The Art & Science of Coaching
Erickson's flagship solution-focused coaching certification — ICF Level 1, 2, and 3 accredited; 75,000+ alumni in 179 countries; ACC through MCC pathway on one methodology.
- Provider
- Erickson Coaching International
- Format
- Online (Zoom), in-person, hybrid; 20+ languages globally
- ICF hours
- 60 hrs (Level 1); ~128 hrs (Level 2); 200 hrs (Level 3)
- Duration
- Level 1: 2–6 months; Level 2: 6–12 months; Level 3: varies
- Tuition
- Regional pricing at erickson.edu/en/pricing; interest-free payment plans available
- Prerequisites
- None for Level 1. Level 2 requires Essentials completion. Level 3 requires active PCC credential.
About
Program overview
The Art & Science of Coaching™ (TASC) is the flagship coach training program of Erickson Coaching International, founded in 1980 by Dr. Marilyn Atkinson in Vancouver, Canada. Erickson was one of the first coach training organizations to receive ICF accreditation and, in 2025, celebrated its 45th anniversary and received the 2024 ICF Impact Award — Distinguished Coach Education Provider.
TASC is built entirely around a solution-focused coaching methodology, a distinctive philosophical choice that shapes everything from the questions coaches ask to how they hold the coaching conversation. Rather than analyzing problems or exploring what went wrong, the Erickson approach directs attention toward resourcefulness, possibility, and what the client wants to create. This model has been taught in 179 countries and carries a 75,000+ alumni base, making it one of the most internationally distributed coaching methodologies in the world.
The program is structured across two progressive tiers: Essentials (Level 1, ACC pathway) and Advanced (Level 2, PCC pathway), with a Level 3 MCC pathway for experienced credentialed coaches. Programs are available online, in-person, and in hybrid formats, with cohorts running in multiple languages and time zones globally.
Who it's for
Aspiring coaches who want a solution-focused methodology backed by 45 years of development and ICF Level 1/2/3 accreditation
Professionals in leadership, HR, L&D, or organizational development seeking a globally recognized coach certification
Coaches who want an ICF ACC or PCC credential pathway with built-in mentoring and oral assessment
Organizations building internal coaching capability at scale. TASC is available for custom corporate delivery
International learners seeking multilingual, multi-timezone program delivery across all major global regions
Experienced PCC coaches seeking an ICF Level 3 / MCC pathway
What you'll learn
Essentials Course: ICF Level 1 (Modules I & II, ~60 hours)
The Essentials Course introduces the solution-focused coaching model across two structured modules, each divided into live sessions delivered by Erickson-certified facilitators.
Module I — Inspiration: Foundations of the solution-focused approach. Coaches learn the Erickson Coach Position (the mindset shift from advisor to partner) alongside the Coaching Arrow process, a step-by-step framework for conducting complete coaching sessions. Module I also covers deep listening, powerful questioning, safety and trust creation, and the shift from problem-oriented to solution-focused language. Part 1's organizing question: What do I want to achieve?
Module II — Implementation: Taking the solution-focused model into practice. Module II deepens competency through observed coaching, peer practice, and feedback cycles. Part 2's organizing question: How will I achieve this?
Completing both Essentials modules earns the Accredited Erickson Coach designation and satisfies ICF Level 1 requirements (60 coach-specific training hours + 10 hours mentoring + ACC-level oral assessment). Graduates qualify to apply for the ICF ACC credential.
Advanced Course: ICF Level 2 (Modules III & IV)
Modules III and IV extend the program into advanced application territory: coaching through complexity, strategic stakeholder management, change management, and high-performance dynamics. The final module includes a full practical and theoretical assessment.
Completing all four modules (Essentials + Advanced) satisfies ICF Level 2 requirements and qualifies graduates to apply for the ICF PCC credential. Total program hours: approximately 128 hours.
Level 3: MCC Pathway
A separate advanced program of 200 total training hours plus 10 hours of MCC-level mentoring, designed for PCC-credentialed coaches seeking the ICF MCC credential, the profession's highest designation. Built on the same solution-focused foundation, the Level 3 curriculum deepens mastery of ICF Core Competencies systemically and as an integrated whole.
Team Coaching Pathway
Erickson also offers a team coaching track (High Performance Team Coaching + Advanced Team Coaching) that fulfills the education and supervision requirements for the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), awarding the Erickson Certified Team Coach designation.
Mentoring Bundles
Optional mentoring add-ons at both Level 1 and Level 2: one-on-one mentor coaching sessions, group mentoring, and an oral assessment, all aligned with ICF Core Competencies. Available as ACC-level or PCC-level bundles depending on credential pathway.
Credentials and accreditation
TASC holds ICF Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 accreditation. It is the only coaching program on this platform accredited across all three ICF program tiers. This means graduates at every stage of the program have a direct pathway to their respective ICF credential: ACC (Level 1), PCC (Level 2), or MCC (Level 3).
Erickson was among the first organizations to receive ICF accreditation and received the 2024 ICF Impact Award — Distinguished Coach Education Provider, recognized for distinguished contribution to coach education globally. The program is also approved and accredited by regional bodies in multiple countries.
