One of the joys of writing this column is that it gives me the excuse to pause and reflect upon my recent learning about research and practice and to consider how it may be of interest to you, my readers. Over the last month or so I have been particularly taken by what it means to be a master practitioner and how research can help us attain that level of practice. It started with my recent move to Middlesex University (England) as Director of Programs for their Professional Doctorate Program. The candidates in this program undertake a doctorate in and through their own practice. Unlike the conventional doctorate where the focus is on academic knowledge, this doctorate’s focus is on practice itself, including all the messiness of real life and context. Within my new role, I have the opportunity to work with senior practitioners from a range of professions and talk with their professors and senior academics. It is fascinating to note that we are all intrigued by the question, “What makes mastery?”
All of us are struck by the great similarities between different disciplines–it seems that the process is the same, although the technical knowledge may be vastly different. For example, I had the delight of working with Dr. Susan Melrose, a professor of the performing arts, and I loved her perspective–to quote: “Disciplinary mastery is always relational: it is undertaken somewhere, by and for someone, with reference to (and thereby rearticulating the terms of) one or another disciplinary tradition”–this has a resonance for me when thinking about coaching. As we meet with our clients we are co-constructing a ‘performance’ with them. As we seek to probe what mastery really looks like and how it can be acquired, we are in the same realm as the performer seeking to construct a depiction of Hamlet or Sleeping Beauty which communicates and explores anew some aspect of what it means to be human.
The question of mastery has real power for coaching when we consider where we are as a profession. If we are to construct the boundaries of what constitutes our body of knowledge and practice, we need to be able to articulate in a clear manner what it means to be a master practitioner in our field. Here we differ from a performance artist in that we need to differentiate ourselves from other related disciplines. The academic requirements, i.e., the amount of stuff we need to know, are relatively straightforward. They are not easy, but they are straightforward. There may be differences in the focus of some courses depending upon the preference of the professors teaching them–but the amount and depth of study are monitored by the university accreditation boards and audited against the standard of a current body of knowledge in the area. However, with all due respect, we know that passing a master’s degree is not indicative of mastery in a profession. A master’s degree identifies that you have the required technical knowledge, NOT that you have the required professional knowledge and skills. For this we need to develop–through practice–the professional know-how and ‘gut feel’ indicative of a seasoned practitioner. This is the elusive but necessary ingredient of mastery.
So what might it be? The literature shows us a variety of perspectives and comes up with ‘practice wisdom’ and ‘expert intuition,’ both of which try to identify the process by which a practitioner produces a decision or constructs a flexible innovative intervention within the context they find themselves, i.e., their particular client or situation. It is relational, as Susan Melrose says. Let us take a moment to reflect: When was the last time you surprised yourself in practice and thought, “I wonder where that came from? Why did I do that? It worked but where did I get it from?” Probably quite recently! Your expert intuition was in full flight. You probably rationalized your decision or design AFTER the event, but it arrived like magic at the time. As Schön1 would have said, you were ‘knowing in action.’
We are starting, as researchers, to get some sense of what is happening in practice wisdom so we can help practitioners attain the holy grail of mastery. It is not appropriate to call it ‘intuition’ –expert or not–as this is a catchall phrase suggesting it is innate and without rational basis. My own view is that we are working with a kaleidoscope (I thank one of my students, Steve Wigzell, for this metaphor), each color contributing to the pattern is one aspect of what we are bringing to the interaction. For instance, we will bring technical knowledge from various disciplines: learning theory, change management, etc., but also our knowledge of context, the pragmatics in operation, our own values and beliefs, our experience in similar situations, etc. All these and more are part of the color spectrum we have in our kaleidoscope. For each client and situation, we rotate the kaleidoscope again to produce a pattern unique and specific to that client and situation.
The creation of each new pattern has to happen fast and effortlessly ‘in the moment’ through ‘reflection in action,’ and, as such, is the result of using images, examples, and understandings achieved through practice. A person’s performance nearly always uses several kinds of knowledge (technical, experiential, etc.) in some integrated form and is influenced by both context and feelings.
What recent research has shown is that the transition from novice to competent practitioner can happen when one or two areas of work are mastered. The transition from competent to master practitioner needs the practitioner to not only be using a broad and deep knowledge base, but also to be actively creating knowledge by applying their expertise in new arenas. To create new knowledge, experts must be well versed in the problems and methodologies of the field in which they work and actively engaged in problem finding. These experts are posing questions and instituting investigations that push the boundaries of their work.
So there we have it–if you want to develop expertise and be a Master Practitioner, you must be a problem finder and hence a researcher!
Enjoy your problem finding!
This article first appeared in Business Coaching Worldwide (October Issue 2010, Volume 6, Issue 3).
1 D. Schön, The Reflective Practitioner (Basic Books: New York, 1983) An old one but a good one and well worth a read
Dr. Annette Fillery-Travis is a senior researcher and education coach with the Professional Development Foundation. The author of more than 60 research articles and studies, her book. The Case for Coaching, presenting a literature review with research case studies and interviews from over 20 organizations on coaching efficacy, was published in 2006 by CIPD, UK.
ChBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly coveted, world-class distinction, ChBC positions you as being among the best of the best in the business coaching profession worldwide. ChBC demonstrates your significant impact and influence with your senior expertise, specialized knowledge and professional competence to take on the most challenging business coaching engagements.
Demonstrate your significant impact and influence with your senior expertise, specialized knowledge and professional competence and take your place among the top of the field as a chartered business coach.
As the first-ever chartered status for business coaching professionals, WABC’s Chartered Business Coach (ChBC) credential is the industry’s most coveted credential designed exclusively for elite business coaches.
