Organizational Coaching

The UBC Certificate in Organizational Coaching training program offers the opportunity to:

• earn a UBC senate-approved Certificate in Organizational Coaching
• complete an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Level 2 Coach Education, including 8 hours of group and team mentor coaching, 10 hours of one-on-one mentor coaching, 24+ logged coaching hours toward an ICF ACC (100 hours) or PCC credential (500 hours) through the Level 2 Path
• complete the Team Coaching education component (60 hours) required to apply for the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching
• earn credit towards pursuing the Royal Roads' Master of Arts in Executive and Organizational Coaching and meeting the entry requirements for the Global Team Coaching Institute GTCI Practitioner program

The program supports you in:

• developing and practising International Coaching Federation core competencies and skills at a beginner Professional Certified Coach practitioner level to support people development at all levels of an organization
• gaining confidence to apply the skills you acquire through experiential and hands-on training that includes a practicum, mentoring and audited coaching sessions
• building your credibility with a recognized credential that has gone through rigorous review by the International Coaching Federation and UBC (which also holds a CoachingWise designation)
• creating a community of coaching peers. Our cohort model, in which you start and end the program with the same group of professionals, allows for meaningful connections and a safe space in which to learn and grow

Coaching competencies can be applied at work, home and in the community. In a workplace context, organizational coaches enable organizations to achieve strategic goals, enhance leadership and create culture change, such as:

• change the quality and impact of organizational conversations and culture while holding individuals, teams and groups accountable
• advance personal and professional development and success
• help people, groups and teams thrive and do their best work within complex systems
• address organizational challenges by embracing the humanity of people and creating high-trust working relationships
• enable leaders to step into new roles by developing their learning and performance pathways
• enrich learning and development programs

Why UBC?

The UBC Certificate in International Coaching program emerged from UBC’s long running and successful internal coaching program for faculty and staff, Coaching @ UBC. The University holds a CoachingWise designation from the Vancouver chapter of the International Coaching Federation.

This program has also received two ICF Prism Awards, in 2005 and 2018, recognizing the University’s high standard of excellence in coaching programs. This is a prestigious honour from the International Coach Federation for businesses and organizations with coaching programs that fulfill rigorous professional standards, address key strategic goals, shape organizational culture and yield discernible and measurable positive impacts.

Since our coaching program launched in 2013, 450+ students have graduated as Certified Organizational Coaches (COC). Our program is designed for working professionals and attracts a variety of students, including emerging leaders, mid-career professionals and those transitioning into other careers or retirement. Some have been supporting peers through informal coaching for a long time. Our students are motivated to:

• help others discover their potential and succeed in their careers
• develop themselves as influential and resilient leaders
• raise their coaching skills to practitioner level through academic and experiential learning
• support cultural change and foster inclusive engagement in organizations
• deepen and expanding their coaching or helping practice by adding to other coaching or counselling credentials

Our students hold different titles and roles, and include specialists, senior leaders, managers and consultants. Some of our students are:

• human resources/talent specialists and managers
• directors and managers of culture and change
• organizational development managers
• account supervisors and executives
• learning, development and training managers
• senior communications partners
• presidents
• consultants and coaches
• project/program managers.

Industries and sectors are well represented in the program, and have included:

• healthcare
• high-tech
• public sector and government
• financial and real estate
• education
• transportation
• film and entertainment
• sole proprietors and consultancies.

The total cost of the program is $11,750. Once accepted into the program a $700 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a place in the program. The deposit will be applied to the total fee. Subsequent tuition payments can be paid in full or in three installments.

All fees are in Canadian dollars, subject to change and to GST (where applicable). For details on forms of payment accepted, please see How to pay.

Please see page 18 of the program handbook for information on our withdrawal, refund and cancellation policies.

The UBC Certificate in Organizational Coaching is an 8-month program with a break between term 1 and term 2. The program takes approximately 160 hours to complete. You progress through the program with a cohort of peers. There are two program start dates per year, in January and September.

There are currently no courses available.

The UBC Certificate in Organizational Coaching is a part-time 100% online program that combines modular online learning, Live Learning Intensives, a practicum and a capstone project.

The curriculum combines strong academic content with practical and experiential learning, grounded in the theory and frameworks of organizational development and psychology. The program includes practice coaching sessions, skill building, reflective exercises and mentoring. Group discussions, mini-lectures, skills practice, case studies, readings, practical written assignments and online discussion are also used to teach, practise and reinforce skills.

In Term 1, the focus is on developing a strong foundation in the theory and practice of core coaching competencies. In Term 2, we build on core competency development from Term 1 and turn our focus toward the practice of coaching with individuals, groups and teams in an organizational context. Check the schedule below for cohort-specific dates.

You progress through the program with a single group of peers (a cohort). This unique format creates an experiential and fertile learning community in which you can cultivate safety, connections, creativity and shared knowledge, build leadership and encourage greater success together. Throughout the program, you work in pairs, threes and in small groups of five to eight students, and are encouraged to work with one another in coach/client partnerships. The maximum number of learners in a cohort is 48.

The program includes:

Live Learning Intensives: Ten days of live online sessions provide you immersive, high-touch, interactive learning hours. In these mandatory sessions, you practise coaching methodologies and frameworks with classmates, and interact with instructors, guest instructors, mentor coaches and alumni.

Modular Online Learning: Contribute, collaborate and complete modules and assignments within our virtual interactive classroom and online learning system, Canvas. Discuss posts, engage in a personal reflective practice and interact with each other under the supervision of an online moderator. Continually iterate and develop your coaching philosophy, competencies and fluencies. Online groups are divided into four groups of approximately 12 students each.

