Top 3 Organizational Coach Certification Programs

Last updated on March 15, 2024

If you want to channel your talent for problem-solving and supporting others into a meaningful career, becoming an organizational coach could be the perfect union of your passion and professional aspirations. But, how can you establish yourself as an organizational coach in the competitive coaching industry? The answer lies in getting certified.

Tag along as we delve into the best organizational coach certification programs and what they have to offer to coaches. From pricing to accreditation, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make the right decision for your coaching career.

• Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL) – Best Overall
• The University of British Columbia – Best for Professional Development
• Coach Training Alliance – Best for Executive and Organizational Coaching 

What Is an Organizational Life Coach?

An organizational coach is a life coaching professional who specializes in guiding individuals within a workplace or organizational setting to support their personal and professional development. While traditional life coaching focuses on personal goals and overall well-being, an organizational life coach tailors their coaching to address challenges and opportunities within a professional context.

These coaches work with clients to improve various aspects of their professional lives, such as leadership skills, communication, time management, and interpersonal relationships. They can also assist clients in navigating career transitions, managing workplace stress, and creating a positive work environment. Organizational life coaches rely on a combination of coaching techniques, psychological principles, and leadership strategies to help clients achieve their goals.

How To Become an Organizational Coach

Even though certification isn’t essential for this profession, it demonstrates that you’ve been vetted by a coaching authority, completed niche training, and demonstrated professional ethics. Another advantage is boosting credibility and instilling trust in potential clients who seek tangible proof of coaches’ expertise.

Through organization coaching certification training, you will also adopt proven strategies in this niche, develop coaching skills, and connect with other professionals in your field. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Organizational Coach Training

One of the key decisions for your career is your choice of certification. That’s why we’ll dive deeper into important considerations, such as cost, duration, and accreditation, to help you make a well-informed and strategic choice for your professional growth.

Program Cost

Most programs have transparent and straightforward pricing structures, so you can immediately evaluate compatibility with your budget. If you seek affordability, the best bet is to look for coach certifications online, since distance education cuts down on travel expenses and broadens your range of options. Our top selection for budget-friendly coach certification programs is Transformation Academy. They lack specific organizational coach training, but their diverse range of courses allows you to refine numerous coaching skills applicable to organizational coaching. To snag a 50% discount on their certifications, use our link. Learn more about Transformation Academy in this in-depth review.

Course Length

Do you have time-specific goals for your certification? If you want to acquire your qualification as soon as possible, you can benefit from self-paced courses and intensive programs lasting a couple of days. On the other hand, those who want to take their time and engage in a comprehensive curriculum could find the perfect match in programs lasting several weeks or months.

Accreditation

Accreditation adds credibility and industry recognition, but that doesn’t mean that programs without accreditation aren’t valid. The value of accreditation lies in wider certification recognition, and a well-known certification can enhance your marketability in the competitive field of organizational coaching. The most esteemed accrediting body is the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Best Organizational Coach Certifications

Top Pick: Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL)

The IECL Organisational Coaching Level 1 Certification course sets you up with foundational skills for organizational coaching covering tools, techniques, and strategies for conducting high performance coaching sessions. This coaching institute offers a tiered learning approach, specialized training in organizational coaching, ICF-accredited certification, and interactive lessons. The blend of these features makes it our top choice.

The course incorporates a three-day live workshop and requires a total commitment of seven weeks, including pre-and-post online learning that you can complete at your own pace within a specified timeframe. The IECL Organisational Coaching Level 1 program can serve as the starting point, and you can further your coach education at IECL by upgrading your credentials with Organisational Coaching Level 2 Certification.

• Course Length: 7 weeks
• Program Cost: Available upon request
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Professional Development Option: The University of British Columbia (UBC)

The UBC Certificate Program Organizational Coaching is designed for individuals with extensive experience who want to level up their organization coaching capabilities. To enroll in this course, you need to have an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience and at least 5 years of relevant work experience in a range of organizational contexts. (Unfortunately, if you don’t meet the requirements, you should cross this program off your list).

The program trains you to assist individuals, groups, and teams within organizations in achieving strategic objectives, increasing leadership capacities, and making sustainable change. Upon graduation, you will earn the Certified Organizational Coach credential.

• Course Length: Around 1 year
• Program Cost: $11,250
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Executive and Organizational Coaching Option: Coach Training Alliance

Coach Training Alliance’s Advanced Executive Coach Certification isn’t solely focused on organizational coaching, which can be a benefit for coaches who want to specialize in both executive and organizational coaching.

What landed Coach Training Alliance on this list is their hands-on approach to training and the unique MORE Model (Model for Organizational, Resource Development, and Executives) that you’ll master in this course. You will go through every step of this model and learn how, when, and where you should apply it. 

However, to be eligible for this advanced course, you need to take their Certified Coach Program, Human Capital Coaching Program, or equivalent ICF credentialed coach training program.

For more information about CTA, head to our comprehensive review.

• Course Length: 9 weeks
• Program Cost: $1,750
• Accreditation: ICF
• Mode of Delivery: Online

FAQs

• How much does an organizational coach make?

Organizational coaching is centered around working within professional contexts, similar to executive coaching. According to Salary.com, executive coaches earn $107,469 per year on average, while Glassdoor reports that the average annual salary for an executive coach is $260,344.

• Do you need a certification to be an organizational coach?

Certification isn’t a legal requirement to practice as an organizational coach, but it boosts coaches’ credibility and marketability. Many organizations and clients prefer or require coaches to hold relevant certifications.

• How much does an organizational coach certification cost?

The cost of an organizational coach certification ranges between $1,000 and $12,000.

• Does accreditation matter in an organizational coach certification program?

Accreditation ensures that the program meets industry standards and is recognized by reputable organizations. It adds credibility to the certification and increases its acceptance within the professional coaching community.

• What is the most recognized coaching certification? 

There are numerous life coaching certifications, which makes it challenging to remember all their names. That’s why accreditation is the most reliable factor to rely on for recognition. Accrediting organizations like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) are known worldwide, therefore ICF-accredited certifications will be widely recognized and respected.

Conclusion

Working with teams, leaders, and executives comes with a lot of responsibility and high expectations, which is why enhancing your confidence and skills through organizational coach certification training is such a prudent step.

Programs like the IECL, UBC, and CTA are created for coaches just like yourself who want to invest in their education and reach excellence in organizational coaching. If you want to hone other important life coaching skills, you can check out Transformation Academy’s diverse library of courses.

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