All coaches on the IHM database have a coaching qualification. These vary a lot and it is quite difficult to compare and assess them. There are many accrediting, awarding and validating bodies. Courses differ in structure, approach, content and the length of time they take.
Over the past few years, it has become more expected for professional coaches to have a qualification that is competency based, properly accredited and recognised as of high quality within the profession. The clearest examples of this are the Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring and the Diploma for Professional Executive Coaches and Leadership Mentors. These qualifications equate to VRQ (vocational related qualifications) level 7. They are awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management.
However, many more established coaches will not hold these qualifications because they have emerged fairly recently and weren’t available when many coaches started their careers - but we have identified coaches who do hold the level 7 diploma on the database.
The word of warning is that there are many great coaches on the database who have other qualifications. For you it’s a judgement - a balance between qualifications, experience, and cost and so on. Nevertheless, the level seven diploma in coaching carries a strong quality kitemark.
Finally, if you want to, you could always check out qualifications on the internet or go to the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) web site for more details of the VRQ level 7 qualification.
Here are some useful links relating to qualifications:
http://www.associationforcoaching.com/
http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/
