Wordpress ICF Accredited Level 1 Coach Diploma

Our ICF Accredited Level 1 coaching Diploma is unique in the UK in that it is a triple accredited program holding simultaneous credentials from the world's three leading governing bodies ( ICF, EMCC and AC) This means you get the benefits of all 3 certifications in the one diploma as you do not have to choose just the one accredited pathway - making it also more cost effective and providing greater value than coaching programs offering 1 certification. Each body has independently audited our curriculum, our trainer credentials, assessment rigour, and ethics alignment. Passing all three means our program meets the strictest standards across the board, not just one body's bar.

1) The International Coaching Federation ( ICF) is world's largest organisation for professionally trained coaches and is best known for setting industry standards. It accredits coach training programs and issues the most widely recognized coaching credentials which for the Level 1 certification is the ACC (Associate Certified Coach)

2) European Mentoring and Coaching Council ( EMCC ) founded in 1992 covers mentoring and supervision as core disciplines, not just coaching, and its competence framework leans more developmental. Despite the name, now operating globally.

3. Associate of Coaching UK (AC ) professional body for coaches, founded in 2002 and headquartered in the UK. It accredits coach training programs and offers individual accreditation at four levels:.Distinctive features include client feedback as part of accreditation, professional indemnity insurance requirements, and a strong ethics focus

Background

Our lead trainer is Ruth Kudzi, Founder and Master Certified Coach ( the highest ICF credential) and one of the UK's leading coaches. The 3 other coach trainers alongside her are all ICF Professionally Certified Coaches In having the Ruth as one of the core trainer you're guaranteed depth and experience in a small group environment with high levels of personalisation.

We teach Psychology-informed coaching which means you're able to go deeper with your clients and work with their brains and nervous systems to create lasting change. We have a whole person holistic approach to coaching which means you'll leave the diploma with a range of approaches and tools which allow you to be flexible with your clients.

We have developed the curriculum alongside a practical focus on application with coaching practice in nearly every session, lots of developmental feedback and at least 50 hours of coaching practice required outside the course. With this depth of experience you will be a confident and competent coach on graduation.

PLUS we have a strong community focus: we believe in supporting every coach as an individual and provide an inclusive supportive environment both during and after the course with ongoing access.

AND our experienced trainers are practicing coaches with a minimum of 500 coaching hours, they bring their own case studies, examples and perspectives to bring the training to life and answer your questions. Alongside the trainers we have a bank of example sessions across different sectors and using different tools so you can see real life examples to support your own development and practice.

You will get exceptional support with a team responsive to your individual needs and feedback : our role is to ensure you become a confident and competent coach. With over 97% completion rates we know we deliver and are committed to supporting you in a flexible way if you need additional help and support. When you commit to us we commit to you.

Taught over 4 months
Small groups with a maximum of 14 people
73 hours of in-depth coach training
45 Hours LIVE Training
25 Coaching hours
Start dates in January, March, May, September or November
Flexible Study: choose from daytime sessions or evening sessions
Learn anywhere: all delivered virtually via Zoom (with all sessions recorded)
Student workbooks & materials, to support your learning

PLUS:

10 hours of mentoring, focused on YOUR development as a coach
The chance to coach & be coached in most sessions, with feedback throughout
Pro-bono coaching opportunities, to practice your skills & grow your confidence
Full training & support to start or grow your own coaching business
An incredible community to build your network, with small cohorts to forge strong relationships
And continued alumni support, after you graduate!

Associate Coach Diploma Module Breakdown

Our curriculum is grounded in Psychology & Neuroscience giving you practical tools and approaches you can use with clients as well as helping you design your own coaching approach congruent with the ICF competencies. This well-rounded approach ensures you stand out as a coach.

Module 1 - Introduction to Coaching and ethical practice

We support you to contract as a group and identify how to get the most out of the program. We also frame the course learning and give insight into the ICF core competencies and code of ethics. This is where you get more practical with a focus on more of the “what” of coaching exploring transactional models as well as building on your knowledge of the core competencies.

