Becoming a CoachVille Certified Coach

January 2005

The CoachVille Certification Program
A certification with real market value

Here are six key values of our new program:

  1. A certification that creates certainty for the coach
    The coach's level of certainty is the number one factor that determines the ability to sign and produce results with clients.  Doing the work to achieve certification is a major step on the path to certainty and it establishes your dedication to providing a professional service.

  2. A certification program that is sold "a la carte"
    Our certifications are priced separately from the training. This "a la carte" approach allows us to keep our coach training affordable and accessible for folks who want to learn how to coach but have no desire to become certified professionals.  If you are a coach who desires a high level of professional excellence, our certification program is for you.

  3. A certification based on proficiency
    Our certification is based on the 15 Coaching Proficiencies developed by the late Thomas Leonard with the CoachVille R&D team - a collective of hundreds of full-time professional coaches.  It is a rigorous standard that will ensure your ability to help your clients produce the results they want in life.  (Details Below)

  4. A certification based on what clients want to buy
    There are many coaching philosophies, but most are based on a high-minded ideal that does not match the "reality" of the coaching business.  Our philosophy and certification are based on the fundamental truth that coaching is a sophisticated form of teaching.  This is what the majority of coaching clients want to buy and are willing to pay for.

  5. A certification with real market value
    The CoachVille Certified Coach designation will give you access to a significant number of business building opportunities - through a premium listing on our highly-trafficked website of business and personal development programs AND as the center piece for a variety of in-demand specialty coach certifications offered only through CoachVille. (Details Below)

  6. A certification that is accredited by independent coach certification organizations
    We feel that independent certification organizations are very good for the coaching profession.  We fully support both the IAC and the ICF.  We are in the final stages of an accreditation agreement with the IAC - which shares our 15 coaching proficiencies and we are applying to have our Thomas Leonard School of coaching accredited with the ICF.  (Details below)

 

How to Become a CV Certified Coach

 

Step 1: Graduation: Join the SOC or TLC, complete the course work and pass the tests of the Thomas Leonard Coaching School. *** If you are a professional who wants to add coaching to an existing practice, or are already certified through the ICF or through one of the top coaching schools, and want to add the CVCC to your credentials, you may do so by enrolling in our "nth degree" program consisting of the CoachVille Coaching System, Core Dynamics Coaching, and Personal Environments communities.***  For more details on this option email Donna@coachville.com

Step 2: Group Practicum: A six-hour coaching practicum with a CV certified coach.

Step 3: Proficiency Demonstration: Scoring your ability to use the proficiencies.

Step 4: Interview: Certification Interview to confirm your understanding of the proficiencies (and match your voice to the demonstration recordings).

**Note: Steps 2, 3 and 4 can all be completed at a CoachVille Live Certification intensive.

Step 5: Documentation: Letters of "reference" from 10 clients, 2 colleagues and your coach. 

Step 1: Graduation

If you want to be "CoachVille Certified" you must graduate according to the following requirements:

Graduation Requirements

Complete 6 25-hour learning programs (150 hours total) by live teleclass or recording (Real Audio or MP3).  Each learning program has 6 on-line multiple-choice tests which must be passed with a minimum score of 80%.  For those professional and already certified coaches who want the CVCC designation, there is an option of doing so via the nth degree program.  Please email for details.

Step 2: Coaching Practicum

The CoachVille certification program includes a six-hour small-group practicum with one of our certified coaches.  The purpose of this practicum is twofold. 

First, it is an excellent venue for observing coaching, being observed and critiqued in a safe space.  These critiques will prepare you for the proficiency scoring process in the demonstration phase.  Opportunities to observe and to be observed are rare, yet they are essential to your growth as a coach.

Second, CoachVille is a community.  This practicum gives us a chance to get to know you and to feel good about accepting you as a certified coach colleague.  This is important because when you carry the CoachVille certified coach designation, you represent the integrity of our organization and the coaching profession. This integrity - generated through trust and shared values - is established during this program.

Step 3: Demonstration of Proficiency

Overview

The 15 coaching proficiencies are what coaches do when they are being effective.  To be a certified coach you must demonstrate your mastery coaching with the proficiencies.

Virtual Certification Program - An environment to support your success

The virtual certification program is designed to help you improve your coaching confidence and support you in passing the certification process.

