Celebrating EMCC Global Practitioner Accreditation
Becoming a Coach
In today’s world, “coach” is a word used widely—and sometimes loosely. Unlike professions such as medicine or law, coaching is not a protected title. It’s possible to attend a short course, earn a basic certificate, and begin calling oneself a coach.
I remember doing that myself back in 2015, after attending some in-house training to help me support members of my team. Suddenly, I was their ‘coach.
This creates confusion for those seeking real support, making it difficult to distinguish between a lightly trained coach and someone who has made a serious, professional investment in their practice.
For instance, when people hear “ILM certified,” it could mean anything—from a short Level 3 introductory course to a substantial Level 5 Diploma that takes 18 months to achieve.
This has always bothered me because good coaching is what the world deserves. Genuine coaching qualifications demand not only knowledge, but also extensive practice, deep reflection, ethical grounding, and professional supervision — none of which can be achieved in a single day.
The Journey to Qualification
In the autumn of 2021, after a lot of cogitating, I decided to become properly qualified.
Naturally, me being me, I researched every course available. I chose what I believed to be the most rigorous path: the ILM Level 5 Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring, alongside a Coaching Professional Apprenticeship.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
This was no small undertaking — it involved:
Over 54 hours of live coaching practice with real clients
Extensive reflective journaling and portfolio work
Assignments mapped against professional coaching standards
Regular supervision and mentorship from qualified professionals
A formal End Point Assessment, including observed coaching sessions, interviews, and knowledge testing
It challenged me on every level. For a long time, I felt like I knew nothing at all.
But in the spring of 2023, after months of learning, unlearning, reflecting, and growing, I became a professionally qualified and accredited coach.
A New Chapter: EMCC Global Practitioner
Today is one of those moments.
Never one for letting the grass grow under my feet, I set my sights on the next step: achieving EMCC Global Practitioner Accreditation — and today, I am proud to celebrate reaching that goal.
This new accreditation is more than recognition of academic achievement. It is a deeper, international endorsement of who I am as a practitioner — reflecting:
My practical experience
My commitment to ethical coaching
My reflective practice
My ongoing professional development
It benchmarks my coaching against global standards of excellence and affirms my place within the international coaching community.
Holding Onto Belief
For me, becoming a coach was never about rushing towards a title. It was about becoming someone worthy of the trust others place in a coaching relationship — building a foundation to serve others well: ethically, thoughtfully, and effectively.
Becoming a qualified coach — and now a globally accredited practitioner — is not the end of the journey. It is only the beginning. – A commitment to keep learning, listening, deepening, and growing. – A promise to keep building spaces where others, too, are given room to grow, to believe in themselves, and to find their voice.
When I wrote Tiny Voices Talk, I spoke about birds and butterflies—symbols of delicate beginnings and brave transformations. Even the smallest flutter shifts the air. Even the quietest voice, once trusted, can soar.
I held onto a simple truth during those early days of learning, captured in the words of Pliny the Elder:
“They can because they think they can.”
Back then, practitioner status felt so far away, almost unreachable.
Today, I stand here not because the path was easy, but because belief — patient, persistent belief — carried me here.
Thank You
To those who supported me—my mentors, supervisors, colleagues, and especially the clients who have trusted me with their journeys—thank you.
To those just beginning their coaching path—know that doing it properly, ethically, and deeply is worth every single step.
And to the tiny voice inside me—the one that once whispered, “Maybe you can do this”—thank you for believing.
Here’s to the becoming. To the voices – and the wings – that matter.
I’m Toria, a qualified coach and experienced educator with over 20 years of leadership experience. I support professionals who feel stuck, lost, or simply ready for change to explore their next steps with clarity and confidence.
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