Chartered-level business coaches are senior business coaching professionals who have achieved senior expertise, specialized knowledge and professional competence. As a leading member of the business coaching community, ChBC affords you the opportunity to share your learning and confirm your role as an influential thought leader in the field. Regardless of what professional role you have (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant), if you’re doing business coaching, WABC offers different training options via WABC Accredited (Level 4 – ChBC)® programs to become a ChBC, based on your level of experience.
Once you earn ChBC, you will also become part of our global community, where professional business coaches from across the globe come together to enhance their skills, expand their professional networks and influence the business coaching industry more broadly.
ChBC gives you a superior competitive edge, and tells the market you have achieved a very senior level of specialized knowledge and professional competence to apply business coaching in a wide variety of contexts.
The ChBC credential is for individuals who are extremely experienced in business coaching, who support leaders on the most complex business challenges, and who want to position themselves at the top of business coaches in their field.
Because WABC credentials specifically prepare you for coaching to support businesses or organizations, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your training in real-world situations. Your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing a WABC credential.
On average, ChBCs have a minimum of 15-20 years of business coaching experience, and a minimum of 20-25 years of business and organizational experience.
As a ChBC, you embody the highest level of professional practice, and contribute significant influence and leadership within organizations and the business coaching industry.
By engaging your specialized knowledge and professional competence, you’re able to apply business coaching in a variety of contexts, the outcomes of which may be unpredictable.
You also exercise substantial personal autonomy along with significant influence, leadership and contribution within your organization, the profession or academic settings.
The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs. Not sure if ChBC is right for you? See Compare Credentials for further guidance.
WABC Accredited (Level 4 – ChBC) programs and options are available for you to earn ChBC. The WABC Accredited program provider will determine your eligibility and suitable program option during an initial screening interview.
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New program coming in later 2023. |
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | English |
To earn ChBC, you must meet these requirements:
To provide ethically sound and expert guidance, professionals in all areas of practice must keep up to date on the latest research, evidence and opinion on how to effectively serve their clients’ needs.
A clear professional development strategy allows business coaches to stay relevant and innovative in providing the best possible expertise to their clients.
As a professional certification 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 ChBC, you must:
Earning your ChBC involves the following fees:
*These fees may be included in the training program pricing. Otherwise, you can find the WABC fees in JOIN WABC.
Maintaining your ChBC:
Please see “Maintaining Your Credential” below.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables business coaches to pursue the credential that is right for their ambition, professional goals and client needs at any point in their careers.
Our non-linear training approach is purposefully designed to suit the diverse needs of business coaches with flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
If your WABC Accredited (Level 4 – ChBC) program was recently accredited by WABC, check with your program instructor on your eligibility for ChBC.
You have one year from your graduation date to become a WABC member, as long as you meet the minimum WABC membership requirements for ChBC.
If you were already a WABC member while taking an WABC Accredited (Level 4 – ChBC) program but allowed your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving your ChBC.
Certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental body recognizes an individual who has successfully met predetermined qualifications. As an advanced, evidence-based credential, ChBC falls within this type of qualification
It is the most rigorous level of professional credentialing available for individuals. Professional certification credentials that follow industry best practice require validation, carry re-certification requirements and are subject to revocation. ChBC adheres to these best practices.
ChBC is a professional certification which means it is a “working or applied” credential. Unlike certificates and degrees which transfer knowledge and skills, professional certifications measure how an individual uses knowledge and skills in real-life situations. By certifying that the holder is able to currently practice at a certain level, certification maintains public trust in the delivery of service.
For a professional certification credential to remain valid, the holder must stay relevant with current practice and theories. That’s why it’s a certification best practice for holders to meet ongoing requirements, such as continuing professional development, to maintain their certified credentials.
In order to maintain your ChBC credential, there are two ongoing requirements which both require fees:
As a ChBC, you must:
Taking a sabbatical during your career may affect your ChBC credential.
Yes, your ChBC credential can be revoked under certain circumstances.
ChBC may be listed in several ways. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to applicable WABC logos.
After you become a ChBC, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your credential on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential. The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs.
| PRACTITIONER RCC™ | ADVANCED CBC™ | MASTER CMBC® | ELITE ChBC® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential |
| RCC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly respected global credential, RCC raises your credibility and positions you as a practitioner business coach with specialized business coaching skills. RCC enables you to support a range of business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives. | CBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly respected global credential, CBC positions you as an advanced business coach with specialized business coaching skills. CBC enables you to support a wider range of business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives. | CMBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly esteemed, world-class distinction, CMBC positions you at the leading edge of your field in both expertise and training. CMBC enables you to confidently tackle complex goals that may impact broader business and organizational outcomes. | ChBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly coveted, world-class distinction, ChBC positions you as being among the best of the best in the business coaching profession worldwide. ChBC demonstrates your significant impact and influence with your senior expertise, specialized knowledge and professional competence to take on the most challenging business coaching engagements. |
| Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates |
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| Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) |
| DURATION 1.5–3 months HOURS Up to 75–150 total learning hours | DURATION 4.5–9 months HOURS Up to 300–600 total learning hours | DURATION 12–24 months HOURS Up to 1200–1800 total learning hours | DURATION 3–12 months HOURS Up to 900 total learning hours |
| Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available |
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| Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available |
| Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) |
| Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision |
| Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided |
| Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables |
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| Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements |
| There are no requirements to maintain your RCC credential |
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|
| WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards |
| Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of RCC credential, and to replace RCC credential. | WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CBC credential, and to replace CBC credential. | WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CMBC credential, and to replace CMBC credential. | WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Chartered Business Coach (ChBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of ChBC credential, and to replace ChBC credential. |
When you earn any of WABC’s credentials for business coaches—RCC™, CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC®—you will enroll in a WABC Accredited program. All WABC Accredited programs undergo rigorous independent initial assessment, and providers are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet our standards of excellence. This ensures their programs continue to be relevant to the market and meet our exacting global standards for business coach training programs.
