iPEC Coach Training Program
ICF Level 2 pathway to CPC + ELI-MP certifications — Core Energy Coaching™ taught across three live modules over 7–10 months.
- Format
- In-person or live virtual; 3 three-day modules
- ICF hours
- 160 hours (CTP); 200 hours total with COR.E® Dynamics
- Duration
- 7–10 months (core); +2–4 months for COR.E® Dynamics
- Tuition
- $9,995 USD (CTP); $1,995 (COR.E® Dynamics); financing available
- Prerequisites
- None required to enroll.
About
Program overview
The iPEC Coach Training Program (CTP) is the flagship certification pathway of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), founded in 1999 by Dr. Bruce D. Schneider. One of the first coach training programs globally to receive ICF accreditation, iPEC has since trained more than 25,000 coaches in over 44 countries.
The program is built entirely around a single proprietary framework, Core Energy Coaching™, and leads to two certifications upon completion: the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and the Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP). An optional graduate pathway, COR.E® Dynamics, extends training to 200 total ICF hours and a third niche-specific certification.
The CTP is ICF Level 2 accredited, placing it alongside the profession's most rigorous training programs and qualifying graduates to apply for ICF ACC or PCC credentials.
Who it's for
Aspiring coaches who want a thorough, methodology-grounded certification with clear ICF credential pathways
Professionals in HR, leadership, healthcare, or organizational development who want to integrate coaching into their practice
Coaches who want a proprietary assessment tool (the ELI) to differentiate their offer and measure client change
Those who want niche specialization built into their training, whether life coaching, executive and leadership development, health and wellness, or sports and performance
Anyone who wants a structured, cohort-based program with mentor coaching built in
What you'll learn
Module I: Coaching Fundamentals
A three-day live training (in-person or virtual) introducing Core Energy Coaching™, iPEC's consciousness-based methodology for identifying and shifting the energy levels that drive client behavior. You'll learn 20+ tactical skills and receive handouts, exercises, and client-ready resources. This module is also available as a standalone entry point for those not yet ready to commit to the full CTP.
Module II: Advanced Coaching Skills
A three-day intensive building on Module I. Students deepen their facility with the Core Energy framework, learn new approaches for challenging entrenched client patterns, and practice advanced techniques for removing blocks and sustaining behavioral change.
Module III: Mastery and Certification Preparation
The culminating three-day live module, leading to performance evaluation and certification. Completes the formal credential sequence and closes out the two primary certifications: CPC and ELI-MP.
Between modules
Between each three-day module (spaced approximately three months apart), students participate in live monthly webinars, self-directed study, peer coaching practice, and six one-on-one sessions with an assigned iPEC Mentor Coach, a credentialed ICF coach who provides individualized feedback and accountability throughout the training.
COR.E® Dynamics (graduate specialty, optional)
An advanced, self-paced curriculum of 40 additional niche-specific training hours, structured around ten disciplines and six conceptual frameworks called the COR.E Influencers. Students choose a specialty niche (life coaching, executive and leadership development, health and wellness, or sports and performance) and earn a COR.E® Dynamics Specialist certification. Completing COR.E Dynamics brings total ICF-accredited hours to 200, satisfying the training hours requirement for the ICF MCC credential. Also includes the SCOPE™ mobile assessment app for measuring client energy engagement between sessions, and access to over 200 downloadable client assignments and exercises.
Credentials and accreditation
Completing the three-module CTP earns:
Certified Professional Coach (CPC) — iPEC's foundational coach credential
Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) — certification to administer and debrief the proprietary ELI assessment with clients
The program provides 160 ICF-accredited training hours, meeting the educational requirements to apply for ICF ACC or PCC credentials. Adding COR.E® Dynamics raises the total to 200 hours, meeting the MCC training requirement.
iPEC holds ICF Level 2 accreditation, the higher of the two ICF program tiers, and has maintained ICF recognition since 2002. The program is also approved by HRCI and SHRM for professional development credits, and recognized by the Center for Credentialing and Education as a Board-Certified Coach (BCC) training provider. iPEC reports a 95% graduate satisfaction rate.
Note: CPC and ELI-MP are iPEC's own designations. The ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) is issued separately by the ICF and requires coaching experience hours in addition to training hours.
Format, duration, and cost
Delivery: three live three-day modules (in-person or virtual); plus self-study, monthly webinars, and peer coaching between modules
Duration: 7–10 months (core CTP); add 2–4 months for COR.E® Dynamics
Total ICF hours: 160 (CTP alone) / 200 (with COR.E® Dynamics)
Cost: $9,995 USD for the core CTP; $1,995 for COR.E® Dynamics (check enrollment page for current pricing, as seasonal incentives may apply); flexible payment plans available via partner financing
Prerequisites: none
What makes it distinctive
iPEC's most defining characteristic is that the entire curriculum connects back to one integrated framework: Core Energy Coaching™ and the seven levels of energy. Every module, every assessment, and every graduate course draws on the same system. This coherence is unusual among training programs of its scale. Students develop deep fluency in a single, proprietary system they will use throughout their practice, instead of moving between borrowed models from different disciplines.
