ICF & EMCC Onboarding
SolutionsAcademy
Accreditations of our program
ICF & EMCC Onboarding
Recognition of Prior Learning Pathway
Already completed coach training and gained experience as a coach?
You don’t need to start from zero.
The SolutionsAcademy Onboarding Pathway is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) entry route into our accredited ICF Level 1 and Level 2 programs. It is designed for coaches who already have previous coach training and want to progress efficiently toward an ICF and/or EMCC credential.
What is ICF Onboarding?
ICF Onboarding is not a separate training program.
It is a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) entry pathway into our existing, fully accredited courses:
you bring your coaching education and practice and the program focuses on ICF and EMCC competencies, ethics, mentoring and assessment requirements.
This is why the program is using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) combined with additional sessions focusing on competencies and practice.
Basically we are taking our accredited programs
Coaching Fundamentals – ICF Level 1
Coaching in Organizations – ICF Level 2
Through the RPL process, your previous coach training is formally acknowledged, allowing you to enter the appropriate level without repeating foundational training you have already completed.
Two Entry Levels, One Accredited Curriculum
ACC Onboarding
Recognition of Prior Learning entry towards ICF Level 1 (delivered within Coaching Fundamentals)
For participants with at least 30 hours of prior coach training who wish to obtain the ICF ACC credential without starting from an entry-level program.
You will follow the full Coaching Fundamentals curriculum part related to ICF and EMCC competencies, ethics and values, including mentor coaching and performance evaluation, with your prior learning formally recognized in relation to coaching foundations and approach, in line with Recognition of Prior Learning principles.
PCC Onboarding
Recognition of Prior Learning entry towards ICF Level 2 (delivered within Coaching in Organizations)
For participants with at least 90 hours of prior coach training who wish to progress directly toward the ICF PCC credential through an ICF Level 2 pathway.
You will follow the full Coaching in Organizations curriculum part related to ICF and EMCC competencies, ethics and values, including mentor coaching and performance evaluation, with your previous learning formally recognized.
What does “Recognition of Prior Learning” mean in practice?
The Onboarding Pathway follows the same structure and academic standards of our accredited programs:
Participants attend the regular live classes, complete the same learning activities, and are assessed against the same ICF and EMCC standards.
The only difference lies in the entry criteria (Recognition of Prior Learning), not in the program itself.
- Live online sessions (Zoom)
- Highly interactive, experiential learning
- International cohort (maximum 12 participants)
- Supported self-study and reflective practice
Depending on the level you enter (Level 1 or Level 2), the curriculum covers in depth:
- ICF Core Competencies (latest framework)
- ICF Code of Ethics
- Additional approach to your Prior Learning: Solution-Focused and socio-constructivist coaching approach
- Coaching presence, contracting, trust, and psychological safety
- Advanced listening, powerful questioning, and meaning-making
- Coaching in complex organizational contexts (Level 2)
- Reflective practice and professional identity development
All content is fully aligned with the learning outcomes required by ICF and EMCC for the respective accreditation level.
As part of the accredited pathway, you will receive:
- The required mentor coaching hours (individual and group)
- Structured feedback on your coaching against ICF ACC BARS or PCC markers
- A formal Provider Performance Evaluation, conducted according to ICF standards
This process supports your development and prepares you for:
- The ICF Credentialing Exam (ACC or PCC)
- The EMCC Portfolio and Accreditation process (Practitioner or Senior Practitioner)
Upon successful completion, you will receive:
- The official ICF Level 1 or ICF Level 2 certificate from SolutionsAcademy
- The corresponding EMCC EQA pathway recognition
Eligibility to apply for:
- ICF ACC (via Level 1) or ICF PCC (via Level 2)
- EMCC Practitioner or Senior Practitioner
Your certificate is identical to that of all other participants in the accredited programs, as you complete the same curriculum and assessment process through a Recognition of Prior Learning entry route.
Admission Requirements
To access the Onboarding Pathway:
ACC Onboarding (Level 1 entry)
- At least 30 hours of previous coach training
PCC Onboarding (Level 2 entry)
- At least 90 hours of previous coach training
Your prior learning will be reviewed as part of the admission process to confirm alignment with the Recognition of Prior Learning criteria. If that is not the case, you will be invited to join the standard program either Coaching Fundamentals or Coaching in Organizations.
