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How does a consumer determine the Competence, Credibility, and Professionalism in their validation
of the Coaches, Mentors, and Organisations in the industry?

Consumers

As defined by the internationally recognised definitions for the Coaching and Mentoring Industry, credibility on the IRCM's Directories is demonstrated by the coaches and/or mentors, education bodies, training organisations, Professional Bodies, and non-industry related commercial organisations working within the Coaching and/or Mentoring industry REGISTERing with the IRCM.
Although further detail is provided below, this simply means they have:

  • agreed to abide by the IRCM’s Codes of Conduct, and
  • recognise the industry Ombudsman Service.

Accreditation/Credentialing provides an additional level of credibility and demonstrates competence.

I N D U S T R Y     O R G A N I S A T I O N S

NON-INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS

Coaches
and/or
Mentors

Education
and
Training

Professional
Coaching and/or Mentoring
Bodies

Employers
Agencies
Consultancies

Coaches and Mentors often have to ‘unlearn’ old skills from their previous professions before they can competently learn the skills required to be an effective Coach or Mentor.

Therefore, it is important to know whether the Coach and/or Mentor you have selected is competent, credible, and professional.

You can determine if the Coach or Mentor is credible through their REGISTRATION on the IRCM’s Coaches and/or Mentors Directory.

It is important that the REGISTRATION is current and that the Coach or Mentor is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Coaches and/or Mentors Directory.

You can determine if the Coach or Mentor is competent through their independent verification (accreditation/credential) by one or more Professional Bodies that are REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM.

The independent verification through a Professional Body that is REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM includes validation of their qualification and provides you with a more detailed awareness of their experience.

It is important that the ACCREDITATION/CREDENTIAL is current and that the Coach or Mentor is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Coaches and/or Mentors Directory or the Professional Bodies Directory.

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While the IRCM RECOGNISEs a number of Professional Bodies, these are Professional Bodies that have not agreed to adhere to the industry Codes of Conduct or recognise the Ombudsman Service; therefore the IRCM cannot validate the quality of accreditation/credential.

You can determine if the Coach or Mentor is qualified.

While the IRCM recognises that there are a number of Coaches or Mentors that have not been formally trained, it is preferable that the Coach or Mentor you select has been accredited/credentialed by one or more Professional Bodies that are REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM, and/or has qualified through training that has been delivered by an:

  • IRCM REGISTERED Formal Education Body or
  • IRCM REGISTERED Commercial Training Organisation
    preferably one that is accredited/credentialed by a Professional Body that is REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM.

Each Coach and/or Mentor REGISTERED with the IRCM demonstrates their commitment to growing consumer confidence by:

  • agreeing to adhere to the Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct,
  • recognising the Coaching and Mentoring Ombudsman Service, and
  • actively participating in defining the future of the industry through their involvement in the Industry Direction surveys, etc.

If the coach and/or mentor has selected not to REGISTER with the IRCM, has not agreed to abide by the Coaching and Mentoring industry recognised Codes of Conduct, and has not agreed to recognise the industry Ombudsman Service, your experience may result in inadequate or ineffective coaching or mentoring.

The same due diligence applies to Formal Education Bodies (Universities, Colleges, and Schools) and Commercial Training Organisations as it does to Coaches and/or Mentors.

Does the Formal Education Body or Commercial Training Organisation course/workshop include an element that helps their students ‘unlearn’ old skills?

Are the Coaching and Mentoring industry recognised Standards and Ethics included in the training material?

Are the minimum level of industry recognised Core Competencies included in the training material?

What is included and what is not included in the training material?

If this is a short course or workshop, what specifically is included and what specifically is not included in the training material?

You can determine if the Formal Education Body/Commercial Training Organisation is credible through their REGISTRATION on the IRCM’s Education and Training Directory.

It is important that the REGISTRATION is current and that the Formal Education Body/Commercial Training Organisation is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Education and Training Directory.

Every Formal Education Body is deemed to be competent through their verification by their country's Government Education Department.

What this does not provide is a verification of the content of the course/workshop, and therefore the validation comes from the Formal Education Bodies REGISTRATION with the IRCM.

It is important that Formal Education Body is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Education and Training Directory.

You can determine if the Commercial Training Organisation is competent through their independent verification (accreditation/credential) by one or more Professional Bodies that are REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM.

The independent verification through a Professional Body that is REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM includes validation of their material and faculty; and provides you with a more detailed awareness of the course/workshop creators knowledge and experience.

It is important that the ACCREDITATION/CREDENTIAL is current and that the Commercial Training Organisation is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Education and Training Directory or the Professional Bodies Directory.

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While the IRCM RECOGNISEs a number of Professional Bodies, these are Professional Bodies that have not agreed to adhere to the industry Codes of Conduct or recognise the Ombudsman Service; therefore the IRCM cannot validate the quality of accreditation/credential.

Each Formal Education Body/Commercial Training Organisation REGISTERED with the IRCM demonstrates their commitment to growing consumer confidence by:

  • agreeing to adhere to the Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct,
  • where applicable and appropriate, including the Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct in their material, and not just referring to them,
  • recognising the Coaching and Mentoring Ombudsman Service, and
  • actively participating in defining the future of the industry through their involvement in the Industry Direction surveys, etc.

If the Formal Education Body/Commercial Training Organisation has selected not to REGISTER with the IRCM, has not agreed to abide by the Coaching and Mentoring industry recognised Codes of Conduct, and has not agreed to recognise the industry Ombudsman Service, your experience may result in inadequate or ineffective training and an invalid qualification.

If the Formal Education Body/Commercial Training Organisation issues a qualification at the end of the workshop, short course, or full-length course; how is this qualification validated?

