Provider Membership FAQs

The Association for Coaching® (AC) is a leading independent, not-for-profit professional body dedicated to advancing the coaching profession worldwide. Our purpose is to inspire and champion coaching excellence, raise awareness of coaching, and support high standards across the global ecosystem of coaching.

As an inclusive body, we welcome coaches, leaders, organizations, Coach Supervisors and training providers who are committed to professional growth and meaningful impact.

AC Provider membership is open to any organization or institution that supports the coaching profession. You will just need to complete our online registration; we will review and be in contact within 5 days. Joining is designed to be a smooth and straightforward experience. You will be guided through a series of questions and declarations, so we ask you to be as thorough as possible.

Yes! Provider Membership is mainly for your organization, whilst Fellow Membership recognises your own coaching experience and your contributions to the coaching profession.

We provide a 50% discount on the second membership type. The discount is only valid if both memberships have not expired.

• Provider Membership is an annual subscription and gives you (and your Associates) access to AC benefits, resources, events, and community.

• Accreditation applies to your course(s) and is a formal process that confirms a course or program meets specific quality standards set by the AC. It shows that the course has been reviewed and approved for its content, teaching methods, assessment, and outcomes.

In practice, accreditation means:

• Quality assurance: The course meets agreed academic or professional standards.
• Recognition: Qualifications from the course are widely accepted by employers, professional bodies, or other educational institutions.
• Consistency: The course is regularly reviewed to ensure it stays current and effective.
• Credibility for learners: Students can trust that the course delivers the knowledge and skills it claims to provide.

Most membership applications are approved within 5 working days, though a small number may take a little longer if additional checks are required. To help speed things up, we recommend making payment when you submit your application.

If payment is not made at the time of application, your account will not be available to use until your band has been confirmed and payment has been received.

Yes, you are welcome to join at any point in your coaching journey. Many members choose to stay connected with the AC community while taking pauses in their practice or preparing for future coaching work. Membership supports you in staying engaged with the latest thinking, developments, and standards across the profession.

The annual membership fee is dependent on which band you choose (benefits are exactly the same for each band).

View Membership Band Fees

• Note: You do not have to use all of your Associate places, and individuals can be changed or replaced at any time (for example, if someone leaves the business).

Membership renews annually, and you will receive your first email reminder approximately 30 days prior to your renewal date. We encourage you to renew via your account by clicking the Renew Now option once you are logged in.

You can update your payment details within your account, plus opt for direct debit or auto renew. Contact us at provider@associationforcoaching.com if you need support with this.

We understand that circumstances vary, and the AC is committed to supporting access to membership. If you are having difficulty, please contact us at provider@associationforcoaching.com so we can explore possible flexible payment arrangements together.

Provider membership offers the same benefits for each band. The band relates only to how many Associate Members you would like to attach to your account, with a view of supporting you all with a wealth of exclusive resources.

See full benefits here: Provider Member Benefits

There are different membership bands which means you can provide colleagues with an Associate membership via your Provider membership account, at no extra charge. The band indicates how many Associates you would be allowed and we would expect the band you choose to reflect the size of your organisation.

View Provider Membership Bands

Absolutely! If your learners are undertaking 35+ hours of coach training with you, you can invite them to join as an Introductory Associate Member, which gives them a complimentary 1-year membership with the AC.

View 1-Year Introductory Associate Membership

There is no limit on how many you can gift and this really adds value to your course!

• Associate Membership is aimed at providing membership benefits to your team, work colleagues, course presenters/tutors etc and will count as part of your Band membership. We always encourage you to use your places to make the most of your membership!

• Student 1-year Introductory Associate Membership is aimed at your learners/students, and there are no limits on how many you can gift. This is really helpful in supporting them on their coaching journey.

Members enjoy a wide range of complimentary events and learning opportunities throughout the year.

• Recordings of member benefit events and live coaching demos are available through the Digital Learning Hub
• Upcoming complimentary events can be viewed on the AC Events Calendar