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 |
Level 1: Practitioner
Two levels of certification are available, opening the doorway to professional practice at ICF ACC or PCC levels.
Level 2: Advanced Practitioner Program
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.
The remaining 3 hours of individual mentoring required for ICF credentialing are completed independently outside the SLC program, using 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 accreditation are up to the coach to complete, as are all other prerequisites.
The 160-hour Self-System Advanced Practitioner program consists of 10 study modules, including and building on the Practitioner curriculum and deepening your skills at applying the Self-System to Transformational Life Coaching, while introducing highly effective coaching tools derived from disciplines including ecopsychology, psychoenergetics, resilience, NLP, Syntegrity, Vedic concepts, Human Systems, aspects of executive coaching, and others.
Students completing this program earn an Advanced Practitioner Certificatein Self-System Life Coaching. You will complete another 15 hours of peer-coaching, 7 of which will be observed sessions, and you’ll have 10 hours of professional coaching supervision. You will also receive training on defining and building your own coaching business, and more.
For those who intend to move ahead with ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentialing, the Level 2-accredited Advanced Practitioner/PCC Package provides the course hours, formal performance evaluation, certification and group mentoring prerequisites necessary for PCC credentialing. If you elect to do your 3 hours of individual mentoring with SCA, you will also satisfy the performance evaluation/competency review requirements of the ICF. This means when you complete the full Level 2 accredited program you will be eligible to apply for credentials from the ICF using the ACC or PCC Level 2 Applications. These applications do not require your participation in the ICF Performance Evaluation Process, but you will need to pass the ICF coaching knowledge exam and meet the coaching hours requirements.
Coaching hours required for PCC accreditation 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.
Graduates from the 80 hour Practitioner program are professionally qualified as Self-System Life Coach Practitioners. Graduates from the 125 hour Advanced program are qualified as Self-System Life Coach - Advanced Practitioners.
Registration for the Spring 2027 Academic year is now open.
Program Deliverables
SCA’s Transformational Leadership 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 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.