If you are looking to learn coaching or mentoring skills in order to include these skills in your current job what specific skill(s), tool(s), or technique(s) do you learn from each course and/or workshop?

Selecting the right course or workshop is not the simplest decision to make through the myriad of courses and workshops advertised across social media, magazines, TV, and newspapers. 

If you are looking to learn more about coaching or mentoring skills to become a qualified Coach and/or a Mentor, what specific skill(s), tool(s), or technique(s) do you learn from each full-course and/or short course and/or workshop?

To enhance your coaching or mentoring skills to gain more knowledge as a Coach and/or a Mentor, what specific skill(s), tool(s) or technique(s) do you learn from each full course and/or short course and/or workshop?

The same due diligence applies to Professional Bodies as it does to all industry related Organisations: Coaches, Mentors, Education/Training, and non-industry related Commercial Organisations, working within the Coaching and/or Mentoring industry).

You can determine if the Professional Body is credible through its REGISTRATION on the IRCM’s Professional Body Directory.

It is important that the REGISTRATION is current and that the Professional Body is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Professional Body Directory.

You can determine if the Professional Body is competent through its independent verification (accreditation) by the IRCM.

The independent verification through the IRCM includes validation of their accreditation/credential process and provides you with a more detailed awareness of their ability to accredit/credential its members (Coaches, Mentors, Commercial Training Organisations).

It is important that the ACCREDITATION is current and that the Professional Body is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Professional Bodies Directory.

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While the IRCM RECOGNISEs a number of Professional Bodies, these are Professional Bodies that have not agreed to adhere to the industry Codes of Conduct or recognise the Ombudsman Service; therefore the IRCM cannot validate the quality of accreditation/credential.

Each Professional Body REGISTERED/ACCREDITED with the IRCM demonstrates their commitment to growing consumer confidence by:

  • agreeing to adhere to the Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct,
  • recognising the Coaching and Mentoring Ombudsman Service, and
  • actively participating in defining the future of the industry through their involvement in the Industry Direction discussions, surveys, etc.

If the Professional Body has selected not to REGISTER with the IRCM, has not agreed to abide by the Coaching and Mentoring industry recognised Codes of Conduct, and has not agreed to recognise the industry Ombudsman Service, your experience may result in inadequate or ineffective support.

How does the Professional Body support you as a coach, a mentor, or a commercial training organisation?

Do they provide regular Continuing Professional Development?

Do they provide regular business support?

Do they provide you/your organisation with validation through accreditation/credential? or are they only a Membership organisation?

How does the Professional Body transparently and openly participate in the industry?

Each Professional Body gains its credibility through IRCM Registration and its competence through IRCM Accreditation.

The same due diligence applies to all non-industry related Commercial Organisations as it does all industry related Organisations: Coaches, Mentors, Education/Training, and non-industry related Commercial Organisations, working within the Coaching and/or Mentoring industry).

Non-industry related Commercial Organisations may be owned and run by individuals who are within the industry, but often they are owned and run by individuals who are not working within or have not studied the coaching and/or mentoring industry.  These are organisations who may select to employ (directly or indirectly) Coaches and/or Mentors, or act as agencies finding Coaches and/or Mentors employment, or act as consultancies that employ (directly or indirectly) Coaches and/or Mentors for their own clients or customers.  

Where the non-industry related Commercial Organisation is not owned and/or run by individuals who are within the industry, the IRCM recognises that these organisations will abide by their own industry related competence and validation, in addition to abiding by the related Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct, competence, validation, and Ombudsman.

As defined in the coaching and mentoring industry definitions, non-industry related Commercial Organisations may employ, support, publish, market Coaches, Mentors, education/training, and professional services, and/or any other type of support required by the coaching and mentoring industry.

  • a Coach and/or Mentor who is employed by or marketed by a non-industry related organisation e.g. an employment agency.
  • Coaches and/or Mentors to support the on-going growth and development of your staff e.g. through a consultancy.
  • support as a Coach and/or Mentor which is not provided through a Professional Body e.g. a support group.
  • a method to promote yourself as a Coach and/or Mentor e.g. through a membership marketing website.
  • a way in which to enhance your visibility e.g. through writing for an industry-related magazine.

the IRCM recommends that the non-industry related Commercial Organisation gains its credibility through IRCM Registration and its validity through IRCM Accreditation.

You can determine if the Commercial Organisation is credible through their REGISTRATION on the IRCM’s Commercial Organisations Directory.

It is important that the REGISTRATION is current and is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Commercial Organisations Directory.

You can determine if the Commercial Organisation is competent through their independent verification (accreditation/credential) by the IRCM.

It is important that the ACCREDITATION/CREDENTIAL is current and that the Commercial Organisation is open to any questions you may have about the details they have published on the IRCM's Commercial Organisations Directory.

Each Commercial Organisation REGISTERED with or ACCREDITED by the IRCM demonstrates its commitment to growing consumer confidence by:

  • agreeing to adhere to their own industry Codes of Conduct,
  • agreeing to adhere to the Coaching and Mentoring industry Codes of Conduct,
  • recognising their own industry Ombudsman or Ombudsman Service,
  • recognising the Coaching and Mentoring Ombudsman Service, and
  • actively participating in defining the future of the Coaching and/or Mentoring industry through their involvement in the Industry Direction surveys, etc.

If the Commercial Organisation has selected not to REGISTER with the IRCM, has not agreed to abide by the Coaching and Mentoring industry recognised Codes of Conduct, and has not agreed to recognise the industry Ombudsman Service, your experience may result in inadequate or ineffective coaching or mentoring or representation.

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Currently, all information provided by and correspondence with the IRCM is in English.