Who is this for?
This pathway is designed for coaches who:
- Have already completed substantial coach training (ICF-accredited or not)
- Are actively practicing coaching
- Want to obtain an ICF and/or EMCC credential
- Prefer a rigorous and efficient pathway that builds on what they already know
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the next program start?
Our Onboarding entry routes into ICF Level 1 and Level 2 programs, which recognize previous training, start February / March or October / November
What guarantees the quality of the program?
- The programs are accredited as Level 1 (ACC Onboarding) and Level 2 (PCC Onboarding) by the International Coach Federation, the international gold-standard for coach training programs and as EQA at practitioner and senior practitioner level guaranteeing the international recognition of the quality of the training.
- We are subjected to the regular incremental renewal process of the International Coach Federation and the EMCC.
- SolutionsAcademy is an accredited member institute of IASTI the International Alliance of Solution Focused Teaching Institutes guaranteeing the firm grounding in Solution Focused, a practical, respectful, resource- and progress oriented approach.
- Our trainers are all certified coaches and have decades of experience coaching in the real world all over the globe.
Can I really attend the program from anywhere in the world?
- Your time investment is two hours every week online class and 2-3 hours self-study and reflection. Even busy people will find the time to profit from our training without putting a strain on their life. In fact, since you are being coached as well as learning to coach, your life will probably become even easier when you join our training.
- You participate online and from your desk or hotel room. There is no need to spend valuable hours in trains, planes, automobiles or hotels saving you time and energy.
- The system is stable: you can dial in via phone or internet — so you really can attend from anywhere!
- The sessions are run with Zoom: as easy to connect as a mouseclick. There is friendly support for technophobes. Offline material is available in a modern “moodle” environment. You can access the learning material whenever you want, wherever you are, which gives you optimal flexibility and choice on where and how to spend your time.
- The small group with a maximum of 12 participants and the possibility to do breakout rooms in the virtual environment for even smaller groups make the training highly interactive. You get lots of hands-on practice and feedback so that you learn fast, efficiently and effectively.
Who are the other people in the class?
- The training is truly global and set up so that people from all over the world can join (Asia, Europe, American time-zones). Meet, be coached by and learn to coach global participants. We have had participants from the US, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Romania, UK, South-Africa, Mexico, Saudi-Arabia, India, Singapore, Phillipines, Australia, Nigeria. Perfect practice for today’s world.
- We aim at attracting a diverse international group of a maximum of 12 participants from all over Europe, America, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia: leaders, consultants, HR-professionals, coaches who work in corporations, the social sector, education or NGOs. We believe that diversity of coaching issues, personality and cultural background will make our learning group richer and more challenging for the participants.
- The training is highly practical and transferable to your worklife and perfect for global managers, leaders, coaches, HR, freelancers. Solution Focused coaching is effective, pragmatic, ethical, non-invasive and respectful and easily adaptable to many situations.
Who are the trainers?
- All trainers are certified ICF and EMCC coaches.
- All trainers have more than 10 years experience coaching in the real world.
- Kirsten Dierolf, ICF MCC, ACTC, EMCC MP, ITCA MP, ESIA our program director, is member of the assessor team for the International Coach Federation for PCC and MCC candidates.
- Kirsten is also a founding mother of virtual training — she started training virtually when nobody even knew what this is and is a real virtual guru!
- All of our trainers bios be found here.
How can I prepare for the class?
- Read the ICF and EMCC code of ethics
- Read the ICF and EMCC core competencies
- Take part in our free self-study course which we will make available after your enrollment
- Connect with your curiosity and willingness to learn and experiment. We want to celebrate your experience as a coach! Sometimes it is not easy for successful and experienced coaches to "jump through the hoops" of a new evaluation system. We want to support you to "tweak your style" so it fits with ICF requirements and help your coaching sparkle to shine even more brightly. And if you get grumpy on the way, we can deal with it :-).
What are the steps to certification?