Module 2 - GROW Model

We explore the GROW model as a framework for coaching. How to use G to set great Goals, moving onto how to explore Reality effectively with Clients. Then we move onto understanding the importance of exploring Options and then how to support Client growth through ways forward.

Module 3 - Coaching for Emotions

This module focuses on the “who” of the client by exploring emotions and deeper work. Exploring ways to work with client’s emotions Supporting clients to identify emotions and change emotional state.

Module 4 - Coaching Psychology including Strengths, Values and Identity

This module focuses on exploring your needs, your Client's needs and their identity on a deeper level. We also discuss having an appreciation of the clients context and it’s impact on the coaching relationship. We discuss the merits of a strengths-based approach to coaching and what it mean.

Module 5 - Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology

This module explores research in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology applying in to coaching topics linking in with current coaching research and supporting improved decision making. Some of the topics we explore are supporting gratitude practice and positive affect, ways to build resilience in clients, models for wellbeing and strengthening the coaching mindset and coaching presence using positive psychology tools.

Module 6 - Neuroscience - The power of our thoughts and Neuroplasticity

This module brings together all of the learning from previous sessions and explores habit formation and behavioural change, understanding how to work more effectively with clients brains and helping clients to reduce stress and make better decisions.

Module 7 - Your Coaching Approach

This is where we bring together all of your learning whilst reviewing the holistic coaching framework and understand how to use it, reflecting on your learning and next steps and building your confidence on the path to certification and accreditation.

[ As someone relatively new to coaching, you may be asking yourself do I have what it takes to become a coach? Am I the right person to coach others? Self doubt / imposter syndrome can creep in but confidence in coaching doesn't come before training. It comes through it.] Our trademarked SELFLESS™ model provides a clear and flexible framework giving you confidence on the ingredients of successful coaching sessions by understanding how to be a coach as well as how to "do" coaching.

This is coupled with our focus on practical skills using scenario based learning, case studies and example sessions alongside coaching practice and developmental strengths based feedback to build your confidence in your ability as a certified coach.

[ As a newly accredited coach, With relatively little coaching experience, you may be asking yourself how will I stand out against other coaches, especially those with more experience. Imposter syndrome may play a part with some people. The good news is that less than 10% of all coaches are ICF Accredited] Even better news is the fact both our Associate and our Professional Diplomas are actually accredited by 3 leading coaching global organisations. Firstly, the International Coaching Federation ( ICF), the leading global organisation for coaches and coaching, and also the European Mentoring and Coaching Council ( EMCC) and finally the Association of Coaching (AC).]

These accreditations give you credibility which is boosted further by our evidence based curriculum which is aligned with current coaching research. By integrating Psychology & Neuroscience into the curriculum you can talk with credibility about how coaching works and have materials to deliver workshops and training alongside coaching.

[ As a newly qualified coach, you will learn extensive frameworks and tools to enable you get meaningful results for a wide range of clients. You'll have flexibility in your approaches by learning a variety of techniques including: Goal setting frameworks, Core values exercises, Coaching for emotions, Emotional intelligence development, Somatic awareness practices, Visioning and visualisations, Mindfulness and meditation, Strengths based coaching, Wellness and self care planning, Positive psychology interventions, Decision making matrixes alongside models and frameworks based in Neuroscience & Coaching Psychology. By going beyond standard transactional forms of coaching we equip you with more holistic methods that give you more chance of real success. ] Our trademarked Optimus Holistic Coaching Framework™ focuses on coaching the whole person giving you flexibility to tailor your approach to suit the client in front of you. This means you can go beyond surface-level issues to uncover underlying beliefs, emotions, and behaviours. This enables clients to gain powerful insights and build new neural pathways rewiring the way they think, feel and act. By working with your Clients in this way, you help them to get consistent results with higher levels of satisfaction.

Plus your tailored mentoring and post course supervision, case studies and practice coaching mean you'll have plenty of experience and resources to support your clients.

For more information on our holistic coaching framework and each of the 6 key pillars we cover, scroll down the page further for more details.

Whats it like?

