International Association Of Coaching

The IAC Practitioner

The IAC Practitioner

The IAC-Practitioner is the IAC’s newest designation that addresses the evolving needs of coaches and the coaching profession. It is considered a learning designation and it demonstrates one’s commitment to practicing the IAC Coaching Masteries® and integrating these high level coaching skills into their professional lives.

Although it can stand alone, having merit in its own right as a learning designation, it can also be celebrated as a stepping stone to the Step 2 coach certification exam where a coach has demonstrated masterful application of the Masteries and earns the IAC-CC (Certified Coach) designation. A Practitioner, by contrast, is someone working to learn and embody Masteries.

Why was this additional designation created?

  • To provide encouragement and support for all members (not just IAC-CCs) to focus on continuous improvement
  • To provide a 'welcome mat' for those newer to coaching, to gain some recognition for their development and commitment within coaching
  • To set a minimum standard for coaching practice ...1) to abide by ethical standards, 2) to know what masterful coaching is and 3) to commit to continuous learning

How is this a benefit to the coaching profession?

  • Provide a designation and set of standards for those who do not fit the paths set by other more conventional coach certification bodies
  • To recognize the wide variety of people who practice coaching, whether professionals or not, and to give them a benchmark to guide their practice
  • This benchmark is sufficiently flexible to suit a wide variety of coaches
  • The standard doesn't restrict or limit how coaches choose to develop themselves but rather encourages self-responsibility
  • Model an attitude of abundance and possibility to build the coaching profession, rather than a more conventional model of protecting and defending the profession

How does this benefit IAC members?

  • Support for setting better goals for continuous development
  • Provide a visible designation that proves members are practicing to minimum standards

Why would a coach want/need/care about this designation?

  • Provide a visible designation that proves members are practicing to minimum standards
  • To publicly declare their standards for their coaching practice
  • Promote IAC by proudly showing the designation

How does a coach earn the IAC-Practitioner Designation