Creativity Coaching Association Review

Last updated on February 6, 2024

Do you want to solidify your creativity coaching skills through certification? If you’re nodding in agreement, then this Creativity Coaching Association review is for you.

The Creativity Coaching Association (CCA) is one of the most recognized certification programs for creativity coaches. However, choosing coach training is no simple task, and an in-depth overview will give you the confidence and clarity you need to decide whether CCA is the right fit.

Let’s dive into this comprehensive rundown of everything you need to know before signing up for the Creativity Coaching Association certification program.

About Creativity Coaching Association 

Creativity Coaching Association (CCA) is a professional organization established in 2005 to support artists and creatives through coach training programs. For over 18 years, they have been delivering premier creativity coach certification courses. They’ve broken down geographical barriers and made their courses globally accessible through teleconferences. 

CCA aims to provide information and services for aspiring creativity coaches, promote awareness of creativity coaching, centralize information about workshops and events, and bring together like-minded individuals.

The Creativity Coaching Association Coaching Philosophy

CCA’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that creativity is a fundamental and inherent aspect of human expression. They emphasize a client-centered approach and stress the importance of providing a supportive and non-judgmental space for clients to tap into their creativity with confidence and authenticity.

Creativity Coaching Association Coaching and Accreditation

Creativity Coaching Association doesn’t have an accreditation. How can that be if they’re so respected and reputable? Here’s the thing: accreditation isn’t universal in the coaching field, and some reputable programs (like CCA) choose not to pursue it due to the diverse nature of coaching methodologies. 

Rather than conforming to a standardized set of criteria, CCA highlights its track record, comprehensive training, and commitment to excellence as indicators of its credibility and standing in the creativity coaching niche.

Note: If accreditation is important to you and you want that gold standard of coaching provided by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), you can supplement your creativity coach certification with ICF-accredited life coach certification, such as Coach Training Alliance. Find out what makes CTA a superior choice in our review.

Pros and Cons of Creativity Coaching Association Certification

Here comes the juicy part of this review—the details about CCA’s certification program. Let’s kick things off by delving into the advantages, then move on to specifics about the program’s cost and duration, and round it out with reviews from graduates.

Membership-Based

The goal of the Creativity Coaching Association is to create and nurture a community of creativity coaches, so they operate on a membership basis. One of the requirements to get certified is to become a member of this organization. As an active member, you get access to members’ events, the CCA member newsletter, four training courses that can lead to certification, and a listing in their coach directory.

4 Courses in One Program

A requirement for earning a certified creativity coach qualification is to complete CCA’s four distinct courses. These courses provided well-rounded training, starting from the basics and progressing to advanced coaching techniques and building relationships with clients. Another plus in our books is that they also touch upon the business aspect, covering how to launch and run a successful practice.

The classes can be taken in any order you prefer, and you can even overlap classes. The four training courses are as follows: 

• Basic Coaching Training Course – A 16-week email-based training by Dr. Eric Maisel introducing creativity coaching.
• Advanced Creativity Coaching Training – A 16-week email-based training for coaching writers, visual artists, and performers led by Dr. Eric Maisel.
• Building the Coaching Relationship with Creative Clients – A 10-week training by Rob Fortier delivered through various formats (e-mail, telephone, video, live) with a focus on coaching skills for artist clients, accountability, and relationship issues.
• Business Planning and Success Strategies for Creativity Coaches – An 8-week online course teaching coaches how to develop a successful coaching practice led by Rob Fortier.

Supervised Coaching Experience and Real-World Experience

CCA ensures that you step into creativity coaching with complete confidence by including in the package 5 hours of supervised coaching and mandating 100 hours of client contact. You’ll spend five hours in detailed discussions with a chosen certified creativity coach and CCA instructor via phone calls. During these sessions, you’ll be able to refine your coaching skills, improve your approach to clients, and discuss business-building practices. You are also expected to document a minimum of 100 hours of coaching contact, which can include client interactions during training classes.

How Long is the Creativity Coaching Association Program?

The program usually takes about 12-18 months to finish. However, to be eligible for certification, you must declare candidacy before, during, or after taking the courses. 

After you declare candidacy, you have up to 2 years to fulfill the requirements, and that includes completion of the four courses, supervised coaching, and the reading list. You also must be an active paid member of CCA when you pursue certification.

