Step 2: Recorded Coaching Sessions for IAC-Certified Coach™ and IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™) certification.

The IAC® offers two levels of certification. The skilled IAC-Certified Coach™ and the IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™). The level at which you demonstrate The Coaching  Masteries ® determines whether you pass, and if so, which level of certification you will be awarded – IAC-Certified Coach™ and the IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™).

Coaches who hold the IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™) designation and the IAC-Certified Coach™ designation are coaching at the most advanced level the coaching profession has to offer. Being awarded the IAC-MC™ designation indicates the coach has a masterful understanding of and ability to apply The Coaching  Masteries ® in a live coaching session

Eligibility: A  IAC-Masteries Practitioner™ is eligible to apply for IAC-Certified Coach™ /  IAC-Master Coach™ ( IAC-MC™) certification.

Guidelines: We encourage you to go through the guidelines before submitting your recorded coaching session.

One of the most important things to remember about submitting your coaching session recordings is that you want to use recordings that showcase your best demonstration of The Coaching  Masteries ®. For IAC-Certified Coach™, the IAC requires you to submit one recording, and for IAC-Master Coach™ submission, the IAC requires you to submit two coaching session recordings, to demonstrate applying The Coaching  Masteries ® with varying situations and personalities.

  • The Coaching  Masteries ® are designed to facilitate positive shifts, increase self awareness, enhance personal insight and generate meaningful progress toward the client’s intended results. Once fully integrated into your coaching, you will naturally use The Coaching  Masteries ® without having to “try” to use them or forcing them in to the conversation. Just be aware that it takes time and practice to learn and understand them to this degree. This has nothing to do with your style of coaching, but rather the integration of the most masterful coaching skills. 
  • The #1 mistake coaches make in Step 2 is submitting recordings without first self-evaluating the recordings to determine if they are certification-worthy and that they showcase your best work. For more guidance, review “Advice for Preparing for Step 2”and “How to Determine if the Recordings Are Good Enough” below.
  • By the time you are ready to submit your recordings for Step 2 you have already demonstrated your intellectual understanding of the 9 Coaching Masteries™ via the online test (Step 1). In Step 2 you get to demonstrate your ability to appropriately and effectively apply each one of the Masteries in live (recorded) coaching sessions.
  • To prepare for Part 2, you will want to practice extensively and review your progress as your ability to use the Masteries becomes easier and more natural. Coaching skill and coaching mastery require many hours of practical experience.
  • You may want to practice with a buddy coach (you can search for an IAC coach through the link in the menu), a coaching triad (where 3 coaches alternate position of coach, client and observer who offers feedback), within the safety of a study group or using a mentor coach and/or attending a coach training program. Not only will it be helpful to receive feedback, providing feedback to others deepens your understanding.
  • Please note that if your recording exceeds 45 minutes, the IAC Examiner will only score the first 45 minutes of the recording. Please practice for Part 2 using the 30 – 45 minute guideline while coaching. Longer sessions are not inappropriate for your coaching business, however for purposes of certification, submit sessions that do not exceed 45 minutes.
  • We also recommend recording multiple coaching sessions, perhaps all your sessions (with the client’s permission, of course). Reviewing your coaching sessions can provide some of the best learning. And, when you get comfortable recording your coaching sessions, you won’t feel like you are “performing” by the time you are recording for Step 2.

Please remember the IAC® Certification is an independent certification, not affiliated with any schools, training programs or mentors. While we do license the content of the Masteries for use in training programs, we are not endorsing any programs.

It is possible all content areas and details of the Masteries may not be covered in your coaching course or school curriculum. IAC® certification goes above and beyond your basic training and curriculum. Your success on Step 2 is not a reflection of your instructor – it is a reflection of your ability to demonstrate the Masteries, so it depends upon you and your preparation. Work with the recommended materials and allow yourself ample time to practice and study. This will vary from person to person, so please read and apply the following suggestions.

  • Get in the habit of recording all of your coaching sessions, so you remove the self-consciousness factor for you and your clients.
  • Make sure that you get your client’s permission to record the call. Begin each recorded session by verbally asking your client for permission to record the coaching session for IAC certification purposes. You will also be required to seek their permission to record and share the session with IAC, by having them sign the Waiver of confidentiality (Click here for Waiver of Confidentiality). This document must be submitted along with each recording.
  • Listen to your recordings, share them with a mentor coach or other coach trained in the use of the 9 IAC Masteries, triad team, study group or buddy coach.
  • Self score using the Masteries note sheet and notes, found in your Member Dashboard / Member Privileges. Check off which of the Masteries were present, whether you applied them appropriately, and whether the client made a shift or had a significant insight as a result of you using the Mastery.
  • Notice if there were missed opportunities to use a specific Mastery. Make note of the Masteries that were missing or used inappropriately or ineffectively. You may want to take a class to get a deeper grasp of the Mastery and its use in various scenarios.
  • Develop some questions that will help you use the Masteries properly in a given situation.
  • Decide which of your clients you work best with and ask them if you can record their coaching sessions for the purposes of the certification process. For exam purposes choose clients who are: healthy, smart, action-oriented individuals who are ready to evolve and follow through with your coaching. For your certification recordings, the ideal client makes progress as a result of your coaching. Extremely stuck or confused clients may keep you from demonstrating most of the Masteries.
  • Design the call effectively: Have a beginning, a middle, and an end, within 30-45 minutes, that results in a shift for the client or some kind of action to be taken before the next call.
  • Review the recordings yourself and possibly with a mentor.
  • Use the note sheet and score each mastery on a scale of 0 to 5. For scoring purposes, score 1 if a Mastery was used incorrectly, score 3 for skillful demonstration of the Mastery, and score 5 for masterful demonstration of the Masteries. The note sheet is available here.
  • Make sure you have used the 9 Masteries appropriately by referring to the section in the Masteries E-Book, “Indicators the Coach Understands the Mastery” and “Common Mistakes Coaches Make” which can be found after each Mastery section.
  • Notice if there were missed opportunities to use a specific Mastery.
  • Verify that your recordings are no longer than 45 minutes.

