What are the eligibility requirements for the IFS Foundations for Coaches™?
To apply for IFS Foundations for Coaches™, applicants must have completed coach training and hold certification from a recognized coaching credentialing organization.
Eligibility Overview
The IFS Foundations for Coaches program is designed for professional coaches who have completed formal coach training and have an established coaching practice.
Because the program is experiential and builds on existing coaching competencies, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to participate.
Required Eligibility Criteria
1. Formal Coach Training by an Accredited Coaching Body
Applicants must have completed formal coach training overseen by an established coaching or credentialing organization with:
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- A professional code of ethics
- A formal complaint or accountability process for clients
Recognized coaching bodies include (but is not limited to):
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- International Coach Federation (ICF)
- Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE)
- Association for Coaching (AC)
- International Association of Coaching (IAC)
- European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)
- National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
- Nederlandse Orde van Beroepscoaches (NOBCO)
- Landelijke Vereniging voor Supervisie en Coaching (LVSC)
- European Coaching Association (ECA)
- Stichting Kwaliteitsregister Bewustzijnsbevorderende Methoden (SKB)
- International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring (IAPC&M)
- Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision (APECS)
- American Association of Professional Coaches (AAPC)
- International Coaching Community (ICC)
- International Association of Professional Life Coaches (IAPLC)
- International NLP Trainers Association (INLPTA)
- European Coaching and Mentoring Research Consortium (ECMRC)
- Asia Pacific Alliance of Coaches (APAC)
- International Gestalt Coaching Program (IGCP)
- International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
If your coaching body is not listed, equivalent accredited organizations or recognized professional coaching partners may be considered, subject to application review.
IFS InstituteSM does not review or pre-approve individual credentials outside the formal application process.
2. Minimum of One Year of Practical Coaching Experience
Applicants must have at least one year of hands-on experience coaching clients and must attest that they meet this requirement.
Applicants must confirm this during the application:
Why These Requirements Exist
The program is structured around peer practice, mentorship, and experiential exercises. These components rely on participants having:
- A foundational coaching skill set
- Professional readiness to integrate IFS-informed techniques
- The ability to maintain coaching boundaries in alignment with ICF standards
The program is not a beginner coach training and does not teach core coaching competencies from the ground up.
Does IFSI Review Individual Eligibility Cases?
IFS Institute does not review or evaluate individual eligibility scenarios outside the application process.
If you believe your training and experience meet the criteria listed above, you are welcome to consider applying when applications open.
All eligibility confirmations are self-attested by the applicant during the application process.
Not a Clinical Training Requirement
This program is designed for coaching contexts, not clinical practice.
It is not equivalent to IFS Level 1 training and does not qualify participants for IFSSM Certification.