 The program has the following components:

  • A monthly group call to guide you through the completion of the entire process

  • A six-hour small group coaching practicum with a CV certifier to refine your skills

  • Use of our tele-bridge recording system to record the coaching sessions for your proficiency demonstration; it also converts the recordings to Real Audio and mp3 format for you and the certifying team

  • Four hours of time with our certifying team to listen to and score your coaching demonstrations.  Note: all of our certifiers are professional coaches and we pay them for their time in this process. 

  • Thirty minutes time for the certification interview with a member of our certification team.

  • The administrative time needed to check your references.

Submitting coaching demonstrations via recording

1.       Record two real coaching sessions (with the client's permission of course).  Each recording should last 30 minutes.  Cassette tapes, Real Audio and MP3 are all acceptable formats.
NOTE: As a member of our coach certification program we will provide a process for you to record your coaching session on a phone bridge.

2.       Submit the recordings  (if you are sending tapes or CDs, please make sure you provide two tapes/CDs for each of the two calls) for professional review by two members of the CoachVille certification team. 

3.       Both certifiers will score your sessions for effective use of each of the 15 proficiencies. 

4.       The two sessions must be with two different clients

How to submit your recordings for CV Certification

You will need to submit your two half-hour recordings of coaching sessions with two different clients. [Recordings that are longer than the thirty minutes will be scored on the basis of the first thirty minutes.]  These will be sent to two certifiers, who will listen to and score each tape. Please keep one copy of each recording yourself.

Make sure that at the beginning of each recording, you state your full name, your client’s first name and the date of the call.  Also include: “This call is being recorded for certification purposes” and have the client assent to this.  You can easily handle this by asking if they have given permission.

There are two ways to submit your recording of your two client coaching calls.  You can either submit real audio or mp3 recordings via email to CVCCRecordings@coachville.com  or you can mail actual cassettes. If you are using cassettes, please use sixty minute high quality cassettes of standard size and format.  Make sure to label each tape with your name, address, phone number and email address.  And please remember to send two copies of each recording.  Please mail your tapes to:

Certification Tapes c/o Judy Toth
1733 Fox Glen Court
Winter Springs, FL  32708

In addition to your tapes, we require a signed waiver of confidentiality from each client, and one from you, and the Coachville Certification Recording Submittal Form.  Both forms appear below.  If you are mailing tapes, please include the forms.  If you are submitting recordings, please mail the signed waiver forms to Judy Toth, and indicate what date and time you emailed your recordings; and email the Recording Submittal forms along with the digital recordings.

Client Waiver for recording of coaching session

I  (client name) hereby grant permission for  coach name  to record our coaching session(s) for the sole purpose of being certified as a coach by Coachville LLC as part of a certification process.  I understand that this will involve Coachville certifiers listening to these recordings for the purpose of scoring  (coach name).    Coachville will keep these tapes in the strictest confidence, and they will not be used in any way for any other purpose.

If you consent to the tape recording of our session(s) for this limited purpose,

Please complete the section below, sign, date and return to me:

Consent to Tape:

I give permission for my session to be tape recorded for use in connection with

my coach’s Certified Coachville Coach certification.  I have read and understand the conditions of use of the recording and give my permission for the recording(s) to be used as outlined above.

__________________________________ Date:___________________

Signature

__________________________________

Printed Name

This form has not been reviewed by legal counsel and any questions regarding the laws of tape recording and privacy in your state should be directed to your legal counsel.

Coachville Certification Recording Submittal Form

Name:

Virtual Group you were part of:

Address

Phone number:

Email:

Client in Tape one/Contact info for Tape one client

Client in Tape two/Contact info for tape two client

 

Live Certification Intensive

CV will host four or more live certification intensives each year at various locations in the US and Canada.  Three live intensives have been scheduled for 2005 and more will be added.  Cuttent events are scheduled for Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans.  You will be asked to participate as a coach twice and as a client twice.  This will be real coaching, not a simulation.  One coach, one client, one certifier and several observers

1.       Each session will be scored on the spot for proficiency by two certifiers and debriefed with the group

2.       Each coaching session will be recorded. (for certification and audit purposes)

3.       Each person will have two opportunities to coach -   and two to be the client

How does the scoring work?

  • Our certifiers are deeply immersed in this body of work - they use it every day in their work as professional coaches.  The certifier will know if you are "Navigating Via Curiosity" or "Sharing What Is There" even though you'll be doing it in your own unique style.  Because of their experience they will be able to give a very accurate interpretation of your work according to this standard.

  • Two certifiers will evaluate your sessions and both will score the number of proficiencies that you effectively demonstrate - you must demonstrate each "proficiency" once over the course of the two sessions in order for it to count. 