WABC is the longest standing worldwide organization that focuses exclusively on business coaching. Other coaching associations bundle life coaching and business coaching together in a rather confused stew.
Business coaching is a unique and distinct offering, requiring specific competencies, ethical considerations and approaches. WABC has not only understood this from the start, but has built a framework of accreditation that recognizes those working in this way accordingly.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Earning WABC’s Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) involved the opportunity to consider my practice in a safe physical and mental space where I could take stock of my life and explore my agenda. This is a crucial aspect of a leadership development program that incorporates self-discovery principles while capturing emerging awareness. The combination of thorough research, theory linked to practice and a reiterative writing process deeply reinforced my bridge-builder identity in various disciplines (coaching, consulting, counseling and psychoanalysis) and my identity as a business coach able to deal with change at both personal and organizational levels. Even more, the ChBC® process offers a virtual work-based learning methodology that is at the forefront of adult learning and now, more than ever before, this is a strength of this credential.
WABC’s ChBC® grants clients that I have the specialized expertise and knowledge required to be at the pinnacle of my profession. The re-certification process every five years also allows coaches to demonstrate they have kept their learning and practice up to date.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
WABC represents the highest quality programs and credentials in the industry. As the coaching profession, business, and life in general continue to grow and change at a rapid pace, the need for ongoing professional standards, ethical practices, and robust learning have never been more important. WABC is the premier service provider in the field and, having earned my Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) credential, I can attest to their rigor and validity. WABC’s ChBC® is recognized as the leading credential for business coaching and has opened doors for me with organizational and individual clients alike. WABC’s re-certification process offers the same rigor as the intensive initial certification, and ensures those who hold the credential continue to meet the highest standards in the field, ensuring practitioners align with current best practice, engage in meaningful initiatives, and deliver expected results. If you are looking for a professional organization and supporting credentials that reflect the highest standards, look no further than WABC.
ChBC® positions you as being among the best of the best in the business coaching profession worldwide.
Let’s get started!
Find a listing of our programs below or reach out to us if you’d like some further guidance.
If ChBC® isn’t quite the right fit for you, we’ll have a WABC credential that is.
Whether you are beginning your coaching journey (RCC™), enhancing your professional services (CBC™), mastering coaching specialties (CMBC®) or taking on the most demanding coaching assignments in the market (ChBC®), WABC has a credential to suit your ambition, professional goals and client needs.
CMBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly esteemed, world-class distinction, CMBC positions you at the leading edge of your field in both expertise and training. CMBC enables you to confidently tackle complex goals that may impact broader business and organizational outcomes.
Expand your expertise and tackle a broader range of business and organizational challenges and contribute findings to the business coaching field. Set your extensive experience and skills apart as a master business coach who can serve senior-level clients in a variety of industries.
WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC) is a highly esteemed, world-class distinction that tells the industry you are at the leading edge of your field in both expertise and training. CMBC enables you to confidently tackle complex goals with non-fixed outcomes that may impact broader business and organizational outcomes. CMBC also affords you the opportunity to contribute your knowledge and research to the business coaching profession and establish yourself as a leader in the business coaching community.
Regardless of what professional role you have (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant), if you’re doing business coaching, WABC offers different training options via WABC Accredited (Level 3 – CMBC)® programs to become a CMBC, based on your level of experience.
Once you earn CMBC, you will also become part of our global community, where professional business coaches from across the globe come together to enhance their skills, expand their professional networks and influence the business coaching industry more broadly.
CMBC gives you a distinct competitive edge, and tells the market you’ve progressed beyond general coach training to build master-level specialized business coaching skills that support a broad range of non-fixed business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives.
The CMBC credential is for individuals who are very experienced in business coaching, who want to achieve mastery and possibly specialize, and who want to position themselves as a business coaching leader in their field.
Because WABC credentials specifically prepare you for coaching to support businesses or organizations, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your training in real-world situations. Your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing a WABC credential.
On average, CMBCs have a minimum of 10-15 years of business coaching experience, and a minimum of 15-20 years of business and organizational experience.
As a CMBC, you can fully explore and contribute to the business coaching dialogue by engaging with current approaches, methodologies and research-informed theories and best practice of business coaching, including that of related disciplines. You will also engage critically with research and design your own evidence-seeking project.
By engaging your master-level skills and expertise, you may be accountable for critical analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation of business coaching activities and you may also choose to specialize.
You’ll also be able to provide business coaching to an open client agenda that may have a more indirect impact on business and organizational outcomes.
The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs. Not sure if CMBC is right for you? See Compare Credentials for further guidance.
WABC Accredited (Level 3 – CMBC)® programs and options are available for you to earn CMBC. The WABC Accredited program provider will determine your eligibility and suitable program option during an initial screening interview.
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New program coming in later 2023. |
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | English |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New program coming in later 2023. |
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | English |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New program coming in later 2023. |
TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | English |
To earn CMBC, you must meet these requirements:
To provide ethically sound and expert guidance, professionals in all areas of practice must keep up to date on the latest research, evidence and opinion on how to effectively serve their clients’ needs.
