Certification Requirements

Our programs have been designed and developed to enhance your competence and skill as a mindfulness-based coach. Both the Level 1 and Level 2 programs enable you to apply coaching competencies through hands-on practice with coach-led feedback for maximum learning. The program includes self-paced study as well as student contact hours focused on coaching and mindfulness practices.

For each program, you need to complete an initial 100 coach training hours. The BMC’s coaching and mindfulness communities are there to help you put your learning into practice so you can fulfill all your requirements.

Graduation & Certification Requirements

Each student must recognize the commitment required to participate in and to complete the program. Once you have completed a minimum of 60 hours of training, you will be able to apply for an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) or Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential with the ICF.

    • Completion of the required hours for program certification (delivered over a minimum of 6 months)

    • Graduates from a Level 1 program may apply for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Credential (60 hrs of training and 100 hours of coaching) or the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Credential if they meet the credentialing application requirements (minimum of 125 hours of training and 500 hours of coaching)

    • After you complete your training and coaching hours you can upload your documentation on the ICF website to receive an invitation to complete the Coach Knowledge Assessment.

    • You will be required to submit one recording of your coaching session lasting 20 - 30 minutes

    Observed coaching sessions

    • Will be delivered during the face to face program

    • ICF considers observed coaching sessions a vital component of quality coach training. Level 1 programs are required to provide a minimum of five (5) and Level 2 six (6) observed coaching sessions for each student. Written feedback must be provided for at least three (3) of the five sessions.

    • Observed coaching sessions during the program delivery count toward the observed sessions.

    • Definition: Sessions in which a student is coaching any client, fellow student or another person as a method for practicing their coaching skills.

      • Time requirement: ICF does not have a minimum length requirement for observed coaching sessions. Sessions should be long enough for a coaching conversation.

      • Structure: Observed coaching sessions are observed by an instructor/observer who is responsible for providing written feedback to the student, noting the student’s use of the ICF Core Competencies in the coaching session. These sessions may be observed live or through a recorded session. Observed coaching sessions count as part of the total instructional hours of the program.

To become a BMC Academy coach, you will need to fulfill two additional prerequisites of attending a Mindful Self Compassion program and a Silent Retreat. BMC Academy coaches have the opportunity to be promoted and connect with clients within the Beijing Mindfulness Center community. The best outcomes in the session are when both client and the coach have existing mindfulness and self-compassion practice. Our community enables you to practice your skills with clients who are practicing mindfulness and are open to exploring presence and awareness for enhanced performance and quality of life.

    • Complete a Practice Challenge:

      Your practice challenge will be completed over 100 days. Your practice may include something physical: (yoga, qigong, running, swimming, hiking), mental: (mindfulness informal or formal practice), emotional: (emotional literacy journal, mindful self-compassion, card meditation APP).

    • Consider how the practice enriched your life and well being. How did your practice support your skills as a coach when working with clients? Write a 750 word article to reflect on the challenge. The article will be published on the BMC Website. Write it for a general audience in the form of a blog. Please include visual images to include in the article.

    • Provide a 20 - 60 minute recording of a session where you apply mindfulness in coaching. Mark the place where mindfulness takes place in the session, how the client responded and what are your key learnings.

    • 30-90 minutes session, presentation, mini-workshop on including mindfulness and coaching. This could be presented online or face to face. To complete your presentation please provide: title, time and date.

      • BMC will present this topic to the community and host it online or in person.

      • This session can be delivered alone or with a colleague.

    • Attend a silent retreat

    • Complete a Mindful Self-Compassion program

BMC Academy Coaching Week

During International Coaching Week (delivered in May every year), coaches offer webinars, coaching demos, etc. To foster the spirit of learning, BMC Academy hosts its own online coaching week at the same time to give a chance to all alumni to present a topic related to mindfulness and coaching. We aim to organize at least 7 events during the BMCA coaching week, which will be around 1 hour each, and can be provided in the form of webinars or panel discussions. The sessions will be recorded and can be used for your promotion at later stage.

This event will be a chance for all the coaches to gather and get nourished from BMCA again, and also a chance to get inspired by our peer coaches who work in different industries. In the spirit of Rooting, Reconnecting, Renaissance, we invite every one of you to participate, not only as audiences but also as speakers.

At the same time, if you have completed our programs Foundation For Mindful Living and/or Coaching from Within, you may use this event as an opportunity to complete your graduation.

Team of mindfulness coaches joining hands

Mindful Self Compassion

Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, the MSC program is designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. It teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.*

Silent Retreat

Silent retreats are an opportunity to explore the depth of consciousness, let awareness reveal who we are and what is blocking us. We invite you to be silent and yet maintain contact with your fellow practitioners with a compassionate and open-hearted smile and acknowledgement of the shared experience.*

Silent Retreat program. Hand holding glass ball against trees and blue sky.