How Much Does Creativity Coaching Association Coaching Training Cost?

Creativity Coaching Association gives you several options when it comes to payment. First of all, let’s take a look at the CCA membership plans:

• 1-Year Membership: $75
• 2-Year Membership: $130
• 3-Year Membership: $165

If you decide to take the courses without becoming a member, the fees are as follows:

• Basic Coaching Training Course: $475
• Advanced Creativity Coaching Training: $475
• Building the Coaching Relationship with Creative Clients: $700 (declared candidates) / $750 (others)
• Business Planning and Success Strategies for Creativity Coaches: $700 (declared candidates) / $750 (others)
• 5 Hours of Supervised Coaching: $500
• Reading List: $250

If taken individually before becoming a member and declaring candidacy, the cost of all certification requirements amounts to $3,200. However, if you’re a member and declare candidacy prior to taking any courses, the total cost of the program is $2,900 (including the declaration of candidacy fee).

Note: Not ready for such a big investment? Check out Transformation Academy, as their courses are diverse and super affordable. Our TA review reveals more about this budget-friendly alternative.

Creativity Coaching Association Reviews

There’s nothing like insightful reviews to dispel any lingering uncertainties in your mind concerning the Creativity Coaching Association. The raving testimonials are mainly directed toward instructor Eric Maisel and the comprehensiveness of the program. Here’s a small sample:

I have learned more by participating in this advanced training than I have in many of my graduate classes. Eric Maisel is supportive and insightful, and the training provides material and exercises that are both practical and thought-provoking. I was able to learn and communicate by email with so many interesting and supportive people who broadened my perspective on creativity and what it means to live a creative life. I highly recommend the training to all artists and those interested in creativity coaching as a profession.

Mandi Batolo

This online creativity course has already been an adventure and it’s only been two weeks! I’ve learned so much about myself, about creativity, and about how I can help unblock it in myself and in others. As a coach, I feel like I have a safety net around me—if I make a mistake with a client, I have the support of other coaches-in-training, plus the support of a guiding expert (Eric) to witness it all. I still haven’t decided if I want to do creativity coaching for life, but I’m beginning to increase my confidence through this course so that I can help others unleash their creativity.

Sylvia L.

The advanced training was rich in practical gifts, full of hands-on learning, creative assignments, and great insights. Eric has a great way of making it all challenging and interesting. Working with clients as the weeks progressed and using what was appropriate or interesting for them made a great learning circle for everyone. This was a fabulous opportunity for me to enhance my coaching skills and learn practical new tips for my clients. I learned so much more about coaching and, as a bonus, about my own creative process. The training was rewarding as all of Eric’s training programs have been. Thank you, Eric!

Pamela Yates

Last week I completed your advanced training and I want you to know how valuable the sixteen weeks have been for me. The course was helpful on two fronts. Firstly, even though I have a 20-year-long writing career and have published several books, I still struggle. I finally began to understand this existential process as your extraordinary psychological insights unfolded each week. Your replies to each participant’s assignment responses were exceedingly enlightening and, quite miraculously, every individual reply resonated among ALL participants. Perhaps the best lesson of all has been the privilege of watching you ‘walk your talk’ through your generosity of spirit, commitment to the process, and exemplary model as a creative. Thank you for helping me to transform, so deeply and permanently, my relationship with my writing.

Cathleen Rountree

Is Creativity Coaching Association the Creativity Coach Training Program For You?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all coaching program that caters to every creativity coach, and CCA won’t be for everyone. We may not be able to tell you if this is the training program for you, but we might make your decision easier.

What you can gain from the Creativity Coaching Association is reputable certification, robust training encompassing creativity coaching, relationship building, and business development, and practical experience in coaching. We can’t forget to mention the access to their exclusive community and listing in their coach directory which can help you attract new clients. 

However, this is a program that demands a substantial investment of both your time and money and their curriculum might not resonate with you. So, if this isn’t a program for you, after all, you can check out our full list of top creativity coach certifications.

You might decide to change the course of your life coaching specialty completely, and in that case, we recommend referring to our list of the best life coach programs featuring top-rated academies like Transformation Academy and Coach Training Alliance. You can also take our quiz designed to identify the most suitable life coach certification program for you.

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