A clear professional development strategy allows business coaches to stay relevant and innovative in providing the best possible expertise to their clients.
As a professional certification 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 CMBC, you must:
Earning your CMBC involves the following fees:
*These fees may be included in the training program pricing. Otherwise, you can find the WABC fees in JOIN WABC.
Maintaining your CMBC:
Please see “Maintaining Your Credential” below.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables business coaches to pursue the credential that is right for their ambition, professional goals and client needs at any point in their careers.
Our non-linear training approach is purposefully designed to suit the diverse needs of business coaches with flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
Your program will offer you a range of options to meet the research project requirements (e.g., a small literature review, a collaborative inquiry or action research, a case study, or an in-depth research project).
You may either:
For your previous research project to be accepted, it must meet the following criteria:
While enrolled in your program, you will have access to full guidelines for how to meet the research project requirements.
If your WABC Accredited (Level 3 – CMBC) program was recently accredited by WABC, check with your program instructor on your eligibility for CMBC.
You have five years from your graduation date to become a WABC member, as long as you meet the minimum WABC membership requirements for CMBC.
If you were already a WABC member while taking an WABC Accredited (Level 3 – CMBC) program but allowed your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving your CMBC.
Certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental body recognizes an individual who has successfully met predetermined qualifications. As an advanced, evidence-based credential, CMBC falls within this type of qualification.
It is the most rigorous level of professional credentialing available for individuals. Professional certification credentials that follow industry best practice require validation, carry re-certification requirements and are subject to revocation. CMBC adheres to these best practices.
CMBC is a professional certification which means it is a “working or applied” credential. Unlike certificates and degrees which transfer knowledge and skills, professional certifications measure how an individual uses knowledge and skills in real-life situations. By certifying that the holder is able to currently practice at a certain level, certification maintains public trust in the delivery of service.
For a professional certification credential to remain valid, the holder must stay relevant with current practice and theories. That’s why it’s a certification best practice for holders to meet ongoing requirements, such as continuing professional development, to maintain their certified credentials.
In order to maintain your CMBC credential, there are two ongoing requirements which both require fees:
As a CMBC, you must:
Taking a sabbatical during your career may affect your CMBC credential.
Yes, your CMBC credential can be revoked under certain circumstances.
CMBC may be listed in several ways. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to applicable WABC logos.
After you become a CMBC, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your credential on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential. The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs.
| PRACTITIONER RCC™ |
ADVANCED CBC™ |
MASTER CMBC® |
ELITE ChBC® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential |
| RCC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CMBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
ChBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
| Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates |
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|
| Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) |
| DURATION 1.5–3 months HOURS |
DURATION 4.5–9 months HOURS |
DURATION 12–24 months HOURS |
DURATION 3–12 months HOURS |
| Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available |
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|
|
| Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available |
| Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) |
| Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision |
| Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided |
| Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables |
|
|
|
|
| Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements |
| There are no requirements to maintain your RCC credential |
|
|
|
| WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards |
| Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of RCC credential, and to replace RCC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CBC credential, and to replace CBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CMBC credential, and to replace CMBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Chartered Business Coach (ChBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of ChBC credential, and to replace ChBC credential. |
When you earn any of WABC’s credentials for business coaches—RCC™, CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC®—you will enroll in a WABC Accredited program. All WABC Accredited programs undergo rigorous independent initial assessment, and providers are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet our standards of excellence. This ensures their programs continue to be relevant to the market and meet our exacting global standards for business coach training programs.
WABC is the longest standing worldwide organization that focuses exclusively on business coaching. Other coaching associations bundle life coaching and business coaching together in a rather confused stew.
Business coaching is a unique and distinct offering, requiring specific competencies, ethical considerations and approaches. WABC has not only understood this from the start, but has built a framework of accreditation that recognizes those working in this way accordingly.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Earning WABC’s Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) involved the opportunity to consider my practice in a safe physical and mental space where I could take stock of my life and explore my agenda. This is a crucial aspect of a leadership development program that incorporates self-discovery principles while capturing emerging awareness. The combination of thorough research, theory linked to practice and a reiterative writing process deeply reinforced my bridge-builder identity in various disciplines (coaching, consulting, counseling and psychoanalysis) and my identity as a business coach able to deal with change at both personal and organizational levels. Even more, the ChBC® process offers a virtual work-based learning methodology that is at the forefront of adult learning and now, more than ever before, this is a strength of this credential.
WABC’s ChBC® grants clients that I have the specialized expertise and knowledge required to be at the pinnacle of my profession. The re-certification process every five years also allows coaches to demonstrate they have kept their learning and practice up to date.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
WABC represents the highest quality programs and credentials in the industry. As the coaching profession, business, and life in general continue to grow and change at a rapid pace, the need for ongoing professional standards, ethical practices, and robust learning have never been more important. WABC is the premier service provider in the field and, having earned my Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) credential, I can attest to their rigor and validity. WABC’s ChBC® is recognized as the leading credential for business coaching and has opened doors for me with organizational and individual clients alike. WABC’s re-certification process offers the same rigor as the intensive initial certification, and ensures those who hold the credential continue to meet the highest standards in the field, ensuring practitioners align with current best practice, engage in meaningful initiatives, and deliver expected results. If you are looking for a professional organization and supporting credentials that reflect the highest standards, look no further than WABC.
CMBC® positions you at the leading edge of your field in both expertise and training.
Let’s get started!
Find a listing of our programs below or reach out to us if you’d like some further guidance.
If CMBC® isn’t quite the right fit for you, we’ll have a WABC credential that is.