ICF ACC “ASSOCIATE CERTIFIED COACH”
- 60 hour coach training program with Level 1 certificate (which you receive from us after successful completion of the program)
- 10 hours mentor coaching (included in our program)
- Performance evaluation by the provider (in this case from us - we observe your coaching in a recording during mentoring, if it meets ACC criteria, you "pass")
Additionally go to ICF
- Fill in the application
- Pay the certification fee
- Attest to 100 hours of coaching experience (having coached) after the start of your first coach training (the 30 hours which we are recognizing).
- Pass “ICF Credentialing Exam” administered online by ICF after registration for the certification
EMCC “PRACTITIONER”
- Gain 100 hours client coaching experience
- Successfully participate in class
- Fill in a portfolio document
- SolutionsAcademy recommends you to EMCC
- You pay EMCC membership and accreditation fee and receive accreditation
ICF PCC “PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED COACH”
- 125 hour coach training program with Level 2 certificate (which you receive from us after successful completion of the program)
- 10 hours mentor coaching (included in our program)
- Performance evaluation by the provider (in this case from us - we observe your coaching in a recording during mentoring, if it meets PCC criteria, you "pass")
Additionally go to ICF
- Fill in the application
- Pay the certification fee
- Attest to 500 hours of coaching experience (having coached) after the beginning of your first coach training which we are recognizing.
- Passing “ICF Credentialing Exam” administered online by ICF after registration for the certification
EMCC “SENIOR PRACTITIONER”
- Gain 250 hours client coaching experience
- Successfully participate in class
- Fill in a portfolio document
- SolutionsAcademy recommends you to EMCC
- You pay EMCC membership and accreditation fee and receive accreditation
What are the languages of the program?
- The program is currently available in English, German, Italian, Farsi, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Turkish, Chinese and Arabic
- We are actively working on a Spanish and Japanese version – please contact us if you are interested
- All other languages available upon request (large trainer pool)
- All time zones and almost all major languages can be arranged if you have a group of 6 people
What are the technical requirements?
- The program is run via zoom
- International phone dial in is available guaranteeing stable operation from almost anywhere
- If you want to join via computer, you will need a camera and a headset
What is my investment?
- ICF Onboarding including all mentor coaching hours: € 2600
- The course can be paid in installments and we expect to have been paid in full before the end of the program
- Any cancellations will have to be in written form. If the participant cancels later than 30 working days before the start of the program, 60% of the fee will have to be paid as an administrative fee. The date of the cancellation is the date when the training provider receives the written cancellation. Participants cancelling later than 14 days before the program start or participants who do not attend the program will have to pay the fee in full.
How do I register?
>>>REGISTRATION<<<
Our Testimonials
Testimonials Coaching Fundamentals
"The course gave me a perfect overview and I gained profound coaching knowledge. It was a lot of fun and it is superbly managed.”
Testimonials Coaching Fundamentals
"I thought it was a great combination of kind of group work of theory also of watching videos and analyzing them together. The interactivity was great, as well. So yeah, for me, it was really a great experience. I can, I would really recommend it to anyone.”
Testimonials Coaching Fundamentals
"I discovered the keys to what coaching really is and met great people all over the world. The course really helped me in my current job as well!”
Testimonials Coaching Fundamentals
"It has completely changed the way we communicate. There has been so much value here. It has actually been life-changing and I absolutely loved it. The course has taught me what coaching is. It has made me a better manager, leader and mentor. I highly recommend the course not only for learning coaching skills.”
Testimonials Coaching in organization 2020
"We got to see such a broad range of situations where coaching can be applied! The mix of the group internal / external coaches was really beneficial. We had a really brilliant group!”
Testimonial SF Coaching Masterclass 2020
"And I just want to say thank you because this course has taken me to another dimension in my coaching and it has enabled me to go to the refinement of what I was looking for. And it is most worth the time and the experience you come out another coach.”
Ready to build on what you already know?
If you are an experienced coach and want your previous training to be formally recognized within an accredited ICF and EMCC pathway, the Onboarding Pathway allows you to continue your professional journey without starting from zero.
Accreditation Note
The Onboarding Pathway is a Recognition of Prior Learning entry route into SolutionsAcademy’s accredited ICF Level 1 (Coaching Fundamentals) and ICF Level 2 (Coaching in Organizations) programs. It is not a separate program accreditation.
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