AOCS Membership Criteria
Criteria for AOCS Membership

Membership criteria

We are trying to keep our criteria to join as broad as possible to be inclusive, yet ensure that coaches can benefit from skilled and well-trained supervision.

We can confidently assure coaches and buyers of supervision that AoCS members are all trained, qualified and experienced in coaching supervison (unless in-training), additionally most are accredited, and all subscribe to a code of ethics and hold professional indemnity insurance (where this exists in their country of residence). They also retain membership of their own professional body and actively maintain their CPD.

As a minimum our criteria are:

  • To have been trained by a known training school/academy/association, and have some practical experience of coaching supervision perhaps as a student
  • Are currently in training to be a supervisor (must be a formal and substantial programme of learning; see our quick reference guide of supervisory training providers in Free Resources)
  • Actively supervise others and/or wish to have more supervisees
  • Be in regular supervision themselves (see criteria below)
  • Hold current professional indemnity insurance covering this type of work (if this is available in your home country)
  • Subscribe to a code of ethics from a recognised lead body/coaching association
  • Ideally be personally accredited as a supervisor by a recognised lead body/coaching association (or be in process towards accreditation)

If your background varies a lot from this criteria yet you feel you can offer significant support and benefit to coaches, please complete either the Affiliate or Associate Membership application form, to outline your alternative experience and/or qualifications.

Applications from Coaches, Mentors, OD, HR, L&D professionals do not need to meet the above criteria, but show interest in learning more about coaching supervision and its benefits in the coaching and learning field.

Criteria for nominating a coach supervisor for your reference(s)

Your selected supervisor needs to:
  • Have had significant training in coaching supervision, and have at least two years’ experience practising as a coaching supervisor themselves
  • Hold a coaching supervision qualification (certificate or diploma level)
  • Be a member of a professional or lead body e.g. EMCC, AC, APECS, ILM, Hudson Institute, etc.
  • Have worked with you for sufficient time to confidently provide a reference about your recent coach supervision work (if any), and about your active learning/CPD to become a supervisor, or continue to develop as a supervisor (CPD)
  • Internal coaches/supervisors must provide two referees, preferably one external to your workplace

Choosing your own supervisor

AoCS cannot provide endorsements or recommendations when choosing a supervisor. Do select from our website - 'find a supervisor' - where you can see a range of profiles that include their background, qualifications, experience and some testimonals. We suggest that you request a quote and set up a trial period with a new supervisor to see if you're compatible, just as coaches do with their new clients.

See information about individual membership types and fees here.


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Become part of our online family. Connecting and empowering each other to succeed. We want to give supervision wider exposure and a larger 'share of voice' in the coaching community. Come and join us!

Free Resources

Become part of our online family. Connecting and empowering each other to succeed. We want to give supervision wider exposure and a larger 'share of voice' in the coaching community. Come and join us!

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