Professional Coach Certification Program Earns First ICF Accreditation in Pennsylvania

The professional coach certification program, offered by the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement (SLPA), has become the first to be accredited in Pennsylvania. The program is one of the approximately 32 in-person Accredited Coach Training Programs (ACTP) operated in the U.S. and recognized by the International Coach Federation (ICF).

“We’re delighted to reach this status after roughly a two-year process,” said SLPA Dean Dorothy Bassett. “ACTP status provides even greater distinction to students and alumni of this program.”

Offered through a combination of six on-campus weekends, teleconference and online coursework, students have the opportunity to earn Associate Certified Coach or Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designations as defined by the ICF.

Professional coaching is a growing discipline. In 1998, when the profession was in its infancy, the ICF had fewer than 2,000 members. Now, its membership exceeds 18,000 coaches in 92 countries. According to the ICF, “professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives.”

The coaching profession attracts a broad range of individuals. “As a professional coach, you can specialize in an area of expertise such as executive coaching, nonprofit, small business and many other areas,” said Donna Billings, PCC and training director of Duquesne’s program. “The profession is appealing to managers who want better skills in their current corporate positions, and we’re seeing a great number of retirees who, instead of actually retiring, are rewiring their careers as professional coaches once they leave their primary careers.”

Billings, a former senior manager of training/organizational development for a Fortune 100 company, has turned her experience and expertise into a professional coaching practice after an early retirement. Billings also notes that “many Fortune 100 companies worldwide are starting to require ICF certification as a prerequisite consideration for coaches.”

While the program has drawn students from the Pittsburgh region, others have traveled from out-of-state to attend the on-campus sessions, said Dr. Michael Forlenza, assistant dean and executive director of the program. “One gentleman traveled from Texas and others have traveled from Indiana. Participants appreciate the status of a university-based program, and the opportunity to gain ICF certification is also very appealing.”

The next session begins on Friday, April 1. The program is approved for GI Bill or VA education benefits and has been approved for CareerLink funding. A corporate discount of 10 percent will be offered for any company sending three or more employees.

Please call 412.396.5600 for further information.