You'll learn more about the curriculum, structure and how we deliver the program so you can be confident it works for you.
How we're different

You'll learn how we integrate our trademarked SELFLESS model and holistic coaching framework into our training to support you to become a confident and competent coach.
Who we are

You'll hear from our recent students, more about our team and hear from our Founder, Ruth Kudzi so that you can get a good idea of who we are and what we stand for.

Enrolment Dates

The next start date for the Associate Coach Diploma is week commencing 21st September 2026, completing w/c 25th January 2027.

You can choose either Monday 6pm - 10pm, or Tuesday 10-1pm

Times are UK

No Sessions in w/c:

26th October
21st, 28th December
4th Jabuary

Our group sizes are deliberately small for each cohort to maintain a good trainer / student ratio and so once available spaces are filled, availability moves to the next in take. If you want to discuss any questions you can book a call or email hello@optimuscoachacademy.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recommended training programs for ACC level coach certification?

To obtain an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coach Federation (ICF)—the leading global organization for coaching standards—you need to complete at least 60 hours of coach-specific education ).

The most seamless pathway to the ACC is enrolling in an ICF Level 1 Accredited Program , which automatically packages the required 60+ training hours, mentor coaching, and the performance evaluation required for your credential. When choosing, prioritize programs that offer live, interactive training rather than fully self-paced, as this is crucial for developing skills and meeting ICF accreditation standards. Ensure the program includes at least 10 hours of mentor coaching and a Performance Evaluation.

What are the main differences between ACC, PCC, and MCC coaching levels?

ACC (Associate Certified Coach)

ACC is the first credential level and is designed for newer coaches. At this stage, coaches demonstrate they can apply the ICF core competencies, build coaching relationships, and conduct effective coaching conversations. It signals that a coach has formal training and supervised development, but is still building experience.

PCC (Professional Certified Coach)

PCC is often considered the benchmark credential for full-time professional coaches. Coaches at this level have significantly more client experience and are expected to facilitate deeper awareness, behavioral change, and accountability. Many organizations looking to hire external coaches specifically request PCC-level credentials.

You’ll get 112 hours of in-depth teaching over 7 or 8 months – alongside extensive practical experience, with a Coaching Buddy and pro-bono coaching opportunities – so you have ALL the knowledge, skills and confidence you need, to coach to a professional level
You’ll be trained in a diverse range of evidence-based approaches which have strong roots in Psychology & Neuroscience - with varied schools of thought, so you can develop your own unique approach and coaching style
You’ll receive 10 hours of mentoring with ICF qualified coaches - this includes 5 hours of group and 5 1:1 sessions to further your personal development as a coach and reflect on your progress
You’ll become part of an amazing network of like-minded coaches - including an active, private Facebook community, where you can ask questions and get non-judgmental support for your coaching and your business
You’ll have SO much support to start and build your coaching business and get clients - as well as access to a comprehensive online business program, to help you build a thriving practice

" There is a huge amount of support from the teachers on the course and really great support in the sessions... And then you've got this bespoke service from your mentor where you can really get into some detail on your own journey in coaching. And then the unexpected big element for me is about finding this community of peers who are going through the same journey with different approaches, a real diversity of professions and expertise and ages and so on" Tess Nixon Speller - Coach & Fundraising Consultant

"It’s opened my eyes actually to all different types of coaching and that was part of the reason why I chose to go on the Optimus course. When you do it in a corporate environment, typically, you come across Grow and some of the other more basic, more transactional type models, whereas having the opportunity to learn about things like positive psychology and neuroscience and transactional analysis and how that all links into how you can approach stuff as a coach has made a huge difference." Chris Roberts - Leadership and Team Coach

Small cohort groups (maximum 14) so you can build strong relationships and get the personal support you need – while also being part of our bigger network of incredible students and alumni coaches, from a diverse range of backgrounds

Each week we meet on Zoom for our training (choose from daytime or evening sessions, or Saturday). You’ll need to attend 80% of the training live to receive your Diploma but they are all recorded, for any you can’t make live and so you always have access to look back on the training.
You’ll be assessed formatively throughout the course using the ICF new guidelines : you will have at least 8 sessions with feedback and assessment to support your skill development.
You have the chance to coach and be coached in the majority of sessions and observe different coaching styles, so you can develop your own unique approach.
The group sessions are supplemented by 10 mentoring hours, where you work with an ICF (International Coaching Federation) coach of a PCC rating or above, focused on your development as a coach.
We passionately believe in supporting you and work with each student as an individual which is why our completion rates are 98%+
The course is accredited by the ICF, EMCC and AC: for each of the accrediting bodies we support you post graduation with your accreditation.

