Build Leaders Who Coach - and a Culture That Thrives

Build Leaders Who Coach - and a Culture That Thrives

The Association for Coaching (AC) is a leading independent, not-for-profit professional membership body advancing coaching in business and society worldwide. We help organizations adopt a coaching approach to leadership and build thriving coaching cultures.

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Why Coaching in the Workplace?

The right coaching mindset transforms teams, performance and culture - from the inside out. Organizations that embrace coaching see measurable improvements in engagement, leadership capability and business outcomes. See what's possible when coaching becomes part of your culture.

Impact of a Coaching Culture

Organizations that embed coaching see measurable improvements in:

Leadership Capability:

Growth mindset. Empowered decision-making. Leaders at every level.

Engagement & Retention:

Psychological safety. Higher engagement. People stay and thrive.

Talent Development:

Build leaders from within. Stronger pipelines. Reduced external hiring.

Return on Investment:

Measurable impact. Performance gains. Future-ready organizations.

How We Help You

The Association for Coaching provides the framework, standards and global recognition to embed coaching excellence across your organization - from leadership development to independent accreditation that proves real capability.

Join a global professional network and access our community platform

Find opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD)

Boost credibility with use of the AC logo to signal your professionalism

Access live and on-demand webinars, podcasts and tailored events

Why Get Accredited With The AC?

Accreditation through the Association for Coaching goes beyond attendance. It is designed to ensure learning is actively embedded in the workplace. To evidence application, participants must demonstrate how they have used their learning in real, live contexts and the impact this has had on teams and organizations. This rigorous approach helps bridge the gap between training and meaningful organizational transformation.

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Develop Your Leaders into Coaches

Large-scale change needs more than good intentions - it needs structure, support and recognized standards. With AC Corporate Membership, your organization can:

Embed globally recognized coaching standards and evidence-based frameworks at every leadership level.

Equip leaders with practical tools and ongoing professional development to apply coaching in their everyday roles.

Access a network of accredited training providers and curated learning resources for continuous growth.

Support leaders on pathways to international accreditation, building both internal credibility and external recognition.

Demonstrate commitment to ethical, professional coaching through alignment with the AC Global Code of Ethics.

Your Options at a Glance

Corporate Membership

Who it’s for: Organizations, HR and L&D teams building a coaching culture.

What it does: Access global standards, exclusive resources, CPD and a worldwide professional network.

Leader Coach Membership & Accreditation

Who it’s for: Executives, managers and emerging leaders applying coaching in their role.

What it does: Join a global community, access development resources and pursue a credible pathway to Leader Coach accreditation.

Team Coach Accreditation

Who it’s for: Internal and external team coaches elevating collective team performance.

What it does: Gain a rigorous, internationally recognized quality mark for team coaching capability.

Course Accreditation

Who it’s for: Training providers delivering leadership or coaching programs.

What it does: Achieve AC recognition for your course, meeting global quality, standards and ethical benchmarks.

Join the Global Professional Body for Coaching

Our team will guide you through corporate membership options, accreditation pathways and how to get started.

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Raising Standards Through AC Accreditation

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Taking our team coaching programme through the accreditation process was a challenge as it made me stop and really think about what we should deliver and how we would deliver it. We see the accreditation as a blueprint - an acknowledged, recognized and rigorous base from which to explore and promote best practice in team coaching as a social learning process that helps to interpret the world in which we live. Our programme continues to evolve in response to real-time needs of our clients and those whom they serve.

Chris Jackson, Programme Lead, Belbin

"

In our experience, the AC Team Coach Training Accreditation has helped us deepen the quality of the learning journey offered through the Aston Postgraduate Certificate in Team Coaching. We’ve seen how reassuring it is for learners to know their development is aligned with recognised professional standards while still being practical and grounded in real team coaching work. It supports their confidence as they move from learning into practice, knowing their approach has both credibility and integrity.

Uwe Napiersky & Elinor Vettraino (Course Tutors) Aston University

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Enabling leadership: Developing a leader coach mindset

Fill in our form and get complimentary access to a 65-page AC publication containing interviews with global thought-leaders. In it we consider the subject from the perspectives of a leader - what they can do to develop as a leader coach; an organization - how to create a coaching culture within an organization; and a coach – how to improve their own performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Corporate Membership and Accreditation?

Corporate Membership gives your organization access to a global coaching community, standards, resources and development opportunities to embed a coaching culture. Accreditation is an external quality mark that validates real-world coaching capability against rigorous, internationally recognized standards.

What size organization is Corporate Membership designed for?

Corporate Membership is flexible and scalable. We offer 10 membership bands accommodating organizations from 10 to 800+ members. Whether you're a growing SME, government body, local authority or multinational enterprise, we have packages that fit your needs and budget. Non-profit organizations receive 10% off all fees.

What's included in Corporate Membership?

Access to global standards and frameworks, member-only resources and events, CPD opportunities (including 9 hours of digital learning to share), AC published books, networking through ACconnect™, regional hubs and preferential rates with AC partners - plus pathways to accreditation.

How long does Leader Coach Accreditation take?

The Leader Coach Accreditation pathway typically takes 3–6 months for experienced leaders, or 6–12 months if pursued alongside ongoing development and practice.

What evidence is required for Leader Coach Accreditation?

Candidates submit a practical portfolio demonstrating real-world coaching capability, including verified coaching examples, reflective practice and evidence of ongoing professional development - not just course completion certificates.

Can we align AC Leader Coach Competencies to our internal leadership framework?

Yes. Many organizations successfully map their internal frameworks to AC competencies to ensure global alignment and recognized standards.

How does Corporate Membership help measure ROI?

While AC does not provide a direct ROI calculator, Corporate Membership equips you with the structure, accreditation benchmarks and trackable professional development necessary to demonstrate and measure cultural and performance impact across your organization.

Can we customize our membership package?

Yes. You can select any combination of Leader Coach, Member, and Associate Member levels within your chosen band and adjust member categories at any point during your membership year. You can also start with a pilot group and scale up. Many organizations begin with leadership teams or L&D champions, then expand as they see results.

How quickly can we get started?

Once you've selected your membership package, your organization can be onboarded within 2-4 weeks. Our corporate team will guide you through setup, orientation and help you create an implementation plan tailored to your goals.

Advancing coaching in business and society, worldwide

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Our corporate team will walk you through membership options, accreditation pathways and answer any questions. No pressure - just expert guidance.

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Association for Coaching (AC) is an inclusive, global professional body dedicated to championing coaching excellence in business, and beyond

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