Whether you are beginning your coaching journey (RCC™), enhancing your professional services (CBC™), mastering coaching specialties (CMBC®) or taking on the most demanding coaching assignments in the market (ChBC®), WABC has a credential to suit your ambition, professional goals and client needs.
CBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly respected global credential, CBC positions you as an advanced business coach with specialized business coaching skills. CBC enables you to support a wider range of business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives.
Enhance your full professional scope and access a broader and deeper range of competencies and knowledge as an advanced business coach.
In this increasingly competitive industry filled with un-credentialed coaches, it’s time to set yourself apart as an advanced business coach.
WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC) is a highly respected global credential that enhances your business coaching skills and gives you the knowledge and competencies to significantly advance your practice.
Regardless of what professional role you have (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant), if you’re doing business coaching, WABC offers different training options via WABC Accredited (Level 2 – CBC)® programs to become a CBC, based on your level of experience.
Once you earn CBC, you will also become part of our global community, where professional business coaches from across the globe come together to enhance their skills, expand their professional networks and influence the business coaching industry more broadly.
CBC tells the market you’ve progressed beyond general coach training to build advanced, specialized business coaching skills that support a wider range of fixed business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives.
The CBC credential is for individuals who have some experience in business coaching and want to advance their skills to the next level of professional development.
Because WABC credentials specifically prepare you for coaching to support businesses or organizations, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your training in real-world situations. Your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing a WABC credential.
As a CBC, you can dive deeper and develop your range of options and applications to coach successfully in a business or organizational environment, aligned with research-informed best practice.
Equipped with at least one business coaching model and a robust theoretical underpinning based in best practice, your advanced skills enable you to deliver against a wider set of business and organizational objectives.
The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs. Not sure if CBC is right for you? See Compare Credentials for further guidance.
WABC Accredited (Level 2 – CBC)® programs and options are available for you to earn CBC. The WABC Accredited program provider will determine your eligibility and suitable program option during an initial screening interview.
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
There are no full length programs available at this time. |
TBA | TBA |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Institute of Organizational Coaching | Global IOC Advanced Business Coach Program | Blended In Person Virtual |
International | English |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Institute of Organizational Coaching | Virtual | International | English |
To earn CBC, you must meet these requirements:
To provide ethically sound and expert guidance, professionals in all areas of practice must keep up to date on the latest research, evidence and opinion on how to effectively serve their clients’ needs.
A clear professional development strategy allows business coaches to stay relevant and innovative in providing the best possible expertise to their clients.
As a professional certification 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 CBC, you must:
Earning your CBC involves the following fees:
*These fees may be included in the training program pricing. Otherwise, you can find the WABC fees in JOIN WABC.
Maintaining your CBC:
Please see “Maintaining Your Credential” below.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables business coaches to pursue the credential that is right for their ambition, professional goals and client needs at any point in their careers.
Our non-linear training approach is purposefully designed to suit the diverse needs of business coaches with flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
If your WABC Accredited (Level 2 – CBC) program was recently accredited by WABC, check with your program instructor on your eligibility for CBC.
You have one year from your graduation date to become a WABC member, as long as you meet the minimum WABC membership requirements for CBC.
If you were already a WABC member while taking a WABC Accredited (Level 2 – CBC) program but allowed your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving your CBC.
Certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental body recognizes an individual who has successfully met predetermined qualifications. As an advanced, evidence-based credential, CBC falls within this type of qualification.
It is the most rigorous level of professional credentialing available for individuals. Professional certification credentials that follow industry best practice require validation, carry re-certification requirements and are subject to revocation. CBC adheres to these best practices.
CBC is a professional certification which means it is a “working or applied” credential. Unlike certificates and degrees which transfer knowledge and skills, professional certifications measure how an individual uses knowledge and skills in real-life situations. By certifying that the holder is able to currently practice at a certain level, certification maintains public trust in the delivery of service.
For a professional certification credential to remain valid, the holder must stay relevant with current practice and theories. That’s why it’s a certification best practice for holders to meet ongoing requirements, such as continuing professional development, to maintain their certified credentials.
In order to maintain your CBC credential, there are two ongoing requirements which both require fees:
As a CBC, you must:
Taking a sabbatical during your career may affect your CBC credential.
Yes, your CBC credential can be revoked under certain circumstances.
CBC may be listed in several ways. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to applicable WABC logos.
After you become a CBC, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your credential on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential. The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs.
| PRACTITIONER RCC™ |
ADVANCED CBC™ |
MASTER CMBC® |
ELITE ChBC® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential |
| RCC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CMBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
ChBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
| Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates |
|
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|
|
| Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) |
| DURATION 1.5–3 months HOURS |
DURATION 4.5–9 months HOURS |
DURATION 12–24 months HOURS |
DURATION 3–12 months HOURS |
| Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available |
|
|
|
|
| Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available |
| Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) |
| Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision |
| Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided |
| Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables |
|
|
|
|
| Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements |
| There are no requirements to maintain your RCC credential |
|
|
|
| WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards |
| Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of RCC credential, and to replace RCC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CBC credential, and to replace CBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CMBC credential, and to replace CMBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Chartered Business Coach (ChBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of ChBC credential, and to replace ChBC credential. |
When you earn any of WABC’s credentials for business coaches—RCC™, CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC®—you will enroll in a WABC Accredited program. All WABC Accredited programs undergo rigorous independent initial assessment, and providers are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet our standards of excellence. This ensures their programs continue to be relevant to the market and meet our exacting global standards for business coach training programs.
WABC is the longest standing worldwide organization that focuses exclusively on business coaching. Other coaching associations bundle life coaching and business coaching together in a rather confused stew.
