If you’re searching “what to look for in a coach training program,” you’ve probably already realized that not all trainings are created equal—and some are better at marketing than teaching. A solid coach training program does three things well: it teaches skills, it builds judgment, and it supports ethical development. It’s also going to be a program that is ICF Accredited.

Continuing coach education is structured, ICF-accredited learning designed for coaches who already hold a foundational credential and want to deepen their skill from there. It's not a beginner's on-ramp — it's what comes after.

The International Coaching Federation defines it as coach-specific training that must align directly with the ICF Core Competencies, made up of structured learning experiences designed to advance coaching knowledge and skills. In plain terms: this is coursework that keeps your coaching sharp, current, and ethically grounded well past your original certification.

The key factors for your coach training will orient around these areas: accreditation, curriculum, and supervised practice or mentoring. When these three things come together, you can be confident that you have found a coach training program that is verified by a third party to offer a solid training, has a curriculum that aligns with the ICF Core competencies, and will give you the type of feedback on your coaching that truly helps you to excel as a coach.

What do you learn in coach training? ICF-Accredited coach training programs like CLCC are required to adhere to specific coaching standards and competencies, specifically the ICF Core competencies. However, this doesn’t mean that you learn like a “robot” and just memorize key concepts. Our program focuses on how you learn by doing, diving straight in to practice key coaching skills like active listening, cognitive reframing, translating insight into action steps, or asking questions that stay open and curious while keeping the client in the driver’s seat. You’ll learn these skills in ways that are active, where you get feedback while also respecting your development of a unique coaching style.