Format, duration, and cost
Delivery: online (live Zoom, multiple time zones), in-person (global locations), hybrid
Languages: multiple; cohorts run in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, and others. Check the enrollment page for current language availability
Level 1 duration: 2–6 months depending on frequency of sessions; 60 hours + 10 mentoring
Level 2 duration: approximately 6–12 months for the full four-module pathway; ~128 hours
Level 3: 200 hours; timeline varies
Cost: pricing varies by region and format. Visit erickson.edu/en/pricing for current rates; flexible interest-free payment plans available; the main site lists pricing in multiple currencies
Prerequisites: none for Level 1 Essentials; Level 2 requires completion of Essentials; Level 3 requires active PCC credential
What makes it distinctive
Three things differentiate TASC from comparable programs of its scale. First, the methodology: solution-focused coaching is a deliberate philosophical stance that shapes the entire curriculum. Every question in the Erickson model is structurally oriented toward resourcefulness and forward movement. This produces coaches whose natural conversational default is possibility rather than analysis, a distinction that becomes visible in client outcomes.
Second, the global reach is real. With delivery in 179 countries, 20+ languages, and cohorts running in every major time zone, Erickson is a genuinely international school. For coaches who will serve diverse, cross-cultural client populations, the Erickson community and training context is meaningfully different from programs with a narrower geographic footprint.
Third, the Level 1/2/3 architecture is the only complete ICF credential ladder on a single methodology platform. A coach can enter at Essentials (ACC pathway), progress to Advanced (PCC pathway), and continue to Level 3 (MCC pathway) without ever leaving the Erickson methodology. That continuity of framework, faculty, and community is unusual at any level, and unique across the full MCC arc.
Solution-focused coaching is a way of seeing. When coaches direct attention toward resourcefulness, clients discover capabilities they didn't know they had.
Frameworks taught at The Art & Science of Coaching
Challenges this training prepares coaches for
Questions about The Art & Science of Coaching
Q.01What ICF accreditation does TASC hold?
What ICF accreditation does TASC hold?
TASC is accredited by the ICF at Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. It is the only program on this platform accredited across all three tiers. Level 1 (Essentials, ~60 hours) qualifies for the ICF ACC credential. Level 2 (full four-module pathway, ~128 hours) qualifies for PCC. Level 3 (200 hours) targets the MCC credential.
Q.02What credentials do I earn from this program?
What credentials do I earn from this program?
The Essentials Course (Level 1) earns you the Accredited Erickson Coach designation and qualifies you to apply for the ICF ACC credential after meeting coaching experience requirements. Completing all four modules (Level 2) qualifies you for the ICF PCC credential.
Q.03What is solution-focused coaching?
What is solution-focused coaching?
Solution-focused coaching is a forward-directed approach that focuses on resourcefulness, strengths, and what the client wants to create, rather than analyzing problems or past patterns. Every question in the Erickson model is structured to direct the client toward possibility and action.
Q.04How long does the program take?
How long does the program take?
Level 1 (Essentials) runs 2–6 months depending on cohort frequency. Level 2 (all four modules) typically takes 6–12 months. Level 3 (MCC pathway) varies. All levels are available online, in-person, or hybrid.
Q.05How much does TASC cost?
How much does TASC cost?
Pricing varies by region, format, and delivery partner. Visit erickson.edu/en/pricing for current rates. Flexible, interest-free payment plans are available on all levels.
Q.06Are there prerequisites?
Are there prerequisites?
No prerequisites for Level 1 Essentials. Level 2 requires completion of the Essentials Course. Level 3 requires an active ICF PCC credential.
Q.07Does the program include mentor coaching?
Does the program include mentor coaching?
Yes. Mentoring Bundles are available as optional add-ons at Level 1 and Level 2. They include one-on-one mentor coaching sessions, group mentoring, and an oral assessment aligned with ICF Core Competencies at the ACC or PCC level.
Q.08Is the program available in other languages?
Is the program available in other languages?
TASC is delivered in 20+ languages and runs cohorts across every major global time zone. Regional partners in 179 countries mean most learners can find a cohort in their language and schedule.
Q.09Is there a team coaching option?
Is there a team coaching option?
Yes. Erickson offers a team coaching track, High Performance Team Coaching and Advanced Team Coaching, fulfilling the ICF ACTC education and supervision requirements. Graduates earn the Erickson Certified Team Coach designation.
Q.10What is Erickson's track record?
What is Erickson's track record?
Erickson was founded in 1980 by Dr. Marilyn Atkinson. It has trained 75,000+ coaches in 179 countries and received the 2024 ICF Impact Award — Distinguished Coach Education Provider.
Q.11What does an Erickson coaching credential tell me about a coach?
What does an Erickson coaching credential tell me about a coach?
An Accredited Erickson Coach (the Level 1 designation) has completed roughly 60 contact hours of ICF Level 1 training plus 10 hours of mentor coaching and an oral assessment, all within Erickson's solution-focused methodology. An Erickson coach trained to Level 2, covering all four TASC modules at approximately 128 hours, meets the ICF training requirements for the PCC credential application. Neither designation is the same as holding an ICF credential itself; that requires a separate application with documented client coaching hours submitted directly to the ICF. What the training tells you about the coach's approach: solution-focused coaching is structurally forward-directed, so Erickson-trained coaches tend to be strong in goal clarity, performance contexts, and change initiatives.
Q.12What should I ask an Erickson-trained coach before hiring them?
What should I ask an Erickson-trained coach before hiring them?
Five practical questions: First, what level of TASC did you complete, and do you hold an ICF credential at ACC, PCC, or MCC level? Training level and independent credentialing are related but separate. Second, how would you describe the solution-focused approach in one sentence, and how does it show up in your sessions? A coach who has genuinely integrated the methodology answers this plainly. Third, have you worked with clients facing something similar to my situation? Erickson's model is versatile; what you're looking for is relevant applied experience. Fourth, how do you work with a client who keeps returning to what went wrong rather than focusing forward? That's a real test of solution-focused skill. Fifth, what does your first session look like?