Frequently Asked Questions

IGH3P® is an international professional body supporting professional standards, ethical practice, education, recognition and continuing development across coaching, mentoring and related professional disciplines.

IGH3P® establishes and promotes professional standards, provides professional membership, assesses applications for certification and accreditation, supports continuing professional development and provides recognition pathways for individual practitioners and organisations.

Coaching and mentoring are both developmental relationships, but their emphasis can differ. Coaching commonly focuses on defined goals, development, performance or change through a structured professional process. Mentoring often draws more directly upon the mentor's professional knowledge and experience to support the mentee's broader development.

In practice, there can be overlap between the two. Professional competence, ethical conduct and appropriate boundaries remain important in both.

Professional membership provides an affiliation with IGH3P® and demonstrates a commitment to professional standards, ethical conduct and continuing development. Membership may also provide access to professional resources, development opportunities and other benefits associated with the relevant membership category.

No. Where a non-member application option is offered, eligible practitioners may apply for professional recognition without first becoming an IGH3P® member.

Active IGH3P® Professional Members may qualify for the member application rate shown for the relevant accreditation or certification package.

No. Membership and professional recognition are separate. Accreditation or certification is awarded through the applicable assessment process and requires applicants to meet the criteria for the recognition level sought.

Certification provides formal recognition against defined professional criteria such as education, training and practical experience.

Accreditation represents a broader professional assessment and may consider substantial practice experience, professional competence, ethical conduct, continuing professional development and other evidence relevant to the level sought.

IGH3P® provides four progressive coaching accreditation levels: Accredited Coach Practitioner, Accredited Advanced Level Coach, Accredited Master Coach and Accredited Coaching Fellow.

Each level reflects increasing requirements for professional education, practical coaching experience and professional development.

Begin by reviewing the requirements and selecting the recognition level that most accurately reflects your training and professional experience. You can then complete the relevant application and provide the requested supporting evidence.

Applications are reviewed against the criteria for the pathway and level sought before a recognition decision is made.

Depending on the pathway and level, applicants may be asked to provide evidence of professional education and training, practical experience, continuing professional development, professional standing and other supporting documentation relevant to the application.

Yes. IGH3P® provides Certification and Accreditation pathways for professional mentors at Practitioner, Advanced, Master and Fellow levels.

The appropriate level depends upon the applicant's professional mentoring education, practical mentoring experience and the requirements of the recognition pathway selected.

Yes. IGH3P® provides separate professional recognition pathways for eligible education and training providers and their programmes or courses.

Organisational and course recognition is distinct from the accreditation or certification of an individual practitioner and is assessed against the relevant organisational or educational criteria.

Not necessarily. Recognition of a training programme and professional recognition of an individual are separate processes.

Individual accreditation may require evidence beyond completion of training, including practical experience, professional practice and other criteria applicable to the recognition level sought.

Members are expected to practise professionally and ethically, work within the boundaries of their competence, maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries, and comply with applicable professional standards and ethical requirements.

Yes. Continuing professional development supports professional competence and encourages practitioners to maintain, extend and reflect upon their knowledge and practice throughout their professional careers.

Specific CPD requirements may apply according to the practitioner's membership or professional recognition level.

IGH3P® maintains procedures for considering complaints and concerns relating to professional conduct. Matters are considered in accordance with the applicable complaints, ethical and disciplinary procedures.

Professional standards provide a framework for responsible practice. They support clarity around competence, confidentiality, boundaries, accountability and the responsibilities practitioners hold toward clients, colleagues and the wider public.

Ethical practice is therefore central to IGH3P® professional membership and recognition.