Certified High Performance Coaching
Brendon Burchard's proprietary coach training system, a structured, framework-driven certification delivered in a 4-day intensive, not ICF-accredited.
- Type
- Coach Training Organization
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- United States
About
The High Performance Institute (HPI) was founded around 2012 by Brendon Burchard, a Montana-born author and coach whose career was shaped by a near-fatal car accident at age 19. That experience crystallized the questions Burchard has since built his work around: Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter? Based in the United States, HPI set out to study high performers (executives, athletes, and everyday people alike) and distill what they actually do differently, then package those findings into a teachable coaching methodology.
HPI's research base spans a multi-year study across countries and contexts. Burchard and his collaborators produced the High Performance Indicator (HPI), described as the first validated psychometric assessment focused specifically on high performance factors. The institute's flagship output is the Certified High Performance Coaching program (CHPC), which trains coaches to deliver a structured 12-session client engagement built from that research. Burchard has authored several New York Times bestsellers, most notably High Performance Habits (2017), which brought the HP6 framework to a broad audience and established the intellectual foundation for the coaching program.
A CHPC designation signals that a coach has been trained in HPI's proprietary methodology. It does not indicate standing with any independent professional body; coaches who hold it are delivering a specific branded system, not a generalist credential.
The HP6 Framework and 12-Session Program
The theoretical core of CHPC is the HP6, six habits Burchard's research identified as the primary drivers of sustained high performance:
Clarity
Knowing who you are, where you are going, and how you want to show up. High performers score consistently higher on clarity about their identity, values, and daily priorities.
Energy
Deliberately managing physical vitality, mental focus, and emotional positivity, treating energy as a practice to build rather than something you simply have.
Necessity
Developing an internal and external sense of why performance matters, linking output to personal values, obligations to others, and a competitive drive that keeps standards high.
Productivity
Generating significant outputs on priority projects, not simply staying busy. Focused output in fewer, higher-impact hours rather than volume of hours worked.
Influence
Raising the ambition, motivation, and capability of the people around you. High performers understand that lasting success is relational and social, not purely individual.
Courage
Sharing ideas, taking action, and persisting despite uncertainty or risk. Courage, in the HP6 model, is the activating habit that converts the other five into real behavior change.
The coaching program CHPCs deliver runs across 12 weekly sessions, a 90-day engagement. The first six sessions ("Quick Wins") focus on habit exploration and early behavioral changes; the final six address psychology, physiology, productivity, people skills, and purpose in more depth. The curriculum is prescriptive: coaches work from standardized session outlines and client worksheets rather than designing each engagement from scratch. This is the defining structural feature of the program. It trades open-ended coaching flexibility for consistency and repeatability.
Coach Certification
The CHPC certification is delivered as a 4-day virtual intensive led by Burchard personally, with roughly 300 seats per annual cohort. It includes the session outlines and client materials needed to run the 12-week program, a 4-week marketing training module, and 12 months of monthly community calls. No prior coaching background is required. As of recent cohorts, tuition has been priced at approximately $15,000, with an annual renewal fee of $497.
The program is deliberately cohort-capped, framed as access to Burchard directly rather than a scalable online course. CHPCs who recertify multiple times gain access to expanded session libraries. The program offers additional sets of 12 sessions beyond the core 12, up to 48 sessions total across four certification cycles.
Accreditation Status
CHPC is a proprietary certification. The program is not accredited by the ICF (International Coaching Federation), which means hours trained under CHPC do not count toward an ICF credential pathway, and clients or employers who require ICF-affiliated training will find this certification does not satisfy that requirement.
The separation is deliberate. HPI operates independently of the ICF and has not positioned its program within the ICF accreditation system. Coaches who hold both CHPC and an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) have obtained them through entirely separate routes. Prospective coaches evaluating CHPC against ICF-accredited programs like those offered by the Co-Active Training Institute or iPEC should understand that the CHPC designation carries weight within Burchard's brand ecosystem but is not portable as a professional coaching credential recognized by independent accreditation bodies.
What This Means for You
If your coach holds a CHPC designation, it tells you they were trained in Burchard's HP6 methodology and are equipped to deliver the specific 12-session structured program. The coaching experience will be more framework-driven than open-ended. Sessions follow a defined arc, and the model assumes that the six high performance habits are the right levers for most clients. That structure suits some clients well and chafes others who want a more personalized, exploratory process. The 9.8/10 client satisfaction rating HPI cites (across 150,000+ sessions) reflects genuine enthusiasm from clients who respond to that format. The honest question to ask your CHPC coach is not just "are you certified?" but "how do you adapt the program when a client's situation doesn't fit the standard 12-session arc?" The answer will tell you a lot about how they actually coach.
High performance rests on habits rather than sheer effort: clarity, energy, courage, and intentionality, practiced consistently, separate those who merely succeed from those who sustain it.
Certified High Performance Coaching coaches on Dream Coach Match
Questions about Certified High Performance Coaching
Q.01What is the Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC) designation?
What is the Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC) designation?
CHPC is a proprietary coaching certification issued by the High Performance Institute (HPI), founded by Brendon Burchard. It trains coaches to deliver Burchard's 12-session, HP6-based coaching program to clients. It is not a credential issued by an independent professional body; it is a branded training certification specific to HPI's methodology.
