– Service Members Gain Federal Support for a Rapidly Growing Career Path with the Gold Standard in Coaching Credentials –
Lexington, Kentucky — The International Coaching Federation (ICF) announced today a new pathway to a professional coaching credential for service members via the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) program. Through ICF’s addition to the COOL program, service members now have the opportunity to pursue the Associate Certified Coach (ACC), an internationally recognized coaching credential, with the support of federal funding, and to apply the credential to their continued military careers or their transition to civilian life.
“Coaching is an evidence-based, unique profession that people around the world turn to when facing challenges, opportunities for growth, or transition periods,” said Magdalena Nowicka Mook, CEO of ICF. “At ICF, we are proud to provide professional coach credentials that represent the gold standard for the practice. Whether service members apply their coaching skills to their continued military career or in a new career path as a civilian, they are preparing themselves to supercharge leaders, accelerate high performers, unleash people’s potential, and enrich organizational cultures.”
The ability to pursue the ACC through the COOL program not only contributes to the personal and professional growth of service members, but also aligns with a broader trend of organizations investing in coaching cultures. An increasing number of organizations (33%) have a dedicated budget for coaching—an increase of 25% since 2019, according to the 2023 Defining New Coaching Cultures Study from ICF and the Human Capital Institute. The profession grew by 54% from 2019 to 2022, according to the ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study, with over 100,000 practitioners worldwide. This amounted to $4.564 billion in revenue—a 60% increase over the same period. Coach practitioners in North America reported earning an average of $67,800 in annual income.
For these coach practitioners, an ICF credential offers a competitive advantage. The overwhelming majority of coaches surveyed (80%) agreed that their clients expect coaches to be certified/credentialed; 85% of coaches surveyed said they currently held a coaching certification/credential from a coaching organization as of 2022.
The first COOL program for service members was created for the Army in 2002, and its success led to COOL programs with the Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines, in the years following. These programs provide a pathway for service members and DoD civilian staff to apply their professional accomplishments toward voluntary professional certifications, licenses, and apprenticeships, as well as provide resources needed to prepare for, apply for, and attain the credentials. To be approved for the COOL program, credentialing programs must demonstrate that they meet rigorous quality standards accepted standards for certification bodies.
To learn more, visit the visit the DOD COOL Portal.
###
About the International Coaching Federation:
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s largest organization, leading the global advancement of the coaching profession and fostering coaching’s role as an integral part of a thriving society. Founded in 1995, its 50,000-plus members and credential-holders located in more than 160 countries and territories work toward common goals of enhancing awareness of coaching and upholding the integrity of the profession through lifelong learning and upholding the highest ethical standards. Through the work of its six unique family organizations, ICF empowers professional coaches, coaching clients, organizations, communities, and the world through coaching. For more information, visit www.coachingfederation.org.
