 Pathway to the PCC.
• The Level 3 Pathway to the MCC

Many of the programs we evaluated at this point in time (December 2023) still show the old accreditations in their information. Be sure you check this important factor before selecting your own coaching education!

How We Evaluated The Top ICF-Accredited Leadership Development and Coaching Programs

For 2024, we took a look at the top 11 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 as well as the availability of achieving Level 1 certification.

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. As we mentioned above, the ICF has overhauled its accreditation, 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.

Questions To Ask When Comparing Leadership Coach Training Programs:

• How many hours of coaching education are you receiving for your tuition? Prices vary widely, as do ICF-accredited hours taught in each program.

• Are the training hours all online with a large group? Or are group sizes capped to provide a small group experience?

• Are all coach training sessions within the group, or are 1:1 coaching sessions with faculty members included?

• Is Mentor Coaching baked into the program? This can be beneficial if you plan to apply for your ICF ACC or PCC Credential, but it might also be an unnecessary expense if that isn’t your goal.

• Do you want to earn your ICF ACC or PCC Credential? Ensure the program you choose is up to date with their Level 1 or Level 2 accreditation and offers enough hours for you to earn your credential.

• Do you prefer learning in 2 to 3 day workshops, or spaced out in smaller 1 to 2 hour trainings weekly? Different education programs offer different types of training, both weekly or at weekend seminars.

The Top 11 Leadership Coaching Certification Programs for 2024

Confused as to how to compare all the program details? It can be tricky! We wanted to compare apples to apples, so for our dive into this topic we ONLY compared what programs and tuition rates are required to meet the ICF standards for the Level 1 Pathway to the ACC. 

All of the programs listed below offer a minimum of 60 ICF Accredited Training Hours, and we added on the 10 hours of Mentor Coaching and Performance Evaluation if they were not specifically a part of the program (which are the certification requirements leading to the ACC).

Although almost all of the schools listed below offer additional courses and more training hours, we did not include them in our breakdown. We tried to answer this question in this blog “If I wanted to become an ICF-Certified Coach from this school and then go for my ACC, what would that require?”. 

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

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

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

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

76.5 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Offers Level 1 and Level 2 Accredited Coach Education Programs (Level 2 programs conform to ICF standards and are currently under ICF Review).

Time Commitment

2 – 2.5 hours of live training per week, plus private coaching and self-directed learning

Course Duration

6 months

Tuition

$5348 USD

Overview 

The Coaching Academy for Leaders is a coach education and certification program that specifically focuses on leadership coaching, coaching as a leadership style, and coaching culture. Hence, it is of interest to those who want to learn leadership and executive coaching, those who want to learn coaching as a leadership style, and those who want to bring more coaching into their organizations. 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. The Coaching Academy for Leaders also supports ICF coaches in their practice through their membership group, and their certified graduates are invited to sit on the founder’s Coach Bench to be exposed to paid coaching opportunities.

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. Mentor Coaching is not integrated directly into the course but is available as an add-on to the program, which is beneficial as a cost savings for coaches not interested in pursuing the certification requirements necessary for the ACC credential.

Institution and Program Name

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

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

104 hours + 96 hours certification program

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Level 1 accreditation is not mentioned on the website. However, ICF credentials ACC, PCC, and MCC are mentioned.

Time Commitment

3 to 5-day workshops x 5 over the space of 6 months to 1 year, followed by a 6-month certification program.

Course Duration

1 year to 1.5 years

Tuition

$16,893 USD

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 time zones, 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 a long training period that includes 5 different workshop trainings of 3-to-5 days each, followed by a 6-month certification program, with one of the highest tuitions in the industry. The setup of the program does not allow for applying to the ICF to earn your ACC credential after you have reached the minimum 60 hours of training required, you must go through the entire 200 hours of training.

Institution and Program Name

iPEC – Certified Professional Coach

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

320+ hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Not specifically mentioned, but they state that they are an accredited ICF training program that meets the educational requirements for a Level 2 ICF Credential.

Time Commitment

Not specifically stated

Course Duration

3 – 9 months 

Tuition and Additional Fees

$13,995

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 states that each module in the program will take 3 days with 30 hours of immersive training, which may not be ideal for professionals adding coach training to their schedules. The setup of the program does not allow for applying to the ICF to earn your ACC credential after you have reached the minimum 60 hours of training required, you must go through the entire training program.

Institution and Program Name

Essential Impact – Certified Leadership Coach (CLC)

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

76 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Not specifically mentioned, but states that necessary training requirements are met to apply for an ACC credential. 

Time Commitment

Approx. 3 hours a week 

Course Duration

1 year 

Tuition

$6,985 USD

Overview 

The Certified Leadership Coach Designation is granted to individuals who meet the requirements of the Excelerator Coaching Model, which emphasizes an agile, non-directive coaching format. Certified Leadership Coaches also meet the necessary training requirements to apply for their ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, although it is unclear if the program is Level 1 accredited. Individuals completing their Certified Leadership Coach designation receive training in English, and Teams and Organizations can access their training in English or French.

