Is CTEDU accredited by the ICF?

Yes. Coach Training EDU is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) at both Level 1 and Level 2. Our programs meet the education requirements for ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials.

What is academic life coaching?

Academic life coaching applies evidence-based coaching techniques to student development. Coaches work with students on goal-setting, executive functioning skills, time management, and personal accountability to drive academic and personal success.

Who is this program designed for?

The Academic Life Coach Training is ideal for higher education faculty, academic advisors, student-services professionals, and university administrators who want to integrate coaching skills into their work with students. It is also well-suited for K-12 educators, school counselors, and teachers across all levels of education.

How long does the training take?

The core 1.0 program runs approximately 6 months with live weekly sessions. Advanced certifications extend the timeline. All programs are designed for working professionals with flexible scheduling.

Do I need prior coaching experience?

No prior coaching experience is required. Our programs are designed for professionals entering coaching from education and other fields, with strong existing relational and mentoring skills.

Can I attend classes online?

Yes. All CTEDU programs are delivered live online, making them accessible from anywhere in the world. Live sessions are interactive and include real coaching practice, not just lectures.

What do most universities do when starting a coaching program?

Most universities begin with the Academic Life Coaching (ALC) program, CTEDU’s flagship group training option. Common first steps include training a small cohort of 3–5 staff members, often from student success, advising, or career services departments.From there, institutions typically expand based on results by training additional staff, broadening to other departments, and eventually establishing coaching as a core part of their student support model.

What are common coach training paths for university staff?

The most common path starts with the Coaching Foundations intro course (8 sessions, 12 CCEs) to introduce core skills, followed by the full CTEDU 1.0 training that leads to ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation.Some institutions begin with single workshops or conference presentations to build awareness, then move into structured training. Others send individual staff to join an existing cohort before committing to a private group training.

Can students access on-demand coaching after training?

Yes. Coach Theory, CTEDU’s digital coaching platform, allows universities to offer structured on-demand coaching. Students can request sessions from pre-approved coaches within your institution’s network, providing accessible coaching support between scheduled appointments.The platform gives trained coaches professional tools to manage sessions while administrators maintain oversight and quality standards.

“Every meeting that I have with students, I always feel renewed. And that's a key thing that I love about academic life coaching, it's not only supporting our students and our clients, but it's also supporting the coach to grow and develop as well in that parallel process.”

Eryn Elder Assistant Director of Academic Coaching, University of Colorado Boulder · Longmont, CO

Education's Future

Academic Life Coach Training & Certification

Becoming a certified academic life coach enables you to fulfill your life's calling while empowering students to realize their full potential. Our academic life coach training program is designed to enhance academic performance and cultivate essential leadership skills, nurturing curiosity and creativity in the learning process.

ICF Accredited Coaching Training Level 1

Since 2009

Years of Excellence

4,400+

Graduates Worldwide

50+

Countries Represented

200+

University Partners

Trusted by leading institutions

Who This Program Is For

Designed for Professionals in Education

Academic life coaching applies evidence-based coaching techniques to student development. This program is ideal for higher education faculty, academic advisors, student-services professionals, university administrators, as well as K-12 educators and school counselors who want to help students set goals, build executive functioning skills, and take ownership of their academic success.

Whether you work in higher education, K-12, or private practice, the Academic Life Coach Training gives you a structured framework for coaching conversations that drive measurable student outcomes.

Academic life coaching in action with a coach and student in conversation

Curriculum

What You Will Learn

A structured curriculum that combines ICF core competencies with academic coaching applications.

ICF Core Competencies

Master the foundational coaching competencies recognized by the International Coaching Federation, applied specifically to academic contexts.

Executive Functioning

Learn to coach students in time management, organization, planning, and self-regulation. These are the skills that drive academic performance.

Student-Centered Coaching

Develop coaching frameworks tailored to student populations, from high school through graduate school.

Goal Setting & Action Plans

Use structured goal-setting and action-planning tools designed for academic and personal development outcomes.

Positive Psychology

Integrate strengths-based approaches and positive psychology principles into your coaching practice.

Practice Building

Learn the fundamentals of building a coaching practice or integrating coaching into your current educational role.

Graduate Outcomes

What Our Academic Coaching Graduates Achieve

ICF credential eligibility (ACC or PCC pathway)
Confidence to coach students across K-12 and higher education
Structured coaching frameworks and tools ready for immediate use
A professional network of academic coaching peers
Business fundamentals for launching a private practice

Coaching Initiative Case Study

University of Colorado Boulder

A UC Boulder study on academic coaching explored its relationship to student performance, retention, and credit completion, demonstrating the measurable impact academic life coaching has on student outcomes.

See Graduate Stories

Career Paths

Academic Life Coach Training
with Your Career in Mind

Hired In-House

Educational administrators and hiring managers recognize the value of an ICF credential. Recent studies indicate that 61% of global institutions plan to increasingly rely on internal academic life coaches in the future.

Bring to Your Team

Recent studies show that academic life coaching programs deliver measurable results: a 5–12% increase in student retention and a 0.4–0.5 GPA increase semester over semester. Integrating coaching into your academic team can dramatically elevate student performance and institutional outcomes.

Independent Practice

CTEDU provides an effective framework and essential start-up tools for aspiring academic life coaches eager to earn their certification and begin empowering students right away.

ICF Credential Pathway

Your Path to ICF Certification

CTEDU's programs are accredited by the ICF at both Level 1 and Level 2. Complete your training with a clear pathway from ACC through PCC.

ACC

Associate Certified Coach

60+ training hours required

Complete the CTEDU 1.0 Academic Life Coach Training program to meet the education requirements for the ACC credential. Our program is accredited by the ICF at both Level 1 and Level 2.

PCC

Professional Certified Coach

125+ training hours required

Continue with the 2.0 Advanced Coach Training to meet PCC education requirements. Requires 500+ coaching hours for the credential application.

MCC

Master Certified Coach

200+ training hours required

Go to the next level with the highest ICF credential. Complete advanced training in wellness coaching, belonging and equity, team coaching, and more. Requires 2,500+ coaching hours and demonstrated mastery of coaching competencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Academic Life Coach Training

Everything you need to know about our academic coaching program.

Most universities begin with the Academic Life Coaching (ALC) program, CTEDU’s flagship group training option. Common first steps include training a small cohort of 3–5 staff members, often from student success, advising, or career services departments.
From there, institutions typically expand based on results by training additional staff, broadening to other departments, and eventually establishing coaching as a core part of their student support model.
The most common path starts with the Coaching Foundations intro course (8 sessions, 12 CCEs) to introduce core skills, followed by the full CTEDU 1.0 training that leads to ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation.
Some institutions begin with single workshops or conference presentations to build awareness, then move into structured training. Others send individual staff to join an existing cohort before committing to a private group training.
Yes. Coach Theory, CTEDU’s digital coaching platform, allows universities to offer structured on-demand coaching. Students can request sessions from pre-approved coaches within your institution’s network, providing accessible coaching support between scheduled appointments.
The platform gives trained coaches professional tools to manage sessions while administrators maintain oversight and quality standards.

Ready to Become an Academic Life Coach?

Schedule a 15-minute call to discuss the Academic Life Coach Training program, or get started with a free sample class to experience CTEDU for yourself.