Regulating the regulators: Paving the way for international, evidence-based coaching standards

Abstract

Attempts to standardise coaching and develop frameworks of accreditation for professional coaches currently appear to be growing as rapidly as the coaching industry itself. Coach training organizations, professional associations and universities are vying to regulate the industry through the development of competencies and standards. However, most existing frameworks of coach regulation are not evidence-based or empirically validated. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the current leader in the promotion and regulation of professional coaching standards and the largest coach accreditation body in the world. Using the findings from a qualitative grounded theory study of ICF certified coaches and their clients, this paper empirically examines and discusses the ICF coaching core competencies. The paper presents evidence to strengthen the credibility of the ICF core competencies as well as inform their future refinement and, by encouraging further research into existing coach regulation, it paves the way for future shared standards of coaching.