Please note: Do not try to force the Masteries into your call. It is obvious and ineffective. Let go of your agenda to perform and “pass the test” and just do your natural coaching. When you are ready, the 9 Masteries will all be present quite naturally and you will pass with ease.

Submission Requirements

To become a IAC-Certified Coach™, you have to submit:

  1. One 30-45 minute recorded coaching sessions (in any language)
  2. Written transcript in English. The English transcript must be verbatim and in a Word document (view a sample transcript here and guidelines here.)
    Please ensure that your transcript is in English (and no other Language). The IAC will be unable to score your recording if the Transcript is sent in any language, other than English.
  3. Completed and signed Waiver of Confidentiality Form.

These recordings will be reviewed by IAC Examiners who evaluate the demonstration of The Coaching  Masteries ® and score each Mastery using a scale of 0 to 5.

If your recording scores at IAC-MC™ level then, you have an option of submitting another recording (with written English transcript), to be considered for IAC-MC™ certification.

The  IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™) designation is awarded to members who have demonstrated an understanding of The Coaching  Masteries ® and demonstrated the masterful use of the Masteries in two recorded coaching sessions.
A IAC-Masteries Practitioner™ or IAC-Certified Coach™ can apply for IAC-Master Coach™ (IAC-MC™) certification.
To become a IAC-Master Coach™, you have to submit:

  1. Two, 30-45 minute recorded coaching sessions (in any language) each session with one individual, (working with a different individual for each session)
  2. Written transcript in English for evaluation. The English transcript must be verbatim, and in a Word document (View a sample transcript here and guidelines here).
    Please ensure that your transcript is in English (and no other Language). The IAC will be unable to score your recording if the Transcript is sent in any language, other than English.
  3. Completed and signed Waiver of Confidentiality Form.

These recordings will be reviewed by IAC Examiners who evaluate the demonstration of The Coaching  Masteries ® and score each Mastery using a scale of 0 to 5.
If only one of your recordings scores at MMC level then, you have an option of submitting another recording (with written English transcript), to be considered for IAC-MC™ certification.

Submit your recording

The certication fee to submit the recording for Step 2 is USD $250. You can complete the submission process here.

Evaluation and results

Upon thoroughly reviewing the audio and written materials, each IAC Examiner, independent of one another, logs a numerical score for each Mastery. Examiners also provide a small number of written examples of coaching behaviors and effects. The Examiner then submits both their numerical scores and written examples to the IAC.

The IAC reserves the right that if a recorded coaching session submission sounds edited, scripted, or performed, that we will request another session be submitted, or that a video recording will be required. This policy exists because organic connection, spontaneity and collaborative, authentic discovery are central to The Coaching  Masteries ® and the IAC definition of coaching. It is therefore expected to hear indicators of those authentic discoveries and connections in every session.

The examiner observes for evidence of:

  • The ability of the coach to understand and engage the Masteries (skills) in a consistent manner.
  • The ability of the coach to remain in the role of the coach throughout the coaching session.
  • In order to pass Step 2 and earn the IAC-Certified Coach™ designation,  the total scores need to be between 27 and 35  (out of a possible 45). To earn the IAC-Master Coach™ designation the total scores need to be between 36 and 45. IAC awards the certificate based on the overall score, and not on the score of each Mastery. e.g. a coach may score 2 or 3 on a particular Mastery and 4 or 5 on another, but if the cumulative score is 27 or above then they are awarded the IAC-Certified Coach™ certificate on the basis of the overall score.
  • Applicants will receive a letter that will include the scores for each Mastery and comments.
  • The scores are based on the evidence of demonstration of Masteries  as defined in the  Masteries eBook.
  • The intention of providing comments is to raise awareness of the coach’s performance and ability to demonstrate the Masteries and acknowledge and encourage the coach’s performance. The comments include examples from the recording that indicate the demonstration of theMasteries. Suggestions for improvement may be included in the letter  to provide possible options to consider when practicing further. 
  • The most effective way to learn as a coach from the results you receive, whatever they may be, is to listen to your recording again. Much like professional athletes who review the videos of the games they play, this can help you really appreciate your coaching areas of strength and opportunities for development. Listen for the evidence of the Masteries you scored best in, and which masteries were lower. Consider the questions you asked. Assess your coaching presence, the way you communicated as a coach and the role you play. 

Announcement: the IAC is pleased to announce that the guidelines for IAC-Certified Coach™ will remain one 30-45 minute recorded coaching session, instead of two 30-45 minute recorded coaching session (with written transcript in English) from June 2020 onwards, until further announcement.

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