Experience (and common sense) teaches us that people with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder of any presentation), diagnosed or not, turn to coaching, organizing and productivity professionals in disproportionate numbers. Executive functioning challenges often result in performance, relationship and environmental challenges. Actually, there are many physical and brain-based conditions and stressful life-situations that compromise a person’s executive functioning. Trained ADHD coaches are valuable allies in increasing individual self-knowledge and helping to get a life on track.
The Certified ADHD Organizer Coach and Certified ADHD Productivity Coach credentials recognize professionals who can provide essential support to clients with executive functioning challenges. Both of these ADHD coaching credentials identify a coach that work with clients holistically (across all domains of life). However, the productivity professional’s focus is skewed more toward clients in business settings, while the organizing professional is more likely to be working with clients in home, family and/or self-employment settings. Each professional’s background and training will bolster these same areas of focus, as will the some of their coach training requirements.
Both kinds of ADHD coaches provide foundational support, as needed, to develop strength-based strategies and clarify individual passions and gifts to identify and crate A Life that Fits eash client’s unique ‘Life that Fits.’ Through greater self-awareness, supported experimentation and essential systems/habit development, clients learn resilience in the areas of capacity, activation, boundaries, communication, systems, environments, etc.
Our credentialed ADHD coaches have demonstrated a commitment to clients with ADHD. They advocate and partner with each client to address the discouragement and challenges; improve the performance, experience and mindset; and liberate the creativity and capability of the client with ADHD.
CAOCs and CAOCs must be well-educated about ADHD and the complex ways it shows up in individuals. They have also demonstrated a PCC-level of coaching competence and the ability to appropriately, courageously, and creatively coach clients with ADHD.
CAOC & CAPC Application Requirements
The individual requirements which must be met to support a coach credentialing application are very specific. Inevitably, critical stipulations are lost whenever requirements are summarized, as below. These downloadable documents have more details. The application instructions is the most complete.
Historically, applications are due April 1 each year. Current year applications and instructions are available in January for that year’s credentialing cycle. Previous year information is generally indicative.
Coach Training Requirements
The application must show 125 hours of Coach Training, including the courses listed below. The candidate will require approximately 18 additional hours of coach training to reach 125 hours. In addition, CAOC candidates are strongly encouraged to attend one international, multi-day ADHD conference (typically a CHADD/ADDA/ACO conference). Both CAOC and CAPC applicants must complete these courses:
- Graduation from the Foundation Program (5 courses)
- Body-Based Coaching (BoBC)
- Coaching the ADHD Client (CAC)
- ADHD Education: Knowledge is Power (AE)
- Core Competency Intensive: ADHD Coaching (CCI: ADHD) (This course may be used to fulfill some of the elective course hours or to meet the mentor coaching requirement. If used for mentoring, it cannot be counted in the 125 hours total).
The CAOC applicant must also complete this course:
- Body-Based Coaching (BoBC)
The CAPC applicant must complete at least one of these three courses:
- Productivity Coaching (PC)
- Coaching Team Leaders (CTL)
- Coaching Effective Leaders (CEL)
Mentor Coaching
10 mentor coaching hours in support of the coaching proficiency (recorded sessions) part of the credentialing application. Significant stipulations govern how the mentoring requirement is met.
- Ten mentor coaching hours over no less than three months with an ICF-credentialed Coach Approach mentor coach
- All ten hours may be individual mentoring hours with a CA mentor coach. Seven of the ten mentoring hours may be from a CA mentor/lab-style course.
- Mentoring must address the mentee’s coaching core competency skills in support of his/her certification recordings. Advanced Group Mentor Coaching is worth considering for its exclusive focus on PCC-level preparation.
- Core Competency Intensive: ADHD is required for CAOC and CACP credentials (If you secure your mentor coaching hours through 10 individual coaching sessions OR if you use a different mentor/lab-style course to meet your mentoring requirements, then you will need to complete this CCI: ADHD course as part of your 125 coach-specific training hours).
Proof of Coaching Proficiency
Two 30-60 minute recorded (audio-only) coaching sessions with a client with executive functioning challenges must accompany the application. The sessions must demonstrate PCC-level ADHD coaching. Separate written transcriptions of each session must also be included.
Other Qualifications
Typically, applicants document significant professional experience as a professional organizer or productivity consultant. Related professional experience is also considered.
Core Competency Intensive: ADHD is required for CAOC and CACP credentials (either for mentoring OR to meet 125 coach-specific training hours).All ten hours may be individual mentoring hours with a CA mentor coach. Seven of the ten mentoring hours may be from a CA mentor/lab-style course.
Mentoring must address the mentee’s coaching core competency skills in support of his/her certification recordings. Advanced Group Mentor Coaching is recommended for its exclusive focus on PCC-level preparation.
Core Competency Intensive: ADHD is required for CAOC and CACP credentials (either for mentoring OR to meet 125 coach-specific training hours).