We don’t make promises of making 6 or 7 figures from doing the qualification. But we DO teach you about the financial aspect and help you build a thriving coaching business, that plays to your strengths.
We’ll never let you feel like a number. Every one of our amazing students is so important to us and we’ve put significant support and resources into place, so you feel taken care throughout your Diploma
We don’t give you nice feedback for the sake of it! We have high and rigorous standards and although we are supportive, we also help you to step out of your comfort zone to become the best coach you can be.
We don’t say you have to wait until you are qualified to start charging clients. We work with you on an individual basis – based on your experience – and encourage you to start charging as soon as you are ready.
We never cut corners. The investment for our Diploma is higher than some of our competitors because you receive coaching supervision as standard, business support as standard, have ongoing alumni access and benefit from smaller groups and highly qualified trainers

" I previously trained as a professional coach ten years ago under my NLP Practitioner and then when I was looking to sort of grow out beyond and develop myself into my own business, as opposed to just working for other people, I wanted to make sure that I had the right qualifications to stand out. I started following Ruth, seeing more and more about Optimus and wanting to get certified as ICF accredited. " Michelle Parsons - Performance Coach

The one thing that I can say that Optimus has done extremely well, and there are many, but the one that comes to mind is the mentoring piece that is provided... We have an intimate one on one time with a mentor to sort of go through different and allows us to ask questions and to really be coached by somebody else through the whole process. And then we had the group mentoring which was also a nice little added feature." Darren Micallef - Leadership Coach

10 hours of coach mentoring with an experienced mentor, worth £1000 (which means that when you want to get accredited with the ICF, it is a direct route to ACC or PCC status).
Access to Business Fundamentals online program and vault on training in the business resource hub worth £1000
Monthly group business coaching and mentoring worth £2000.
Feedback on 4 recorded sessions + at least 4 coaching sessions within the training worth £1000.
Additional bonus modules and resources worth £2500 including coaching tools and masterclasses.

ICF Accredited Level 1 Coaching Diploma (Triple Accredited)

Background

Overview - What You Will Learn

Diploma Overview

Associate Coach Diploma Module Breakdown

For more details on our triple accredited Associate diploma, including more information on all our modules, a summary of how Optimus's coaching approach is different and how our training creates Confident, Credible coaches that get Consistent Results

Download Our Latest Brochure Today

How Do We Help You To Become A Confident, Credible Coach That Achieves Consistent Results?

Early Bird Offers for September Associate 2026:

Course Fees

Got Any Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

ACC (Associate Certified Coach)

PCC (Professional Certified Coach)

Benefits Of Choosing Optimus

What our graduates say about our courses:

"From start to finish, the Optimus experience was amazing. The care and attention for our learning journey from the staff was always present. The course material is great and I always felt supported. Thank you so much. "

New To Coaching? Listen to recent graduates who were in your position and hear their experiences first hand

What our graduates say about our courses:

"What a journey! From play-acting our way through the models when we first met, to deep, authentic coaching conversations, it's been an absolute pleasure to learn with Optimus. The trainers made each session engaging, and we've made some lifelong friendships along the way. Would highly recommend!"

Got Any Questions?

Course Fees

Download Our Diplomas Brochure Today

More About Our Diploma

What We Do:

What We Don't Do:

New To Coaching? Listen to recent graduates who were in your position and hear their experiences first hand

Course Fees

Existing Coach ? Discover the impact the training has had on other full time coaches and how it has benefitted them.

Got Any Questions?

Download Our Diplomas Brochure Today

Existing Coach ? Discover the impact the training has had on other full time coaches and how it has benefitted them.

Learning Outcomes

This includes: