The team coaching competencies are divided into three areas:
Each area includes a listing of competencies. Each competency is illustrated by examples of the behavior expected of a proficient team coach. The competencies provide a framework against which individuals can map their training and experience.
To ensure clarity and to permit standard and fair evaluation, the competencies are arranged in a hierarchical structure—areas (3), categories (6), competencies (15) and competencies’ indicators (63). This approach lends both structure and flexibility to the assessment process.
WABC’s competencies cover the breadth and depth of professional practice expected of a proficient team coach. The competencies provide a framework against which individuals can map their training and experience.
First, the competencies are divided into three “areas”:
Then, under each area, the levels range from “categories” (most comprehensive) at the top, through “competencies” (specific) in the middle, to “indicators” (most specific) at the bottom. The following excerpt from the beginning of the competencies illustrates the different levels.
EXAMPLE:
1. Having a realistic perception of your strengths and limitations and showing a commitment to continuous learning and self-development [competency]
The indicators are very specific measures within each competency and are worded in such a way that individuals can rate themselves. It’s important to note that not all indicators (there are 63) have equal weight in establishing a competency.
1. Having a realistic perception of your strengths and limitations and showing a commitment to continuous learning and self-development
2. Engaging in supervision
3. Recognizing and addressing parallel processing in team-coach dynamic
4. Working within established ethical guidelines and professional standards
5. Applying core principles of teaming and team dynamics
6. Using evidence-based models of team performance
7. Recognizing the context of team coaching as distinct from other interventions
8. Applying framework consistent with evolution of team coaching assignment
9. Creating understanding of the specific team and business/organizational context
10. Managing the team coaching process
11. Observing and giving feedback
12. Evaluating outcomes
13. Managing the co-coaching arrangement
14. Amplifying team’s awareness of the wider system
15. Understanding systems theory and complex, adaptive systems
Since 1997, WABC has been committed to defining and leading business coaching excellence. We’ve spent years on in-depth research, literature reviews and consultations with some of the world’s top business coaches and their clients to create evidence-based standards for professional business coaches.
In 2026, we engaged a WABC Research Team to undertake further investigation and research into team coaches. One result of this effort is the draft list of evidence-based team coaching competencies*. This list of competencies is based on the real-world tasks of team coaches in small and large businesses, governments, institutions, nonprofits–any organizations where they practice. From later-2026 to later-2027, this list will undergo further validation through our pilot accreditation process involving a select group of training providers from around the world. Once the pilot is completed, we’ll finalize and publish this list.
*The WABC Team Coaching Competencies also include appropriate competencies and competencies’ indicators from the WABC Business Coaching Competencies.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Team Coaching Competencies, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
To ensure clarity and to permit standard and fair evaluation, the competencies are arranged in a hierarchical structure—areas (3), categories (6), competencies (15) and competencies’ indicators (63). This approach lends both structure and flexibility to the assessment process.
WABC’s competencies cover the breadth and depth of professional practice expected of a proficient team coach. The competencies provide a framework against which individuals can map their training and experience.
Since 1997, WABC has been committed to defining and leading business coaching excellence. We’ve spent years on in-depth research, literature reviews and consultations with some of the world’s top business coaches and their clients to create evidence-based standards for professional business coaches.
In 2026, we engaged a WABC Research Team to undertake further investigation and research into team coaches. One result of this effort is the draft list of evidence-based team coaching competencies*. This list of competencies is based on the real-world tasks of team coaches in small and large businesses, governments, institutions, nonprofits–any organizations where they practice. From later-2026 to later-2027, this list will undergo further validation through our pilot accreditation process involving a select group of training providers from around the world. Once the pilot is completed, we’ll finalize and publish this list.
*The WABC Team Coaching Competencies also include appropriate competencies and competencies’ indicators from the WABC Business Coaching Competencies.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Team Coaching Competencies, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
Team Coaching – as a subspecialty of Business Coaching – is a specialized area of practice. This type of coaching involves a team coach(es) engaging in a collaborative and reflective process with an “intact team” (a minimum of 3 people) within a business, profit or nonprofit organization, institution or government. The goal is to enhance the team’s awareness and effectiveness so as to achieve business and organizational goals and objectives.
Team Coaching enables team members to understand their role in and alignment with the business or organization’s broader needs and goals, and to enhance that role in ways that are measurable and sustainable. The Team Coaching process includes engagement with relevant stakeholders to properly align the team’s context, objectives and challenges to the broader systemic influences affecting its performance.
Successful Team Coaching establishes an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect, safety, challenge and accountability. In doing so, it clarifies shared aims and direction, improves working relationships, collaboration and overall team effectiveness. To that end, the team coach must conduct an ethical and competent practice, based on appropriate professional experience, business knowledge and an understanding of individual and organizational change.
Since 1997, WABC has been committed to defining and leading business coaching excellence. We’ve spent years on in-depth research, literature reviews and consultations with some of the world’s top business coaches and their clients to create evidence-based standards for professional business coaches.