Pros and Cons

This coaching certification program emphasizes the use of neuroscience and the Excelerator Coaching model. Students move through 3 courses (Essentials, Mastery, and Mentor Coaching) to achieve the certification, with an average length of 1 year to complete the program. The training includes both synchronous and asynchronous training, with classes averaging 3 hours each. It is unclear how many participants are allowed in each group, and ICF Level 1 Accreditation is not mentioned.

Institution and Program Name
Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL)

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

Not listed.

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Offers Level 1 and Level 2 Accredited Coach Education Programs.

Time Commitment

Varies, approx. 8 hours each day 

Course Duration

3-day workshop formats, plus additional work before and after workshops, resulting in a 20-week program (approx).

Tuition

$8755 USD

Overview 

IECL’s primary goal as coach educators is to create and support confident, competent, and ethical organizational coaches. The IECL is a larger organization that has built a reputation as an expert in the organizational coaching space since 1999. IECL is based in Australia, but offers virtual training worldwide. 

Pros and Cons

As a larger organization, IECL can provide a variety of courses and programs that begin throughout the year. They concentrate on providing training in a 3-day workshop format, which can be beneficial for coaches wanting to do training in a shorter period of time, but which is not ideal for optimum learning retention. Course time zones favour Australia, and class sizes are not capped.

Institution and Program Name

The Academies – Certified Executive & Leadership Development Coach Course (CELDC)

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

68 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Offers Level 1 and Level 2 Accredited Coach Education Programs.

Time Commitment

Approx 1.5 live class hours per week + 1 hour of buddy coaching

Course Duration

20 weeks, plus additional time for Mentor Coaching 

Tuition

$7497 USD

Overview 

The Academies offer coach training courses focused on both leadership coaching and career coaching, rooted in neuroscience using evidence-based methods. Their program includes training on executive/leadership topics, such as achieving business goals, navigating VUCA challenges, creating team trust, transforming conflict, leveraging strengths, and deepening developmental leadership competencies. 

Pros and Cons

The Academies is a smaller coaching education program with a more personal approach, and caps program enrollment at 12 participants. Cons: 1:1 coach training is not included in the program, and their training focuses on both career coaching as well as leadership coaching, although you can choose the pathway you are most interested in.

Institution and Program Name

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

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

60 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Offers Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Accredited Coach Education Programs.

Time Commitment

Approx 5 hours per week

Course Duration

Unlisted

Tuition

$4700 USD 

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. It also emphasizes Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnotic Coaching. The training caps are at 10 students per class and are 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 60 hours of accredited training for $4500. The broad focus of the program can be a drawback for professionals who want to concentrate on leadership development and 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

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

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

69 hours 

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Not listed

Time Commitment

2 hours per week

Course Duration

6-month program

Tuition and Additional Fees

$6490 USD

Overview 

The CaPP Institute’s CPEC & Mentor Coaching Programs equip enrollees with the tools and knowledge to effectively run a coaching practice, whether in an organization or as a business owner. Enrollees are also taught to build skills for goal setting and powerful questioning, as well as practicing proper word choice, empathy, and the use of metaphors.

Pros and Cons

This program is suited for coaches who want to incorporate positive psychology into their practice. CaPP Institute offers a 3-Day Coach Training Workshop as a pre-requisite to the 6-month Certification Program. The program does not list ICF Level 1 Accreditation, so this may be a con to coaches looking to achieve their ACC credential. 

Institution and Program Name

Center for Executive Coaching – Executive Coaching Certification

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

125 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Offers Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation. 

Time Commitment

Varied, self-paced program

Course Duration

5 to 6 months

Tuition and Additional Fees

$7350 USD

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, and 1:1 coaching is not offered in the program.

Institution and Program Name
Coach U – Professional Coach Training Program 

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

78 hours 

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Not specifically mentioned, however they state they meet the ACC and PCC certification requirements through the ICF.

Time Commitment

Various options – self-paced and fast track available

Course Duration

6 to 15 months

Tuition and Additional Fees

$6095 USD 

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 – Corry Robertson, PCC is a Coach U Certified Graduate (CUCG) and completed her first 200 hours of coursework through Coach U’s advanced corporate training program. 

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 a minimal scope for leadership/executive coaching content.

Institution and Program Name

Academy of Creative Coaching – Standard Training Design

Training Hours Provided in Level 1 / ACC Program: 

60 hours

ICF Level 1 Pathway to the ACC

Not mentioned, but states you can achieve the ACC credential.

Time Commitment

Approx. 4 hours per week

Course Duration

3-month program

Tuition and Additional Fees

$4495 USD

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 coaching strategies for exploring human dignity, identity, and overcoming trauma which is 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.

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!