ABOUT WABC ACCREDITED (LEVEL 1 – RCC)

WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) global mark is a program accreditation distinction that ensures you’re offering the most comprehensive and robust business coach training available in the world.

Level 1 – RCC programs develop professional business 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 business coaching and are for participants who either have had little or no previous business coaching experience, or who already have some business coaching experience that they now wish to consolidate fully with best practice. We identify practice in this context to be the application of technical skills within common business and organizational scenarios to support clients, co-workers and organizations. Accordingly, business coaches at this practitioner-level are expected to provide business coaching to a fixed agenda that is directly related to business and organizational outcomes.

Graduates of these programs are eligible to earn WABC’s Registered Corporate Coach^™ (RCC^™) credential. The credential is granted by WABC.

PURPOSE OF WABC ACCREDITED

WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC):

• Sets global standards for training providers whose programs focus on developing professional business coaches at practitioner-level, and clearly identifies these standards for buyers of business coach training 
• Provides an independent, robust and transparent assessment process that recognizes excellence in training provision
• Promotes high-caliber professional development for the benefit of business coaches 
• Contributes to the definition, development and self-regulation of the business coaching profession

Type of QUALIFICATION

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.

granting institution

The WABC Accredited mark is awarded by WABC, a global accrediting body headquartered in Canada.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE PROGRAMS

You’re an ideal candidate for WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) if your program meets the following profile.

PROGRAM: scope

• Develops professional business coaches at practitioner-level
• Delivered at a professional level of engagement

As such, this level of program accreditation is only available to training programs that offer business coaching as the main focus of their curriculum. This means over 75% of the learning hours within the program must be focused on the practice, theory and/or research of business coaching.

PROGRAM: enrollment types

• External programs that operate an open recruitment policy, welcoming all appropriately experienced participants, or
• Internal programs where participants are drawn only from within a specific organization

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.

PROGRAM: participants

Graduates are eligible to earn their RCC credential, so when you screen your participants you’ll ensure they meet the following standards

• WABC Affiliate Member^™ Standards (minimum level for RCC credential)
• Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) Standards (see eligibility requirements)

PROGRAM: OPTIONS, DURATION & HOURS

Option: Full Length
Duration: 6–12 months*
Hours: 150*

Option: Fast-track
Duration: 4–8 months*
Hours: 75*

*Some variability expected based on participants’ experience-level and program’s approach

PROGRAM: FORMATS

All formats are welcomed and determined by provider (e.g., in-person, virtual, blended)

PROGRAM: SUPERVISION

Appropriate supervision required

PROGRAM: PARTICIPANT ASSESSMENT

• Written assessment
• Performance assessment

PROGRAM: FACULTY

Faculty size and compositions are up to you (just one lead faculty or co-leads or one lead and one support, etc.)

Lead Faculty**:

• Suitable master’s degree preferred,
• Business/organizational experience (minimum 10 years),
• Business coaching experience (minimum 10 years), and
• Training and development experience (minimum 10 years).

Support Faculty (Optional)**:

• Suitable master’s degree preferred,
• Business/organizational experience (minimum 10 years),
• Business coaching experience (minimum 10 years), and
• Training and development experience (minimum 10 years).

**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.

WABC Guiding standards

This level is guided by a suite of standards developed by WABC

• WABC Business Coaching Definition
• WABC Business Coaching Competencies
• WABC Professional Standards for Business Coaches
• WABC Code of Business Coaching Ethics and Integrity 
• Registered Corporate Coach (RCC) Standards
• WABC Affiliate Member^™ Standards
• WABC Full Member^™ Standards

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.

HOW TO EARN WABC ACCREDITED

To earn WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC), you must meet these requirements:

• Complete your program at least once*** so that feedback from successful participants is available, and
• Successfully complete the WABC Program Accreditation Process (receive a WABC Assessment Event Report “Yes” decision from the independent WABC Accredited Award Board).

***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.

HOW TO MAINTAIN WABC ACCREDITED

Being the best means renewing relevance and status in our global marketplace

As a WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) 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.

PROVIDER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. UPHOLDING STANDARDS

• Aligning with all relevant WABC Standards
• Offering the program at least once every year
• Continuing to operate the program at the same standard as accredited
• Providing all WABC annual reports and other reports as required
• Engaging in the re-accreditation process every five years

2. ENSURING PUBLIC NOTIFICATION & DISCLOSURE

• Properly notifying the public about your WABC Accredited status in all your program marketing and educational materials (online and print)

3. MARKETING WITH INTEGRITY

• Ensuring that you maintain clear and responsible marketing of your WABC Accredited program(s)

4. PROMOTING WABC ACTIVELY & ACCURATELY

• WABC and your program, participants and graduates will greatly benefit from your active and accurate promotion of WABC. Your efforts are necessary because it helps build WABC’s brand and profile and raise further awareness in your local market about the value of your WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) mark and the RCC credential.

5. SEEKING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• WABC accreditation is about acknowledging and rewarding excellence in training and development in business coaching. Stay aligned with this philosophy by seeking feedback from successful participants and faculty of the program and addressing the issues and concerns arising from such feedback.

6. MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH WABC

• Your initial accreditation is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting relationship. As the accrediting body we have made our processes transparent, and they are intended to ensure the maintenance of rigorous standards. While exercising our authority, we hold ourselves to high standards of respect and responsiveness and ask the same of all our providers.

when WABC ACCREDITED can be revoked

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 or business 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.

HOW TO LIST WABC ACCREDITED

The WABC Accredited (Level 1 – RCC) 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.