XCOA-946 - ICF Assessors Training

Course Description

In 2011, the ICF began work with teams of coaches serving as subject matter experts to develop, test, and revise our evaluation systems and the training process for assessors. The goal was to create a performance assessment process that was fair to applicants, and provided them with meaningful feedback regarding their use of the ICF Core Competencies in their coaching. A second goal was to create a highly trained team of assessors who could consistently evaluate coaching performance utilizing standards adopted by the ICF. 

A core team of Soren Holm, Margaret Krigbaum, Hope Langner and Pat Mathews was appointed and charged with the task of developing this new performance assessment process. George Rogers, Assistant Executive Director of ICF, was the ICF staff representative on the team. Over the past three years, the team developed and tested a set of behavioral markers to be used in the PCC performance assessment process. These are the indicators that an assessor is trained to listen for to determine which ICF Core Competencies are in evidence in the recorded coaching sessions submitted by credential applicants. The markers are a way to hear the Core Competencies in action during a coaching conversation. 

The implementation of these revised markers will have two major benefits. First, they will provide for the consistent assessments of applicants for ICF Credentials. In addition, they will empower ICF assessors with the necessary language to provide concrete, specific and useful feedback regarding a candidate's performance. 

The ICF implemented a training plan for ICF assessors, with a goal of training all individuals conducting PCC assessments to ensure enhanced consistency in scoring and the ability to deliver useful feedback to applicants. Multiple trainings are planned to ensure that the ICF has adequate resources needed to conduct assessments in a variety of languages in a professional and timely manner. 

This new assessment system aligns with the ICF's intention to develop and implement a performance evaluation process that is fair, consistent, valid, reliable, repeatable and defensible. This will support the ICF's stated strategic goal of constructing a global-standards system in service of creating an attractive, credible presence and voice for professional coaching.

Course Objectives

1. Provide assessor training to all faculty and assessors involved in assessing our students so that we can retain our ACTP status with ICF.

2. Evaluate the accuracy of assessment by the trainees and develop follow up materials, etc, to assure continued competence in assessment.