Business coaching is a unique and distinct offering, requiring specific competencies, ethical considerations and approaches. WABC has not only understood this from the start, but has built a framework of accreditation that recognizes those working in this way accordingly.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Earning WABC’s Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) involved the opportunity to consider my practice in a safe physical and mental space where I could take stock of my life and explore my agenda. This is a crucial aspect of a leadership development program that incorporates self-discovery principles while capturing emerging awareness. The combination of thorough research, theory linked to practice and a reiterative writing process deeply reinforced my bridge-builder identity in various disciplines (coaching, consulting, counseling and psychoanalysis) and my identity as a business coach able to deal with change at both personal and organizational levels. Even more, the ChBC® process offers a virtual work-based learning methodology that is at the forefront of adult learning and now, more than ever before, this is a strength of this credential.
WABC’s ChBC® grants clients that I have the specialized expertise and knowledge required to be at the pinnacle of my profession. The re-certification process every five years also allows coaches to demonstrate they have kept their learning and practice up to date.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
WABC represents the highest quality programs and credentials in the industry. As the coaching profession, business, and life in general continue to grow and change at a rapid pace, the need for ongoing professional standards, ethical practices, and robust learning have never been more important. WABC is the premier service provider in the field and, having earned my Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) credential, I can attest to their rigor and validity. WABC’s ChBC® is recognized as the leading credential for business coaching and has opened doors for me with organizational and individual clients alike. WABC’s re-certification process offers the same rigor as the intensive initial certification, and ensures those who hold the credential continue to meet the highest standards in the field, ensuring practitioners align with current best practice, engage in meaningful initiatives, and deliver expected results. If you are looking for a professional organization and supporting credentials that reflect the highest standards, look no further than WABC.
CBC™ positions you as an advanced business coach with specialized business coaching skills.
Let’s get started!
Find a listing of our programs below or reach out to us if you’d like some further guidance.
If CBC™ isn’t quite the right fit for you, we’ll have a WABC credential that is.
Whether you are beginning your coaching journey (RCC™), enhancing your professional services (CBC™), mastering coaching specialties (CMBC®) or taking on the most demanding coaching assignments in the market (ChBC®), WABC has a credential to suit your ambition, professional goals and client needs.
By leveraging their experience, skills and knowledge, a WABC business coach partners with people to identify gaps and strengths within themselves, their teams and their businesses and organizations to access new insights, unblock their performance challenges and seize new opportunities.
As the business world accelerates in complexity, it is paramount for business leaders and individuals to identify opportunities quickly and shift to meet new performance demands.
Adaptability, agile decision-making, resilience, managing paradoxes and building accountability are just a few of the key issues that people face to succeed in an environment of unprecedented global change.
Setting a strategic course and rising to meet these evolving
needs takes disruptive thinking, a learning mentality and the
sustained commitment to change at every level of an
organization. Yet aligning business priorities and individual
performance presents challenges that flex organizational
muscles in new ways.
As leaders and managers seek interconnected
development strategies to equip individuals with new skills,
business coaching can support the activation of individual
and team performance towards organizational goals.
At its most fundamental, business coaching takes an individual, team or organization from where they are now, to where they want to be.
By leveraging their experience, skills and knowledge, a qualified business coach partners with people to identify gaps and strengths within themselves, their teams and their organizations to access new insights, unblock their performance challenges and seize new opportunities.
Business coaching is a distinct discipline that addresses the needs of both the individual and the organization they work within.
A business coach may go by many names, including executive coach, leadership coach, corporate coach, organizational coach or SME coach, yet each one is focused on achieving desired business goals—those shared by both the individual and their organization, no matter the client. This dual focus separates business coaching as a distinct practice from all other kinds of coaching.
Business coaching can be performed in any type of business, organization, or institution. By nature, business coaching is a disruptive, collaborative and supportive role designed to enable change, drive desired results and increase accountability.
Business coaches are strategic partners who build your business and operational success. Among the broad array of service offerings, business coaches may help:
At WABC, we believe that business is a potent force for solving social problems, and we are committed to building the credibility of business coaching as a global industry.
As the first global organization to create evidence-based standards for business coaches, we expect all WABC credential holders and members to adhere to our standards including the WABC Professional Standards for Business Coaches and WABC Code of Business Coaching Ethics and Integrity.
These standards are not only essential to how we conduct our business, but how business coaching should be performed at the highest professional standard.
Navigate ambiguity and quickly evolving market conditions with the support of a trusted, safe confident and sounding board. Business coaches help leaders find or reclaim their resolve, courage and confidence to face issues head on, challenge the status quo and transform how organizations are run, including future-proofing the business model your company is built on. Clarify your vision, align your organization, and embrace considered change for sustainable success.
Foster enhanced productivity, greater collaboration and improved engagement with your employees and within teams. Better align your objectives with your organization’s strategic priorities, and build transformative action plans to best your measures of success.
Determine your client’s needs more clearly and help them realize the strategies, priorities and initiatives for success. Identify the root cause of leadership and structural issues to better address challenges and facilitate business-model changes and organizational transformation. Activate the perspective and behavioral changes to align your client’s business around common goals.
Foster an aligned corporate culture to better support employees and effectively deliver on business strategy. Attract and retain top-tier talent while you improve employee engagement and satisfaction and create more healthy workplaces. Propel behavioral shifts to guide individuals in achieving personal and professional success.
Strengthen adaptability and boost resiliency in businesses and organizations. Further your clients’ ability to integrate their holistic selves and make choices that align with organizational goals and their professional aspirations. More effectively synthesize client business goals and create actionable plans to achieve them. Communicate the value of mental health within a business environment.