  • It is important to remember that it's best if you don't TRY to use the proficiencies during the coaching session.  Just do your best work with the client and your proficiency will come through.

What if I don't pass?

This is a rigorous standard and you may not pass on your first attempt.  If you feel that you were scored incorrectly, there is an appeal process.  Most likely however, this is your opportunity to continue to hone your skills and you can try again anytime after 3 months have elapsed.  You have the option of stepping up to the virtual certification at a discounted rate of $300 which includes the cost of resubmitting tapes.  If you choose to just submit tapes, there is a $200 certifier fee per recording.

Step 4: Certification Interview

Each participant will have an interview with one of the scoring certifiers.  In this interview the certifier will confirm your understanding of the proficiencies that you did not use in your coaching demonstrations.  You will be told if you passed or did not pass, and be given feedback for areas of improvement. 

Step 5: Documentation of References and Coaching

To complete the process you must supply documentation that you are a practicing coach and a part of the coaching community.

  • 10 letters of reference from individuals that you have coached - fee or non-fee is OK - simply stating that they have worked with you as a coach.

  • 2 letters of reference from 2 coaching colleagues.

  • 1 letter from a coach that has coached you in some capacity.

           Documentation of Observed Coaching Sessions

All Thomas Leonard Coaching School Certified Graduates on track for ICF certification will need to provide written feedback and assessment on their competency and coaching ability.

This requirement is to be fulfilled in the following manner:

  • Conducting a minimum of six (6) client coaching sessions with actual clients in a “coach the coach ‘ format, with your Mentor Coach on the call or by audio tape. It is best to get your client’s verbal permission at the outset, acknowledging the presence of your Mentor Coach on the line (if so), and substantiated by the client’s written agreement for use of the session and tape for your certification.

  • Submitting those tapes for review, written evaluation and assessment to your mentor coach, who holds the credential of being an ICF Certified Mentor Coach or having attained the ICF PCC or MCC Certified Coach level.

  • Assessment will focus around the core coaching competencies as provided via the ICF. For your ease, a sample format for evaluation of your tapes follows.

  • Written feedback from your Mentor Coach should be sent to you in written form and included with your graduation application. Please use the Coaching Session Review Form.

  • Final verification of your competency, based on these core areas, and including a recommendation for graduation from your Mentor Coach will be submitted in writing and included with your graduation application to Coachville  

 

Certification with Market Strength

Our goal is to attract over 1,000,000 members to our various community based learning programs Each community will have a listing of specialty coaches with CV Certified Coaches listed at the top. 

The second part of the plan is to create specialty coach certifications in collaboration with major "thought leaders" in business and personal development world.  An example is our new Higher Ground Leadership program with Lance Secretan.  Lance gives over 20 major speeches each year and creates a tremendous demand for coaches trained in Higher Ground Leadership.  In order to become a certified Higher Ground Leadership Coach through CoachVille - and tap into this ready made demand - you must first be a CV Certified coach.  In other words, getting your CV certification will lead to numerous REAL business opportunities.

This is just one example.  We will have a dozen of these up and running by the end of 2005.  Our REAL JOB is to make sure you are very effective as a coach AND very successful in your coaching business.

International Association of Coaches (IAC)

Through an accreditation agreement with the IAC, parts 3 and 4 of our certification process (proficiency demonstration and certification interview) will be accepted for IAC certification process steps 2 and 3.  You will still have to pass step 1 - the proficiency exam - and you will pay a small certification process fee to the IAC.

It is important to remember that you can complete the IAC certification process at the IAC without being a member of CoachVille or a student in our school.

International Coach Federation (ICF)

The ICF has two tracks for certification: one for students of accredited coach training programs, and the "portfolio track" for everyone else.  We are applying for accreditation for the Thomas Leonard Coaching School (TLC).  When this accreditation is achieved graduates of our program will be able to apply their CV certification to the ICF certification process - a good thing!  Graduating students will have to fulfill the ICF additional requirements - documenting coaching hours etc. 

In addition, to apply your CV certification to the ICF 125 of the 150 hours required for graduation must be taken via live teleclass.  Our new on-line learning platform will help you keep track of all of the live teleclasses that you have completed.

IMPORTANT: While early indications are good, we can not guarantee that our school will be accredited by the ICF. 

Have more questions?  Contact Dovid@coachville.com

Want details on TLC graduation?  You can find them at http://www.cvcommunity.com/utility/showArticle/index.cfm?objectID=2305