Question 1

What is Erickson Coaching International?

Accepted Answer

Erickson Coaching International is a coach training school founded in 1980 by Marilyn Atkinson in Vancouver, Canada. It delivers ICF-accredited coach training programs rooted in solution-focused methodology, with a global network of 75,000+ alumni across 179 countries. The school is named after Milton H. Erickson, the American psychiatrist whose indirect, outcome-oriented approach to facilitating change inspired Atkinson's coaching model.

Question 2

Is Erickson's flagship program ICF-accredited?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Art & Science of Coaching (ASC) is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) at Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 — the three tiers introduced under ICF's updated accreditation framework. This makes Erickson one of a small number of schools globally with accreditation across all three ICF program levels.

Question 3

What ICF credentials can I pursue through Erickson's programs?

Accepted Answer

Erickson's Level 1 program satisfies the training requirements for the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Level 2 satisfies requirements for both ACC and Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Level 3 is designed for PCC holders pursuing the Master Certified Coach (MCC). Each credential also requires separate ICF application, a coaching experience log, and (for PCC and MCC) a performance evaluation.

Question 4

How many training hours does each level require?

Accepted Answer

Level 1 (Essentials) requires 60 hours of coach training plus a 10-hour mentor coaching bundle. Level 2 (Essentials + Advanced) totals 140 hours of instruction including 10 hours of mentoring. Level 3 (MCC Journey) provides 200 hours of coach training plus 10 hours of MCC-level mentoring. All hours are structured to meet the corresponding ICF program accreditation requirements.

Question 5

Do I need prior coaching experience to enroll?

Accepted Answer

No prior coaching experience is required to enroll in Erickson's Level 1 (Essentials) program. The curriculum is designed to take complete beginners through the foundational competencies of solution-focused coaching. Level 3 is restricted to coaches who already hold an ICF PCC credential.

Question 6

How is the Art & Science of Coaching delivered?

Accepted Answer

The program is available in three formats: fully online (in multiple global time zones and at varying pace options, including fast-track), fully in person at locations across the globe, and in a hybrid format combining elements of both. Erickson has offered online delivery since 2007 and operates a dedicated online academy launched in 2015.

Question 7

What does 'solution-focused coaching' mean in practice?

Accepted Answer

Erickson's solution-focused approach, rooted in Milton H. Erickson's clinical methodology, means coaches are trained to orient conversations toward what the client wants to create rather than diagnosing what is wrong. The Coaching Arrow model — Erickson's core framework — moves through four phases: desired outcome, strategy, values alignment, and completion. Coaches are trained to use language and questioning structures that generate the client's own answers rather than offering advice or analysis.

Question 8

Who was Milton H. Erickson, and why is the school named after him?

Accepted Answer

Milton H. Erickson (1901–1980) was an American psychiatrist and hypnotherapist widely regarded as the most influential practitioner of medical hypnosis of the 20th century. He was known for indirect suggestion, metaphor, and a deep belief in each patient's innate capacity for change — an orientation Marilyn Atkinson recognized as foundational for coaching. She named the school in his honor, not because it teaches clinical hypnotherapy, but because his solution-focused, possibility-oriented mindset underpins the entire Erickson coaching philosophy.

Question 9

Does completing an Erickson program automatically give me an ICF credential?

Accepted Answer

No. Completing an Erickson program satisfies the training-hours component of an ICF credential application, but the ICF credential is awarded separately by the ICF itself. For the ACC, applicants also need 100+ hours of coaching experience and a performance evaluation or knowledge assessment. For PCC, the bar rises to 500+ hours of experience and a more rigorous assessment. Erickson's training is a pathway to ICF credentials, not a replacement for the ICF's own process.

Question 10

Where does Erickson operate, and can I train in my own language?

Accepted Answer

Erickson delivers programs in 179 countries through its own facilitators and a network of 40+ global partners. Training is available in 24 languages. In-person programs run in dozens of cities annually; online programs are grouped by time zone, making them accessible from virtually anywhere.

Question 11

What does an Erickson coaching credential tell me about a coach?

Accepted Answer

An Erickson-trained coach completed a solution-focused curriculum grounded in one specific, well-documented methodology — the Coaching Arrow framework built on Ericksonian psychology and neuroscience principles. ICF accreditation at Level 1, 2, or 3 means the program met independently reviewed standards. The more informative question is which level they completed: Level 1 (60 hours) supports the ICF ACC credential; Level 2 (140 hours) supports PCC. The school's own designations — EAC (Erickson Accredited Coach) or ECPC (Erickson Certified Professional Coach) — confirm training completion; whether the coach also holds an ICF credential is the stronger signal of independently assessed competence. Coaching is not therapy: Erickson-trained coaches work within a non-clinical scope, focused on desired outcomes and forward-looking strategy. When a client's needs move into territory that requires clinical or therapeutic support, a competent coach recognizes that boundary and refers appropriately.

Question 12

What should I ask an Erickson-trained coach before hiring them?

Accepted Answer

Before hiring an Erickson-trained coach, ask: Which level of the Art & Science of Coaching did you complete — Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3? Do you hold an ICF credential, and if so which tier — ACC, PCC, or MCC? How many hours of paid client coaching experience have you accumulated? And what does your solution-focused approach look like in a real session — what does the work actually feel like for the client? The solution-focused model performs best when a client arrives with a clear desire to create something. For clients whose primary need is processing past experience, significant emotional difficulty, or clinical-level symptoms, a licensed therapist is the more appropriate starting point. Knowing how a coach navigates that distinction — and how they handle referrals — tells you as much as any credential.

Find a Coach

Start Here

Guidance

The Profession

The Path

The Platform

Partners & Resources

Erickson Coaching International

About

1 Erickson Coaching International-accredited programs

The Art & Science of Coaching

Challenges our Erickson Coaching International coaches help clients through