We believe there are three broad categories of coaching in the marketplace today: sports, personal and business.
Business coaching is used as an umbrella term to include all types of business and organizational coaching. Thus, business coaching includes both internal and external coaches who work as business coaches, corporate coaches, executive coaches, leadership coaches, organizational development coaches and many more.
The first research papers on business coaching can be traced to performance improvement for sales teams in the 1930s. Business coaching is a hybrid profession informed by related disciplines including coaching, psychology, organizational development, management science and consulting, human resource management, ethics, applied theology, adult learning and training and development. The interdisciplinary nature of business coaching makes it more challenging to define its body of knowledge.
Business leaders, owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs, directors, managers and high potential talent use business coaching. Anyone who has a business-related personal or professional objective and is ready to take action can be a coachee.
A business coach engages in meaningful communication with individuals in businesses, organizations, institutions or governments, with the goal of promoting success at all levels of the organization by affecting the actions of those individuals.
A life skills coach (also referred to as a personal coach) collaborates with their coachee in a highly interactive working partnership for the purpose of assisting the coachee to clarify what they really want from life. Life coaches are seen as strategic partners to enhance life satisfaction.
Together, the life skills coach and coachee work on setting more effective personal goals and new strategic actions, staying focused and accountable so that the coachee may lead a more successful and satisfying life. The coach and coachee co-design a direction and the coachee commits to taking action to succeed. Accountability in coaching is shared between the coach and the coachee.
A mentor is usually an older and/or more experienced person who provides advice, guidance and support to a younger and/or less experienced person for the purpose of personal, professional, spiritual or life growth. In business settings, those groomed for advancement are often formally or informally mentored by senior executives. Mentors are seen as experts and show protégés “the ropes.”
A consultant provides advice or expert knowledge to a client in a particular field or discipline. It’s predominantly one-way communication, with accountability on the consultant for delivering on the outcome. The client is expected to implement the consultant’s recommendations. Business consultants are seen as experts and advise on business issues.
A counselor or therapist focuses on psychosocial issues and/or psychological disorders with an emphasis on the diagnosis and analysis of the client/patient. The focus is exclusively on the client/patient and there’s a low possibility that the counselor or therapist will request feedback. Counselors or therapists are typically seen as experts and try to heal psychosocial dysfunctionality.
Business coaching offers myriad ways to achieve your peak professional performance and organizational objectives. Take the next step towards sustained success on your terms.
Search the WABC Business Coach Locator to find your qualified coaching partner in accelerating your professional or organizational achievement.
WABC offers four levels of credentials that are designed to meet the diverse needs of practicing business coaches.
Whether you are beginning your coaching journey (RCC™), enhancing your professional services (CBC™), mastering coaching specialties (CMBC®) or taking on the most demanding coaching assignments in the market (ChBC®), WABC has a credential to suit your ambition, professional goals and client needs.
Are you a champion of business coaching within your organization and want to introduce WABC to your employer to see what’s possible?
Whether your organization has a business coaching program or is interested in building one, WABC accredits in-house programs to ensure that your employees are trained to coach using the latest research-informed best practice and global standards.
Many organizations see the value in using business coaching to unlock the potential within their organization, but don’t know where to start.
WABC offers a range of consulting and business services to identify opportunities and improve business coaching within organizations.
RCC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world. As a highly respected global credential, RCC raises your credibility and positions you as a practitioner business coach with specialized business coaching skills. RCC enables you to support a range of business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives.
Establish a strong foundation and understand the skills of effective business coaching and apply your learnings practically as a practitioner business coach.
Exceptional business coaching begins with a confident, practical understanding. Give your skills the grounding in research-informed best practice to strengthen your abilities and effectiveness and successfully help clients, colleagues and organizations achieve their goals.
WABC’s Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) is a highly respected global credential that builds the fundamentals of business coaching and the competencies necessary to lead with results.
Regardless of what professional role you have (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant), if you’re already doing, or want to start doing, business coaching, WABC offers different training options via WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC)® programs to become an RCC, based on whether you have previous coaching experience or not.
Once you earn RCC, you will also become part of our global community, where professional business coaches from across the globe come together to enhance their skills, expand their professional networks and influence the business coaching industry more broadly.
RCC tells the market you’ve progressed beyond general coach training to build specialized business coaching skills that support a range of fixed business-oriented and organizational goals and objectives.
The RCC credential is for individuals who are either beginning their journey as a business coach and may have had little or no previous experience with coaching, or who already have some business coaching experience that they now wish to consolidate fully with best practice.
Because WABC credentials specifically prepare you for coaching to support businesses or organizations, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your training in real-world situations. Your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing a WABC credential.
As an RCC, you have the practical skills to coach successfully in a business or organizational environment, aligned with research-informed best practice.
Equipped with at least one business coaching model and a robust theoretical underpinning based in best practice, you can apply technical skills in common business scenarios while working with clients on skills and competencies.
The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs. Not sure if RCC is right for you? See Compare Credentials for further guidance.
WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC)® programs and options are available for you to earn RCC. The WABC Accredited program provider will determine your eligibility and suitable program option during an initial screening interview.