In 2026, we engaged a WABC Research Team to undertake further investigation and research into team coaches. One result is this working draft definition of Team Coaching. This definition is based on the real-world tasks of team coaches in small and large businesses, governments, institutions, nonprofits–any organizations where they practice. From later-2026 to later-2027, this definition will undergo further validation through our pilot accreditation process involving a select group of training providers from around the world. Once the pilot is completed, we’ll finalize and publish this definition.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Team Coaching Definition, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
WABC Certified Team Coach (CTC) is a highly respected global credential designed for professional team coaches at practitioner-level.
Those pursuing CTC already have a minimum of three years of business coaching experience.
Professional team coaches at this level can access a strong foundation and the competencies and knowledge as a professional team coach at practitioner-level. As they support clients, co-workers and organizations, they’re able to apply their specialized skills 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.
Being a CTC means they can provide a fuller professional offering.
CTC:
CTC is an independent, evidence-based credential that carries re-certification requirements (no prerequisite credential required*).
*NOTE: Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables you to choose the credential that is right for your professional role, previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, goals and client and employer needs at any point in your career. Our non-linear approach is purposefully designed to offer flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
CTC is awarded by WABC, a global accrediting body headquartered in Canada.
You are an ideal candidate for CTC if:
To earn CTC, you must meet all these requirements:
To provide ethically sound and expert guidance, professionals in all areas of practice must keep up to date on the latest research and evidence on how to effectively serve their clients’ needs.
A clear professional development strategy allows team coaches to stay relevant and innovative in providing the best possible expertise to their clients.
As a professional credential, you have a few ongoing requirements to maintain your credential that are designed to complement your coaching practice as an opportunity for learning and growth.
As a CTC, you must:
Taking a sabbatical during your career may affect your CTC credential.
CTC can be revoked under certain circumstances. Examples include not meeting the credential verification or re-certification requirements or being cited for a legal or ethical violation. If your CTC credential is revoked, you will no longer be able to use the credential and you must remove all references to it, including logos and badges, from marketing, promotional and other materials in your control (e.g., your website, résumé, signature block, LinkedIn).
The WABC Certified Team Coach (CTC) credential must be listed in a specific way. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to your WABC CTC Promo Package.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Team Coach (CTC) Standards, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
WABC Certified Master Team Coach (CMTC) is a highly esteemed, world-class credential designed for professional team coaches at master-level.
Those pursuing CMTC already have a minimum of five years of business coaching experience and two years of team coaching experience.
Professional team coaches at this level can demonstrate their mastery of the competencies and knowledge as a professional team coach at master-level. As they support clients, co-workers and organizations, they’re able to apply their specialized skills to support improved team performance, team development and transformation. Accordingly, team coaches at this master-level are expected to work within complex contexts, involving advanced systems thinking, and challenging team dynamics, to support the team’s delivery of strategic business and organizational goals and objectives.
Being a CMTC means they can provide a substantial professional offering.
CMTC:
CMTC is an independent, evidence-based credential that carries re-certification requirements (no prerequisite credential required*).
*NOTE: Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables you to choose the credential that is right for your professional role, previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, goals and client and employer needs at any point in your career. Our non-linear approach is purposefully designed to offer flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
CMTC is awarded by WABC, a global accrediting body headquartered in Canada.
You are an ideal candidate for CMTC if:
To earn CMTC, you must meet all these requirements:
To provide ethically sound and expert guidance, professionals in all areas of practice must keep up to date on the latest research and evidence on how to effectively serve their clients’ needs.
A clear professional development strategy allows team coaches to stay relevant and innovative in providing the best possible expertise to their clients.
As a master-level professional credential, you have a few ongoing requirements to maintain your credential that are designed to complement your coaching practice as an opportunity for learning and growth.
As a CMTC, you must:
Taking a sabbatical during your career may affect your CMTC credential.
CMTC can be revoked under certain circumstances. Examples include not meeting the credential verification or re-certification requirements or being cited for a legal or ethical violation. If your CMTC credential is revoked, you will no longer be able to use the credential and you must remove all references to it, including logos and badges, from marketing, promotional and other materials in your control (e.g., your website, résumé, signature block, LinkedIn).
The WABC Certified Master Team Coach (CMTC) credential must be listed in a specific way. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to your WABC CMTC Promo Package.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Master Team Coach (CMTC) Standards, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
WABC Accredited (Level 2 – 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 2 – Team Coach programs develop professional team coaches at master-level who represent many professional roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant. Such programs focus on exploring a range of approaches, tools and perspectives underpinning practice and are for participants with both business coaching and team coaching experience and who wish to develop master-level team coaching skills. We identify team coaching practice in this context to be the application of professional master skills through evidence-based frameworks to support improved team performance, team development and transformation. Accordingly, team coaches at this master-level are expected to work within complex contexts, involving advanced systems thinking, and challenging team dynamics, to support the team’s delivery of strategic business and organizational goals and objectives.
Graduates of these programs are eligible to earn the WABC Certified Master Team Coach™ (CMTC™) credential. The credential is granted by WABC.
WABC Accredited (Level 2 – 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 2 – 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 CMTC credential, so when you screen your participants you’ll ensure they meet the following standards
Option: Full Length*
Duration: 9–12 months
Hours: 190–240
*Open to 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: 6–9 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 2 – 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 2 – 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 2 – 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 2 – Team Coach) Standards, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
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.
