Ever felt like you’re on the edge of something great but just can’t make that final leap? 

Enter CTI Certification. Ever heard of it? It’s not just any credential; it’s an invitation to join the ranks of elite coaches who started exactly where you are now.

But who lit this path and why? What sets CTI apart in the crowded world of coaching certifications?

Dive in because, by the end of our chat, you’ll be ready to decide if CTI is your next big move. 

Today, we’ll uncover:

• What is the CTI Certification?
• Who are the founders of the Co-Active Training Institute?
• Specialty of the Co-Active Training Institute
• Cost of the CTI Certification
• Reviews of the Co-Active Training Institute programs

What Is the Coaches Training Institute (CTI)?

The CTI is actually now known as the Co-Active Training Institute. Founded in 1992, it’s one of the earliest recognized coach certification organizations and was actually the first coach training organization that was accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). 

Their stats are pretty impressive: 

• Trains over half of the new professional coaches annually
• Trained over 145,000 coaches, consultants, and leaders
• Over one-third of employees in Fortune 100 companies have been trained by CTI
• The Co-Active Coach Certification is ICF-accredited, so you have the option to apply for your ICF certification upon completion of their course 
• Offers leadership and organizational training as well

Who Are the Founders of Co-Active Training Institute?

Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, and Karen Kimsey-House lit the torch for this pioneering journey into professional coaching. They saw a gap in traditional education—people needed tools not only to survive but to thrive—and they filled that need with gusto.

Their vision was simple: to create coaches who could spark change in people’s lives. So they rolled up their sleeves and laid the groundwork for CTI—a place where leaders are made.

While they spearhead the Co-Active Leadership team, they also have 300+ coaches worldwide who help deliver their transformational coach training program.

Specialty of the Co-Active Training Institute

The Co-Active Professional Coach Certification is a three-step process in six different courses. You start with the fundamentals of coaching and work through the intermediate courses, up to their Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) Training Program.

The first five courses that cover the coaching skills you’ll need to build your business should take approximately six months to complete. Then, if you choose to pursue the advanced certification, it will take an additional six months to a year. 

Here’s what they offer: 

Introductory Course: Fundamentals of Coaching

• 18.75 coach training hours
• Covers: The Co-Active Fundamentals, coaching foundations, powerful questions, three levels of listening, coaching agility, how to use coaching, communication styles
• Duration: 2.5 – 4 Days
• Prerequisites: None

Coach Training Course 1: Fulfillment

• 21.5 coach training hours
• Covers: Identifying values, accessing personal power, transcending limitations, creating fulfillment
• Duration: 3 – 5 Days
• Prerequisites: Fundamentals

Coach Training Course 2: Balance

• 21.25 coach training hours
• Covers: Helping clients make choices, perspective building, forwarding action, power of choice, self-affirmation
• Duration: 3 – 5 Days
• Prerequisites: Fundamentals and Fulfillment

Coach Training Course 3: Process

• 21.25 coach training hours
• Covers: Experiential coaching, presence, and flexibility, individuation, fluidity, nature of process, attuned listening
• Duration: 3 – 5 Days
• Prerequisites: Fundamentals, Fulfillment, and Balance

Coach Training Course 4: Synergy

• 125 coach training hours
• Covers: Coaching framework, creative solutions, and confidence, targeted impact, unlocking intuition, generative interaction
• Duration: 3 – 5 Days
• Prerequisites: Fundamentals, Fulfillment, Balance, and Process

Advanced Coach Certification Program: 

• 96 coach training hours
• Duration: 25 weeks
• Prerequisites: Fundamentals, Fulfillment, Balance, Process, and Synergy

Here’s a general overview of the CPCC timeline here:

While it’s up to you what coach training programs you choose, they’ve designed their coach training pathway to make it simple to follow while building your coaching skills without feeling overwhelmed.

Once you complete the minimum education requirements set by CTI and earn your CPCC, you can apply for your Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential through the ICF.

Cost of the Co-Active Training Professional Coach Certification Program

The Co-Active Training Institute coach training certification pricing varies depending on two factors:

1. If you’re buying a bundle

You can purchase a bundle that includes all four of the Coach Training courses (Fulfillment, Balance, Process, Synergy) starting at $6,899. You’ll also need to purchase the Fundamentals course for $1,099. If you’d like to participate in the advanced Coach Certification Program, which is optional, that’s an additional $6,499. 

So, the investment would be close to $14,500 for all the courses. 

2. If you’re opting for in-person coursework versus online coursework

Now, the same policies above apply, but if you want to do them in-person versus virtually, the price will be slightly higher at about $16,300. 

The Fundamentals and Coach Trainings are offered in person and virtually. The Coach Certification Program, since it’s six months versus just a few days, is offered online only. In-person courses are offered in the following locations:

• USA: Denver, Washington D.C., and San Rafael
• Canada: Toronto
• Singapore
• UK: London

Online courses are scheduled based on your timezone, which makes it much more convenient.

You can see the full course schedule for 2024 on their website here, along with up-to-date pricing.

Co-Active Coach Training Reviews

Because the Co-Active Training Institute is so well known, you’ll have no trouble finding public reviews for their certifications.

Here is a five-star review on their Google listing:

And here is another glowing testimonial from a student who tagged them on Facebook:

Finally, check out this detailed post about a new coach’s experience with Co-Active and getting certified by the ICF!

Of course, we always recommend you do your due diligence whenever investing in a program like this. But these reviews should help you at least begin your research journey.

Coaches Training Institute (CTI) Certification

If you want to become an established professional coach, becoming a CTI-trained coach will provide you with invaluable skills learned and an unmatched level of support due to the size of the organization. Their advanced standard programs provide the highest quality education for those who want to be life coaches, business coaches, and more.But, no matter which coach training certification you choose to enroll in, Paperbell can help you run your successful coaching business — the simple way. Grab your free trial to test it out for yourself!