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2023 | The Business Coaching Academy | Virtual | International | English | |
| May 18, 2023 | Weplusnetwork Ltd | Blended In Person Virtual |
Rome, ITALY | Italian | |
| September 20, 2023 | The Business Coaching Academy | Virtual | International | English | |
| Shift Coaching Inc. | Virtual | International | English | ||
| Progress-U Holding Ltd. | Virtual | International | English | ||
| PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc. | Virtual | International | English |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weplusnetwork Ltd | Virtual | International | Italian | ||
| Shift Coaching Inc. | Virtual | International | English | ||
| Progress-U Holding Ltd. | Virtual | International | English | ||
| PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc. | Virtual | International | English |
| Start Date | Provider | Program | Format | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weplusnetwork Ltd | Virtual | International | Italian |
To earn RCC, you must meet these requirements:
Earning your RCC involves the following fees:
*These fees may be included in the training program pricing. Otherwise, you can find the WABC fees in JOIN WABC.
Maintaining your RCC:
There are currently no fees to maintain your RCC credential.
As an RCC, you can stay engaged with our global community as a WABC member and access exclusive thought leadership and opportunities to build your professional network for an annual fee.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential, which enables business coaches to pursue the credential that is right for their ambition, professional goals and client needs at any point in their careers.
Our non-linear training approach is purposefully designed to suit the diverse needs of business coaches with flexible and responsive learning options and credentials.
If your WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) program was recently accredited by WABC, check with your program instructor on your eligibility for RCC.
You have one year from your graduation date to become a WABC member, as long as you meet the minimum WABC membership requirements for RCC.
If you were already a WABC member while taking a WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) program but allowed your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving your RCC.
RCC may be listed in several ways. Please log in to your dashboard for further guidance and access to applicable WABC logos.
After you become an RCC, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your credential on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
Each WABC credential is intended to be a stand-alone credential. The credential you choose will be based on your previous coaching experience, skill level, ambition, professional development goals and your client needs.
| PRACTITIONER RCC™ |
ADVANCED CBC™ |
MASTER CMBC® |
ELITE ChBC® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential | Level of Credential |
| RCC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
CMBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
ChBC is an evidence-based WABC credential held by professionals around the world.
As a highly |
| Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates | Eligible Candidates |
|
|
|
|
| Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) | Program Duration & Hours (approx.) |
| DURATION 1.5–3 months HOURS |
DURATION 4.5–9 months HOURS |
DURATION 12–24 months HOURS |
DURATION 3–12 months HOURS |
| Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available | Program Options Available |
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| Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available | Program Modes Available |
| Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) | Many modes available depending on program enrolled in (e.g. in-person, virtual, blended) |
| Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision | Program Supervision |
| Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided | Appropriate supervision is provided |
| Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables | Program Completion Deliverables |
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| Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements | Re-certification Requirements |
| There are no requirements to maintain your RCC credential |
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| WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards | WABC Standards |
| Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of RCC credential, and to replace RCC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Business Coach (CBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CBC credential, and to replace CBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Certified Master Business Coach (CMBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of CMBC credential, and to replace CMBC credential. |
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the Chartered Business Coach (ChBC) credential, including the right to change the requirements of ChBC credential, and to replace ChBC credential. |
When you earn any of WABC’s credentials for business coaches—RCC™, CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC®—you will enroll in a WABC Accredited program. All WABC Accredited programs undergo rigorous independent initial assessment, and providers are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet our standards of excellence. This ensures their programs continue to be relevant to the market and meet our exacting global standards for business coach training programs.
WABC is the longest standing worldwide organization that focuses exclusively on business coaching. Other coaching associations bundle life coaching and business coaching together in a rather confused stew.
Business coaching is a unique and distinct offering, requiring specific competencies, ethical considerations and approaches. WABC has not only understood this from the start, but has built a framework of accreditation that recognizes those working in this way accordingly.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Earning WABC’s Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) involved the opportunity to consider my practice in a safe physical and mental space where I could take stock of my life and explore my agenda. This is a crucial aspect of a leadership development program that incorporates self-discovery principles while capturing emerging awareness. The combination of thorough research, theory linked to practice and a reiterative writing process deeply reinforced my bridge-builder identity in various disciplines (coaching, consulting, counseling and psychoanalysis) and my identity as a business coach able to deal with change at both personal and organizational levels. Even more, the ChBC® process offers a virtual work-based learning methodology that is at the forefront of adult learning and now, more than ever before, this is a strength of this credential.
WABC’s ChBC® grants clients that I have the specialized expertise and knowledge required to be at the pinnacle of my profession. The re-certification process every five years also allows coaches to demonstrate they have kept their learning and practice up to date.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
WABC represents the highest quality programs and credentials in the industry. As the coaching profession, business, and life in general continue to grow and change at a rapid pace, the need for ongoing professional standards, ethical practices, and robust learning have never been more important. WABC is the premier service provider in the field and, having earned my Chartered Business Coach® (ChBC®) credential, I can attest to their rigor and validity. WABC’s ChBC® is recognized as the leading credential for business coaching and has opened doors for me with organizational and individual clients alike. WABC’s re-certification process offers the same rigor as the intensive initial certification, and ensures those who hold the credential continue to meet the highest standards in the field, ensuring practitioners align with current best practice, engage in meaningful initiatives, and deliver expected results. If you are looking for a professional organization and supporting credentials that reflect the highest standards, look no further than WABC.
RCC™ raises your credibility and positions you as a practitioner business coach with specialized business coaching skills.
Let’s get started!
Find a listing of our programs below or reach out to us if you’d like some further guidance.
If RCC™ isn’t quite the right fit for you, we’ll have a WABC credential that is.
Whether you are beginning your coaching journey (RCC™), enhancing your professional services (CBC™), mastering coaching specialties (CMBC®) or taking on the most demanding coaching assignments in the market (ChBC®), WABC has a credential to suit your ambition, professional goals and client needs.
