About New Ventures West and Integral Coaching
New Ventures West is one of the oldest and most respected coaching schools today. In her book Sourcebook of Coaching History, a detailed overview of the history of the coaching industry, Victoria Brock PhD, PCC named our founder James Flaherty as a “coaching pioneer” and “key transmitter and influencer” of coaching methodology. Each year we are happy to welcome students from some of the top companies including many Fortune 100 companies, as well as students from some of the nation’s leading nonprofits, charitable foundations, and NGO’s. Our students have also been associated with some of the worlds leading research and teaching institutions. If you are interested in speaking with a graduate with a specific professional background to hear about their experience with Integral Coaching be in touch today.
Integral Coaching prioritizes the individual and their personal development, rather than focusing on a specific market or niche. This approach allows graduates to have flexibility in their careers, as they can adapt their coaching to meet the needs of various clients and contexts. By putting the person first, Integral Coaching aims to support individuals in achieving their goals and making meaningful changes in their lives. This approach can be advantageous for coaches who want to work with diverse clients and explore different areas of coaching practice.
Indeed, the Integral approach’s versatility allows it to be applied across various industries and settings. Its comprehensive nature means it can address the diverse needs and contexts of clients, making it well-suited for a wide range of fields including the executive leadership, construction industry, fashion industry, nonprofit sector, education, and beyond. By considering multiple perspectives and dimensions of human experience, Integral Coaching can offer tailored support and guidance that resonates with individuals regardless of their background or professional domain. This adaptability makes it a valuable tool for coaches seeking to work in diverse environments and support clients from different walks of life.
Our program attracts individuals who view themselves as lifelong learners, eager to continually enhance their skills. Those seeking the quickest path to certification may find better alignment with another institution.
About the Professional Coaching Course and other programs
Many people come to us with an extensive background of training and certifications. While the work you have done in the past will support you in your coaching, you are still required to take a prerequisite. Our courses lay out the foundation of our Integral Coaching methodology and offer an entry point into a new type of conversation about how we humans change. This includes language, distinctions, models and experiences that invite you to look at life in a different way. There are also developmental aspects of Integral Coach training that are unique to our school. Familiarizing yourself with these topics in the prerequisite course prepares you to enter the Professional Coaching Course (PCC). There are no exceptions; the work in these classes is essential to the PCC.
Sometimes the Professional Coaching Course fills to capacity months in advance. With our maximum of 20 participants, it’s difficult to predict when any given course will fill. Therefore, we recommend that you apply as soon as you are sure that you want to take the program and are free for all the dates of the class. The course leader reviews and accepts applications on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a response to your application within 10 days, often sooner.
The prerequisite course, Foundations of Coaching, costs $695. Our yearlong Professional Coaching Course costs $13,900 in the US. Those two class fees together include absolutely everything: classroom sessions, one-on-one coaching, mentoring, books and materials, and certification. There are no additional fees.
The full cost of the program includes all of your books and the cost of your mentor coaching as well as the final cost of certification. Many other programs do not include these in their pricing and these can run several thousand dollars more.
No. The International Coach Federation (ICF) recognizes the Professional Coaching Course as an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP). Graduating from the PCC earns you the designation of certified Integral Coach®. It also means you have completed the educational component required for ICF credentialing as an Associate Certified Coach or Professional Certified Coach. If you desire this additional designation, you apply directly to the ICF using their ACTP application and provide a copy of your NVW certificate and a log of your coaching hours. The number of hours you have coached will determine which credential you are eligible for. You will also need to take a written exam and pay a fee to ICF. You can find more information here.
It varies throughout the year. Students report that they spend an average of 5-10 hours a week on coursework. In the first session of the PCC you will receive your own personalized development program and will have practices and exercises to support you in developing the body and voice of a coach. We take those practices into account when we estimate the time. The rest of the time is spent on written homework, reading, coaching, and client case studies.
Our yearlong program is designed to build the body, heart and mind of a coach and to teach you how to coach. Engaging this breadth and depth of learning requires the entire year of the course. Students do have the opportunity to step into the identity of “coach” as they begin enrolling and working with practice clients. That said, the course do not go into the full needs of establishing a coaching business. We offer a separate course called the Business of Integral Coaching dedicated to this aim.
As the coaching industry is unregulated, a credential or certification is not a legal requirement to work as a coach. However, there are many other reasons that people choose to take a certification course. Many clients and companies prefer working with coaches who have taken professional training. Other benefits of training include mentorship and experiencing supervision and feedback as you are getting started. The experience of learning in community and having peers is a joyful one for our students, who often become resources and supports to each other long beyond the time in the course. Being part of a lineage of practice through which you can continue to grow, learn and practice as a graduate is also a deeply supportive experience.
Less than 5%. That’s because our application process, starting with the prerequisite program you take, helps us identify participants who are a good fit for our program. Throughout the year we stay in close contact with you and we follow your development. Before certification, we’ll have a conversation with you specifically to help clarify whether or not you are ready to get certified. We do our best to prepare you for the process and also to let you know if we have any concerns. If we recommend that you postpone certification, you can come back at a later time and sit for certification at no extra cost. If you decide on your own not to pursue certification with your class, there is a $850 charge to go through an alternative certification process.
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