Coaching Practicum: Experience, practise and develop coaching skills by applying what you’ve learned, first with cohort peers and real individual clients, and then with organizational teams. Our team of ICF-credentialed Mentor Coaches guides you and provides feedback throughout your practicum. The program concludes with a one-month team capstone project with learners working in small teams with an organizational team.

Organizational Coaching Capstone Project: Apply coaching skills and International Coaching Federation (ICF) core competencies in an organizational context and receive feedback on techniques and approaches. Refine a personal coaching philosophy, integrate reflective practice, and benefit from group learning and ongoing individual and team coaching.

Final Coaching Competency Panel Evaluation: In this final component of the program, you submit a recorded 30-minute sample coaching session. Evaluated by two Professional Certified Coaches, the purpose of this recording is to demonstrate your coaching competencies at a PCC level. Evaluations use International Coaching Federation competency level markers.

Expected effort

In term 1, expect to set aside a minimum of eight to 12 hours per week for online learning requirements. In term 2, expect to spend 15 to 20 hours per week to meet online and practicum deliverables. Time requirements may vary.

NOTE: Working with Mentor Coaches, individual clients and your Organizational Coaching Project client will often require you to schedule calls during typical workday hours (Pacific Time) in addition to the 10 Live Learning Intensive days and Module Group Discussion Calls.

Technology requirements

To take this program, you need access to:

• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet, using Windows or macOS
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
• a reliable internet connection
• a video camera and microphone

Textbooks and materials

This program requires the purchase of the following textbook:

D. Clutterbuck, J. Gannon, S. Hayes, I. Iordanou, K. Lowe, & D. MacKie (Eds.). The Practitioner's Handbook of Team Coaching. New York: Routledge.

Assessment

You are assessed throughout the certificate program according to UBC grading practices to ensure successful acquisition of required skills, concepts and the ICF Core Competencies.

• Online module contributions are graded complete/incomplete based on assignment guidelines.
• Practicum elements are also graded complete/incomplete, and learners are required to initiate conversations should accommodations be required.
• You are required to evaluate your own progress.
• Learners must successfully complete a final coaching assessment to demonstrate their coaching skill proficiency in order to graduate as a Certified Organizational Coach.

Assessment criteria for each assignment and course is described in course outlines.

Obtaining your certificate

To earn your Certified Organizational Coach designation, you must attend and participate in all three Live Learning Intensives, successfully complete all of the online module assignments and practicum requirements and pass the final coaching evaluation.

After the program

We offer opportunities for our alumni to attend Live Learning Intensive sessions to provide learning support to new students while also providing avenues to advance their own learning and training. We are delighted that some of our past graduates have joined our instructor team, which allows us to deliver content in new and exciting ways.

Our instructors are experienced educators, coaches and industry experts who have on-the-ground experience, and expertise in coaching, leadership, human resources practice, business, organizational development, mindfulness, neuroscience, humanistic psychology, adult education and consulting. All have worked with adult learners in person and online.

Our Mentor Coaches are International Coach Federation (ICF)-accredited coaches, and have strong academic and professional backgrounds. Mentor Coaches work one-on-one and in groups to help learners develop, achieve and demonstrate proficiency in their coaching skills and practice. You have the opportunity to work and learn from multiple mentor coaches throughout the program.

The admission process helps to ensure that your needs, intentions and expectations are adequately matched to the program’s objectives and capabilities. Before applying to this program, carefully read and understand the program handbook.

Admission requirements

The program is open to applicants of all nationalities, regardless of residency or citizenship status in Canada. We recommend applicants who live outside of Canada live in a time zone in which they can ensure they can join live online sessions, coaching calls and group work.

To be considered for the UBC Certificate in Organizational Coaching, we ask that you meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience
• Have at least five years of relevant work experience working with individuals and teams in a range of organizational contexts
• Be motivated to enrol in this program by relevant professional or personal experience or interest
• Have experience with International Coaching Federation coach training and/or being coached as a client of an ICF-credentialed coach
• Complete an informal admissions interview to assess readiness and the academic, interpersonal and communications skills sufficient to allow active participation in this dynamic and experiential program
• Have evidence of an adequate support network and resources in place for you to take on the demands of the program
• Demonstrate alignment between your expectations coming into the program, your post-program goals and the program outcomes and benefits that the program provides

Before you apply

Before applying to this program, we ask you to carefully read and understand the program handbook. The handbook contains detailed information about the program curriculum as well as important policies, terms and conditions that you are required to be aware of.

We also want you to note that students accepted into the program are asked to sign an agreement to demonstrate your commitment and understanding of the program’s terms of engagement, and expectations of students. Details of this agreement, along with information on UBC’s professional code of conduct, can be found in the program handbook.

Admission to this program is competitive and applications exceed the number of spaces available. Before applying to the program, we would be happy to discuss your eligibility, prior experience and the relevance of the program to your goals. Please contact us to set up an appointment.

Application steps

Your online application must include:

1. A letter of intent (maximum 500 words): You should outline your motivations for pursuing the program, your current coaching experience and understanding, what you feel you will gain from the program, what strengths you bring and how the program contributes to your future personal and/or professional goals.
2. Current resume: A detailed resume with as much information about your work and life experiences as possible.
3. Two reference letters: We are looking for your professional references to confirm that you are a suitable candidate for the coaching program, explain why they believe you will succeed and describe how the program will benefit you. We ask that the references indicate how they know you and their contact information.

When you submit your application, you will receive an email within five business days to confirm we’ve received your application and that it’s complete. Within a week following the application deadline, the program team will contact you to schedule an informal admissions interview. This 25-minute interview is an opportunity to discuss your experiences, expectations and potential fit with the program.

If you're accepted into the program, you’re required to pay the non-refundable deposit of $700 within 10 business days to secure a place in the program.