Overview
SCA offers two ICF-accredited programs under the title The Transformational Process of Self-Leadership: the Level 1 Practitioner program (80 hours) and the Level 2 Advanced Practitioner program (160 hours).
This page explains what each includes, what you graduate with, and how each leads to an ICF credential.
| Level 1: Practitioner | Level 2: Advanced Practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| ICF Accreditation | Level 1 | Level 2 |
| Total coach education | 80 h | 160 h (includes the Level 1 program) |
| Live online sessions | 60 h | 125 h |
| Self-paced study | 20 h | 35 h |
| Study modules | 5 | 10 |
| Peer coaching | 15 h, 5 observed | A further 15 h (30 total), 7 observed |
| Professional coaching supervision | 7 h (Level 1 pathway) | 10 h total |
| Certificate | Self-System Life Coach- Practitioner | Self-System Life Coach- Advanced Practitioner |
| Training prerequisites for | ICF ACC credential | ICF ACC or PCC credential |
| Next cohort | 2 February - 13 May 2027 | To be announced |
Two levels of certification are available, opening the doorway to professional credentialing at ICF ACC or PCC levels.
Level 1: Practitioner
The 80-hour Practitioner program meets the ICF Level 1 standards. It combines at least 60 hours of live, highly interactive online sessions with 20 hours of self-paced study, across five modules that introduce the tools and methods of the Self-System framework, built on the ICF Core Competencies.
You start coaching right away. During the program you complete 15 hours of peer coaching, 5 of them observed with individual feedback, and your coaching competence is certified through a final, formal performance assessment.
You can take the program on its own, or as the ICF Level 1 pathway, which adds 7 hours of group mentor coaching with an MCS-accredited mentor coach and 7 hours of professional coaching supervision. Students completing this program earn certification as Self-System Life Coach - Practitioner.
The remaining 3 hours of individual mentoring required for ICF credentialing are completed independently outside the SLC program, using an SCA MCS-qualified mentor coach or an MCS-qualified mentor coach of your choice. If you choose to do the individual mentoring with Synthesis Coaching Associates, your Practitioner/Level 1 Program will provide you the course hours, formal performance evaluation, certification, and mentoring prerequisites necessary for ICF ACC credentialing through the Level 1 pathway, all in one convenient package. Should you elect to use an external mentor, you will have the training prerequisites needed to apply for your ACC through the ICF's Portfolio Path, and documenting your individual mentoring through the Portfolio path will be your responsibility.
Coaching hours required for ACC credentialing are up to the coach to complete, as are all other prerequisites.
Level 2: Advanced Practitioner Program
The 160-hour Advanced Practitioner program is accredited at ICF Level 2. Its ten modules include and build on the Practitioner curriculum, deepening your skill in applying the Self-System to transformational life coaching. You also learn practical tools drawn from ecopsychology, psychoenergetics, resilience, NLP, Syntegrity, Vedic concepts, human systems and executive coaching.
You complete a further 15 hours of peer coaching, 7 of them observed, and 10 hours of professional coaching supervision. The program also covers how to define and build your own coaching business, and students completing this program earn a certificate as Self-System Life Coach - Advanced Practitioner.
You can take the program on its own, or as the ICF Level 2 track, which adds 7 hours of group mentor coaching with an MCS-accredited mentor coach.
The remaining 3 hours of individual mentoring required for ICF credentialing are completed independently outside the SLC program, using an SCA MCS-qualified mentor coach or an MCS-qualified mentor coach of your choice. If you choose to do the individual mentoring with Synthesis Coaching Associates, your Advanced Practitioner/Level 2 Program will provide you the course hours, formal performance evaluation, certification, and mentoring prerequisites necessary for ICF ACC or PCC credentialing through the Level 2 pathway, all in one convenient package. Should you elect to use an external mentor, you will have the training prerequisites needed to apply for your ACC or PCC through the ICF's Portfolio Path, and documenting your individual mentoring through the Portfolio path will be your responsibility.
Coaching hours required for PCC credentialing are up to the coach to complete, as are all other prerequisites.
Home study is supported by on-demand webinars providing additional insights into key elements of Self-System Life Coaching and other coaching skills within the ICF framework. You can see an example here.
Registration for the Spring 2027 Academic year is now open for
Practitioner / Level 1.
Your pathway to an ICF credential
Which ICF application route you use depends on the Self-System Life Coach (SLC) program you complete and where you do your individual mentor coaching.
| Component | Credential | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | PCC | |||
| ICF Pathway | Level 1 | Portfolio | Level 2 | Portfolio |
| Program | SLC Practitioner Level 1 | SLC Practitioner | SLC Advanced Practitioner Level 2 | SLC Advanced Practitioner |
| 7 hrs Group Mentor Coaching | Included | Student elective | Included | Student elective |
| 3 hrs Individual Mentor Coaching | Student elective(with SCA) | Student elective(with an MCS mentor of your choice) | Student elective(with SCA) | Student elective(with an MCS mentor of your choice) |
| Professional Coaching Supervision | 7 h | — | 10 h | 10 h |
| Final Competency Review | Included | Arranged by you | Included | Arranged by you |
| Additional Requirements | ICF Credentialing Exam and coaching experience hours | |||
The ICF sets the minimum client coaching hours for each credential, and you complete these and the exam independently. We explain each step of your application before you finish the program.
Mentoring & Supervision
The ICF requires 10 hours of mentor coaching for your first credential, at least 3 of them individual. SCA's mentoring program meets the ICF requirements for credential applications and for ACC and PCC renewals.
Professional coaching supervision is part of both the Level 1 and Level 2 programs. It gives you a regular space to reflect on your practice, your ethics and your own development, and we consider it an essential part of becoming a professional coach. If you have chosen the Practitioner-only program, you can also elect to receive supervision as part of your Practitioner training.
Program Deliverables
SCA’s Self-System Life Coach programs are Level 1 and Level 2 Coach Training Programs accredited by the International Coaching Federation. These programs provide you with the training prerequisites you need for the ICF’s new credentialing requirements.
Graduates of the Practitioner Program are certified as Self-System Life Coach Practitioners. Those opting for "ICF Level 1" will have completed group mentoring, and if individual mentoring is done with SCA will satisfy ICF's formal evaluation requirements and are prepared for credentialing as an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the Level 1 Pathway provided the coaching hours and other ICF credentialing prerequisites are met.
Graduates of the Advanced program receive professional certification as Self-System Life Coach-Advanced Practitioners. If you have opted for "Level 2" you will have completed group mentoring, and if individual mentoring is done with SCA will satisfy ICF's formal evaluation requirements and are ready to apply for credentials with the ICF as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) or Professional Certified Coach (PCC) via the Level 1 (ACC) or Level 2 Pathway, provided that the coaching hours and other ICF credentialing prerequisites are met.
You will receive certification for all hours of co-coaching (peer-to-peer) carried out during your course of study. As an ICF Accredited Coaching Education Provider, our certification is applicable to both your ICF credential and, depending on the program, any further coaching education you wish to undertake.
Self-System students and graduates are eligible for discounts in SCA's mentoring program which meets the requirements for credentialing or ICF ACC or PCC credential renewal.