The ELI assessment reinforces that distinctiveness. Unlike publicly available tools, the Energy Leadership Index is exclusive to iPEC-trained coaches. This creates a tangible differentiator in client engagements: the ELI gives coaches a before-and-after measurement instrument that makes change visible and helps justify premium positioning. No other coaching school's graduates can offer it.
Finally, the built-in niche pathway through COR.E® Dynamics means students are not left to figure out specialization on their own after graduating. The curriculum explicitly prepares coaches to build a focused practice, with marketing assets, coaching assignment libraries, and specialty certification included, from the day they graduate.
Lasting change begins at the energy level, with a shift in how a person perceives their circumstances and chooses to act. Core Energy Coaching works at that root.
Frameworks taught at iPEC Coach Training Program
Challenges this training prepares coaches for
Questions about iPEC Coach Training Program
Q.01What certifications do I earn from the iPEC CTP?
What certifications do I earn from the iPEC CTP?
Completing the three-module Coach Training Program earns two certifications: the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and the Energy Leadership Index® Master Practitioner (ELI-MP). These are iPEC's own designations. Graduates who want an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) apply separately to the ICF using their training hours and coaching experience.
Q.02Is the iPEC program ICF-accredited?
Is the iPEC program ICF-accredited?
Yes. iPEC holds ICF Level 2 accreditation, the higher of the two ICF program tiers, and has maintained ICF recognition since 2002. The 160 training hours earned in the core CTP meet the educational requirements for the ICF ACC and PCC credentials.
Q.03How long does the program take and what does it cost?
How long does the program take and what does it cost?
The core CTP runs 7–10 months and costs $9,995 USD. It's structured around three live three-day modules, spaced approximately three months apart, with self-study, peer coaching, and monthly webinars in between. The optional COR.E® Dynamics graduate curriculum adds 2–4 months and costs $1,995 (check enrollment page for current pricing). Flexible financing is available.
Q.04What is Core Energy Coaching™?
What is Core Energy Coaching™?
Core Energy Coaching™ is iPEC's proprietary methodology, developed by Dr. Bruce D. Schneider. It frames human behavior in terms of seven levels of energy, ranging from catabolic states (reactive, limiting) at Levels 1–2, through progressively anabolic states (constructive, creative) at Levels 3–7. Coaches help clients identify which energy level is driving their thinking and support them in shifting upward. The entire iPEC curriculum connects back to this framework.
Q.05What is the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) and who can use it?
What is the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) and who can use it?
The ELI is a proprietary self-assessment that measures how a client distributes their energy across the seven levels, both under normal conditions and under stress. It is exclusive to iPEC-trained coaches: you must earn the ELI-MP certification to administer it. It is commonly used as a baseline at the start of a coaching engagement and again at the end to demonstrate change. An ELI-360 multi-rater version is available for teams.
Q.06Can I attend online or do I have to attend in person?
Can I attend online or do I have to attend in person?
Both options are available. The three live modules can be attended in-person at venues across the United States, or via live virtual sessions. Both formats lead to the same certifications and ICF training hours. Self-study and peer coaching components are completed independently between modules.
Q.07What is COR.E® Dynamics and do I need it?
What is COR.E® Dynamics and do I need it?
COR.E® Dynamics is an optional advanced curriculum for iPEC graduates who want niche specialization. Students choose a focus area, then earn a COR.E® Dynamics Specialist certification in it. The four focus areas are life coaching, executive and leadership development, health and wellness, and sports and performance. Completing it raises total ICF-accredited hours from 160 to 200, meeting the MCC training requirement. It also includes the SCOPE™ app and 200+ downloadable client assignments.
Q.08What is the difference between iPEC credentials and an ICF credential?
What is the difference between iPEC credentials and an ICF credential?
iPEC credentials (CPC, ELI-MP, COR.E® Dynamics Specialist) confirm completion of iPEC's training program. ICF credentials (ACC, PCC, MCC) are awarded by the International Coaching Federation, an independent body, and require training hours from an accredited program plus verified coaching experience and a performance evaluation. Many iPEC graduates hold both.
Q.09What do I receive between the three live modules?
What do I receive between the three live modules?
Between each module you attend monthly live webinars, complete self-directed study assignments, practice with peers, and receive six one-on-one sessions with an assigned iPEC Mentor Coach, a credentialed ICF coach who provides personalized feedback and accountability throughout your training.
Q.10Who is the iPEC program best suited for?
Who is the iPEC program best suited for?
iPEC suits coaches who want a complete, single-framework program with a proprietary assessment tool and built-in niche pathways. It's a strong fit for those entering coaching from HR, leadership, wellness, or performance backgrounds who want 160–200 ICF hours in one program. The Core Energy framework is adaptable across coaching niches and client populations.