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Foundation Accreditation Checklist

Qualified Coach
Qualified Coach
Foundation Accreditation
Foundation Accreditation
Advanced Qualification
Advanced Qualification
Executive Coach Accreditation
Executive Coach Accreditation

Our virtual Foundation Accreditation checklist provides easy access to all necessary documents for participants to enhance their qualification by becoming professionally accredited as a coach as well.

Here, you will find everything you need without the need for separate emails or attachments.

If you need any further help, feel free to contact us.

Download the full checklist below.

AC Foundation Executive Coach

An accreditation to a professional body (Association for Coaching).

Previous Assignments & Logs

The assignments & logs you completed for your qualification mean that you're almost ready to apply for accreditation.

1000 words Coaching Approach
1000 words Fitness to Practise.

Self assessment & development log.

Update Coaching Log

You will need 50 hours of coaching logged. This includes the 20 hours from your qualification & the 5 hours of coaching practise completed on the programme. So just 25 hours to go!

Coaching before the programme counts—team or individual—just not your direct reports. 75% must be job-related.

Download

1000 Words - Coaching Case Study

Describe your work with a client over time—context, process, and what you learned along the way. (See pages 182–190 of the workbook.)

Example

Client Reference Form

Ask a coachee—perhaps a fellow cohort member—for a quick 5–10 minute reference on your coaching effectiveness.

Download

Final Supervision Log

Make sure we have signed off your final supervision log. If you're continuing to the advanced course, keep updating it with future sessions and reflections.

Download

Attach Training Certificate

This was provided at the end of your course. For a duplicate copy, email us.

AC Foundation Executive Coach Application

One final thing...Don't forget you need to be a member to apply if your student membership has expired.

Apply

AC Assessment Checklist

Everything we do to check that you are ready for a professional accreditation is here. There's no need for you to download this but just so you know what we are checking!

View

FAQ's

How many hours do I need in total to become accredited?

50 hours in total. These can be as far in the past as you like. They include team and individual coaching. It does not need to be paid but we would suggest all coaching is - however small the amount and even if it goes to charity as it adds commitment. You can have an element of life coaching but 75% of the hours should be people who you have helped in a professional capacity - the topic can be personal - so work life balance is a common one. Simply ask yourself “Was this life coaching for a friend or coaching about work for a contact who is a professional?’ And you won’t go far wrong.

Do my coaching clients need to donate or pay for my coaching for them to be counted?

Coaching anyone in your organisation counts as ‘paid for’ coaching, as you are paid by the employer you share. Donations to a charity can also class as ‘paid for’ coaching. Exchange of services can also be counted, for example- you coach someone, they do your accounts. Whilst you do not need a set number of paid coaching hours anymore for AC, we recommend all coaching is paid for, as it heightens the value for the client, and makes them more likely to commit if they have made a financial commitment.

Can I coach my friends with a professional focus, or should it be people I don’t know within an organisation?

It can be either! Your friends who are professional are a great place to practice your skills, and add value to people you know and like. It is a good idea to mix this with coaching strangers, so you can practice the skills required to build trust quickly.

Do I need to be a member of the Association for Coaching to become accredited?

No, however we would suggest membership is CV worthy! There’s also access to a number of benefits such as free or discounted sessions. And our relationship with the AC makes it affordable. You can apply to get one year of free student membership when you start our programme and you get another year free when you apply for accreditation with us.

Foundation Executive Coach - Member: £170.00 + VAT for 3 years
Foundation Executive Coach Non-Member: £200.00 + VAT for 3 years

Do I need to pay for my own accreditation and membership fees?

Yes, you will need to pay for these personally because you are a member and accredited professional in your own right – We help you accelerate the accreditation process through the qualification but because accreditation and membership are personal to you they need to be registered and paid for by you directly to the AC.

However, we do have an agreement with the AC that you get a year’s free student membership when you join our programme.
Current fees are:

Foundation Executive Coach - Member: £170.00 + VAT for 3 years
Foundation Executive Coach Non-Member: £200.00 + VAT for 3 years

Do I have to do an extra assignment for accreditation once I am qualified. Anything else?

Yes you will need to write up a coaching case study (1000 words) and get a client reference – but they are the only additional requirements over what you have already done in terms of paperwork [check this is right!] It should take you no more than a few hours – shout if you think it will take you longer and we will help!

Can I get some 121 support for my accreditation? I would rather someone talk me through it than read through all these Q&A?

Sure! We have some fabulous Accreditation Mentors – people who have done OUR programme and are now qualified AND accredited. You can book a session with them through our website here for £30 per session.
They are more than happy to share their experiences over a virtual cuppa.

You can use the same method we used on the programme to do your additional assignment. Don’t be afraid to buddy up, use the questions on 182 and use otter to record your coaching conversation.
This should give you a simple tidy up to do if you cut and paste a 8 to 10 minute conversation.

What do I need to submit to the Association for Coaching (AC)?

You will need to email the following documents to individual@associationforcoaching.com: Completed checklist Coaching log Copy of certificates Coaching self-assessment plan (using the AC template provided by Top Right Thinking) Two client references (using the AC template provided by Top Right Thinking) ❗ Ethical dilemmas do not need to be submitted to the AC but must be reviewed and signed off by Top Right Thinking.

Who completes the AC checklist?

Top Right Thinking completes the checklist for you, after reviewing your submitted materials.

Does it matter how long I take to gain the hours needed for the AC accreditation?

You can apply for accreditation at any time after you get your qualification certificate. You do not need to apply immediately, and it does take some people more time to build up those hours. The 20 hours you logged for the award course does count towards those 50 hours you need for accreditation, so you only need an extra 30!

Do I need insurance to coach?

Yes. And the AC will ask to see evidence of your personal indemnity insurance when you apply. We have recommended Policy Bee to our coaches and they seem to provide a competitive quote.

What books or podcasts can you recommend to start exploring coaching a little more?

You Coach You – Helen Tupper
The Heat of the Moment – Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Coaching for Performance – Sir John Whitmore
The Coaches Coach – Alison Hardingham
The Coaching Habit – Michael Bungay Stanier
Simplifying Coaching – Claire Pedrick
Cultivating Coachability – Claire Norman
The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast – Dr Amanda Potter
The Coaching Inn Podcast – Claire Pedrick
The AC Podcast – Association for Coaching

Foundation Accreditation

Foundation Accreditation Checklist