Q.02Is CHPC accredited by the ICF or another professional body?
Is CHPC accredited by the ICF or another professional body?
No. CHPC is not accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) or any other major independent accrediting organization. Hours completed under CHPC training do not count toward ICF credential pathways (ACC, PCC, or MCC). Coaches who hold both CHPC and an ICF credential have obtained them through entirely separate programs.
Q.03What is the HP6 framework?
What is the HP6 framework?
HP6 refers to the six habits Burchard's research identified as the primary predictors of sustained high performance: clarity, energy, necessity, productivity, influence, and courage. These are divided into personal habits (clarity, energy, necessity) and social habits (productivity, influence, courage). The 12-session CHPC coaching program is built around helping clients develop and sustain these six habits.
Q.04How long does CHPC coaching take, and what does it look like?
How long does CHPC coaching take, and what does it look like?
The standard CHPC engagement runs 12 weekly sessions, a 90-day program. Each session lasts roughly 60 minutes. The first six sessions ('Quick Wins') address habit exploration and early changes; the final six cover psychology, physiology, productivity, people skills, and purpose. Coaches work from standardized session outlines and client worksheets, making the format more structured than open-ended.
Q.05Who can become a CHPC, and what does the training cost?
Who can become a CHPC, and what does the training cost?
No prior coaching experience is required to enroll. The certification is delivered as a 4-day virtual intensive led by Burchard, with roughly 300 seats per cohort. As of recent cohorts, tuition is approximately $15,000, plus a $497 annual renewal fee after the first year. The program includes session materials, marketing training, and 12 months of community support.
Q.06How does CHPC compare to ICF-accredited training programs?
How does CHPC compare to ICF-accredited training programs?
ICF-accredited programs (such as those from the Co-Active Training Institute or iPEC) teach core coaching competencies defined by an independent professional body and count toward ICF credentials that many employers and clients recognize. CHPC teaches a specific proprietary methodology and does not feed into that credentialing system. The two paths serve different goals: ICF credentials signal broad professional standing; CHPC signals competence in Burchard's HP6 framework specifically.
Q.07How many coaches have been certified under CHPC?
How many coaches have been certified under CHPC?
HPI certifies approximately 300 coaches per annual cohort. The program has been running since around 2012, so cumulative certified coaches number in the thousands, though HPI has not published a precise total. The program claims 150,000+ client sessions logged across 100+ countries.
Q.08Is CHPC only for life coaches, or can professionals from other fields use it?
Is CHPC only for life coaches, or can professionals from other fields use it?
The certification is marketed broadly, to entrepreneurs, executives, therapists, and aspiring coaches alike, and explicitly states no prior coaching background is required. In practice, it functions as a standalone delivery system that any professional can layer onto their existing practice, rather than a foundational coaching education.
Q.09Does the CHPC certification expire or require renewal?
Does the CHPC certification expire or require renewal?
Yes. After the initial certification year, CHPCs pay $497 annually to maintain active status. Coaches who recertify through additional cohorts gain access to expanded session libraries, up to 48 total sessions across four certification cycles.
Q.10How does CHPC's prescriptive format affect the coaching experience?
How does CHPC's prescriptive format affect the coaching experience?
The 12-session program follows standardized outlines and worksheets, which creates consistency across coaches but limits flexibility for clients whose needs fall outside the HP6 model. This format works well for clients who want a clear structure and defined outcomes. Clients seeking a more exploratory, personalized coaching approach may find it constraining. Asking your CHPC coach how they adapt when a client's situation doesn't fit the standard arc is a useful screening question.
Q.11What does a CHPC certification actually tell me about a coach?
What does a CHPC certification actually tell me about a coach?
It tells you the coach was trained in Burchard's HP6 methodology and is equipped to deliver the specific 12-session structured program. It does not tell you whether the coach has any independent professional standing beyond HPI's own ecosystem. CHPC is not accredited by the ICF, EMCC, or any other major independent body, so the credential doesn't port into the broader coaching profession the way an ACC, PCC, or EIA does. It is a branded training designation, not a generalist coaching qualification. The program is designed for functioning, motivated clients pursuing performance improvement. It is not equipped to address clinical mental health conditions, trauma, eating disorders, or acute personal crises. A well-suited CHPC coach will name that scope boundary clearly and tell you what they won't take on.
Q.12What should I ask a CHPC-certified coach before hiring them?
What should I ask a CHPC-certified coach before hiring them?
Ask whether they hold any credentials beyond CHPC. An ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) or an EMCC accreditation alongside it suggests a practitioner who has sought independent validation of their coaching competence beyond certification in a specific system. Ask how many paid coaching hours they have completed and how long they have been actively practicing. Ask how they handle clients whose situations fall outside the structured 12-session HP6 arc. A thoughtful coach will have a clear answer; one who hasn't considered it suggests limited adaptability. Ask what they won't work with. CHPC is designed for functioning, motivated high performers and is not equipped for clinical mental health needs, therapeutic intervention, or complex trauma. A coach who names that boundary clearly is operating within appropriate scope. Coaching is not therapy, and a CHPC certification does not change that.