WABC offers a suite of two rigorous, evidence-based program accreditation levels for team coach training programs—practitioner and master.
The WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) Standards are for qualifying and requalifying for Level 1 – Team Coach. You will refer to these standards when you’d like to learn about this level which is for programs that develop professional team coaches at practitioner-level.
WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) global mark is a program accreditation distinction that ensures you’re offering the most comprehensive and robust team coach training available in the world.
Level 1 – Team Coach programs develop professional team coaches at practitioner-level who represent many professional roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant. Such programs focus on developing the practice elements of core team coaching – technical skills and a theoretical underpinning – and are for participants with business coaching experience who also either have had little or no previous team coaching experience, or who already have some team coaching experience that they now wish to consolidate fully with best practice. We identify team coaching practice in this context to be the application of professional practitioner skills as part of an evidence-based framework to support improved team performance, team development and transformation. Accordingly, team coaches at this practitioner-level are expected to support the team’s systemic awareness, shared ownership, resilience and adaptability in the delivery of strategic business and organizational goals and objectives.
Graduates of these programs are eligible to earn the WABC Certified Team Coach™ (CTC™) credential. The credential is granted by WABC.
WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach):
WABC Accredited, as a program accreditation qualification, is the most rigorous level of qualification available to programs by an external accreditor. Program accreditation processes that follow industry best practice ensure their accredited programs require validation, carry re-accreditation requirements and are subject to revocation. WABC Accredited adheres to these best practices.
The WABC Accredited mark is awarded by WABC, a global accrediting body headquartered in Canada.
You’re an ideal candidate for WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) if your program meets the following profile.
As such, this level of program accreditation is only available to training programs that offer team coaching as the main focus of their curriculum. This means 100% of the learning hours within the program must be focused on the practice, theory and/or research of team coaching.
Even if your program is brand new, or requires significant changes to meet WABC’s standards, you’ll most likely be eligible to register in our WABC Program Accreditation Process.
Graduates are eligible to earn their CTC credential, so when you screen your participants you’ll ensure they meet the following standards
Option: Full Length*
Duration: 5–9 months
Hours: 120–160
*Open to those participants with an appropriate background. Duration: Your program duration highly depends on participants’ experience-level and program’s approach. Keep in mind that the team coaching practice is likely to last some months. Hours: Your program hours depend on your approach, but it is expected that contact time with candidates (including training modules, supervision, assessment) will account for approximately 35% of these hours, with the remainder taken up by a substantive element of team coaching practice in a workplace setting supported by supervision) as well as self-directed learning (reading, private study and reflection).
Option: Fast-track**
Duration: 4–6 months
Hours: Variable, and up to 30% reduction
**A fast-track option is suitable if your participants are able to demonstrate, via your screening process, that they have an appropriate background including prior team coaching experience (coaching of teams with a minimum number of 3 people) and competencies equivalent to those taught in your program. Depending on your recruitment approach, this may have an impact on both module hours and private study and may reduce the amount of required team coaching practice in a workplace setting. Duration: Your program duration highly depends on participants’ experience-level and program’s approach. Hours: An overall reduction in program hours of up to 30% of a Full Length program would be considered appropriate.
All formats are welcomed and determined by provider (e.g., in-person, virtual, blended)
Appropriate supervision required
Faculty size and compositions are up to you (just one lead faculty or co-leads or one lead and one support, etc.)
Lead Faculty***:
Support Faculty***:
***When considering whether your faculty have the requisite experience referenced, we recognize that spheres of experience may be developed concurrently rather than linearly. Suitable degrees are those from accredited institutions in business coaching or in complementary disciplines (e.g., leadership, psychology, adult education, organizational development, human resources). If no suitable degrees, years of experience increase from 10 to 15. WABC will grant some leeway in relation to Support Faculty who do not quite reach the necessary requirements if appropriate monitoring and supervision provided by Lead Faculty.
This level is guided by a suite of standards developed by WABC
The WABC Accredited global mark is the product of widespread research, industry consultation, development and testing. As an evidence-based mark, it undergoes annual and three- to five-year reviews to ensure that it remains relevant and continues to set the highest global standards for all training programs with this mark.
To earn WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach), you must meet these requirements:
****If your program is brand new, or requires significant changes to meet WABC’s standards, you can still begin the WABC Program Accreditation Process and then run your “pilot program” during your process. Once your pilot is completed, then the assessment of your program occurs.
The value of the WABC Accredited mark is not just born from the standards that inform it, but also from the evaluative processes that lead to it. At WABC, we take very seriously the need to accomplish two goals for the benefit of all stakeholders:
WABC strikes the right balance towards realizing those two distinct goals through the creation of WABC standing committees—the WABC Accreditation & Credentialing Team, and three supporting WABC Accredited Decision Boards: WABC Accredited Assessment Board, WABC Accredited Award Board and WABC Accredited Appeal Board.
The team and boards are comprised of highly skilled experts who are passionate about team coaching and serving our community. They are accountable to strictly uphold WABC’s global evidence-based standards and accreditation best practice.
The purpose of all standing committees is to:
Ultimately, WABC maintains oversight of its standards and safeguards the program accreditation process, while simultaneously enabling experts to independently carry out program accreditation related activities. Taken altogether, this thoughtfully considered and balanced-approach raises the quality, credibility and profile of team coaching worldwide to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Being the best means renewing relevance and status in our global marketplace
As a WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) Program, you will safeguard your accreditation by meeting various provider’s responsibilities over the course of your five-year process lifecycle—from initial accreditation through annual monitoring to re-accreditation.
WABC can revoke accreditation at any time if a provider is reported or considered to be conducting their program in an unprofessional or unethical manner, not in accordance with the accreditation standards or in any other way that will bring WABC, business coaching or team coaching into disrepute. Additionally, other adverse statuses can be issued (e.g., suspension, probation) if certain circumstances arise and require such an action be taken. In serious cases or when revocation occurs, you will no longer be able to use the WABC Accredited mark and you must remove all references to it, including badges, from your marketing, promotional and other material.
The WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) mark must be listed in a specific way. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to your WABC Accredited Promo Package.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Accredited (Level 1 – Team Coach) Standards, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
