Weekly classes & challenges
Classes are live each week. Each one comes with a challenge to apply the learning, and a reflection to post in the online classroom.
Since2016
The science behind change. What no one tells you.
Starts annually, in December
Motivation
Specialization for coaches · 8 weeks · Live virtual
ICF Continuing Coach EducationA Certificate Program
Welcome
What is the secret to progress?
The research will surprise you.
A Certificate in Motivation is an 8-week, live virtual specialization for coaches who want to excel at partnering with people to realize their deepest desires. You'll study key findings in motivation research: what influences motivation, the characteristics of powerful goals, and the psychology of how people actually move through change.
Then you'll apply those findings to your coaching strategies, challenging your coachees to uncover competing commitments, why it matters, and what will help them succeed when willpower runs out.
Earn 10 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits while you build skill and confidence in taking clients further than they thought possible.
Success is a moving target, change is constant.
10
CCE credits (ICF)
8
Weeks, live virtual
- How to clarify powerful goals to awaken the reticular activation system (RAS).
- How to raise consciousness to what influences motivation, and what drains it.
- How to normalize failure as part of change and valuable feedback.
- How to recognize stages of change, and when reassessing goals is a good idea.
- How to coach persistence for when willpower runs out.
You'll practice each week, with reflections, weekly challenges, and a Capstone Project that has you doing the work, and tying it all to your coaching practice.
A closer look
Coaching Motivation, in two minutes
The details
Program at a glance
| Course | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Format | Live, virtual, weekly, on Zoom |
| Length | 8 weeks, 1 class per week |
| Attendance | Attend live, or watch the recording for missed classes |
| Classroom access | Course duration plus 3 months* |
| Weekly class | Weekly live class |
| Coursework | Reading, class lessons, videos, reflections + Capstone Project |
| CCE credits | 10 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits |
| Prerequisite | A practicing coach, or enrolled in a CA ICF certification (conditions and exceptions may apply) |
| Designation earned | A Certificate and Specialization in Coaching Motivation |
| Start dates | Annually, in December |
| Tuition | $950 plus applicable taxes |
| CA returning student price | $750 plus applicable taxes |
* Classroom access ends 3 months after the last day of the course, with no extensions beyond that date. Every class is recorded: attend live, or watch the recording for missed classes. Tuition is valid for 2026 and subject to change.
Successful completion
- Attend live, or watch the recording for missed classes
- Post in the classroom each week
- Complete all assignments and weekly challenges
- Complete the Capstone Project
What you achieve
- 10 CCE credits, applicable to your ICF credential renewal
- Research-backed frameworks to coach motivation and goal success
- Confidence to support coachees through change
- A Certificate and Specialization in Coaching Motivation
The curriculum
What you'll learn
In 8 weeks, you'll build research-backed skill in coaching motivation and goal success. You'll learn:
- How to apply key findings in motivation research to your practice
- To work with clients to explore relationships and their impact on goals
- The pillars of fulfilment as they relate to motivation
- What episodic goal pursuit is, and what makes it so important
- To identify a growth mindset, and the impact of a fixed mindset on change
- The types of goals, and what increases the likelihood of success
- Frameworks, models and questions that will open up new possibilities for clients
- The power of language, and how to detect resistance, desire and will through the stories people tell
Persistence is what happens when willpower runs out.
How you learn
Readings, videos & audio
Dive into a stimulating selection of readings, videos and audio materials on the science of change and motivation.
Shared wisdom
Learn through peer discussion with coaches at every stage of their practice. The conversation is where the material comes alive.
Capstone Project
A practical opportunity to walk the talk, and tie your learning and self-reflection to your coaching practice.
You'll leave with science behind your questions. Your clients will feel it first.
The program flow
From orientation to a lifetime of learning
8 weeks, one class at a time. The full week-by-week outline is in the course overview.
Step 1 · Get Ready
Orientation
CA team members will set you up for success.
Step 2 · Settle in
Classroom access
Student orientation begins! Prep for your first class.
Step 3 · Weeks 1 to 2
The science of change
Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset, how people actually change, and turning vague wishes into deliberate, coachable intentions.
Step 4 · Weeks 3 to 5
Goals, relationships and persistence
The characteristics of powerful goals, re-engagement without judgement, how relationships shape goal success, and structures that make persistence repeatable.
Step 5 · Weeks 6 to 8
Readiness, reflection and Capstone Project
Readiness as a predictor of goal success, your own motivation story, and your Capstone Project.
Step 6 · Week 8
Your certificate
Your course ends with a certificate, and 10 CCEs for your ICF renewal.
Step 7 · A lifetime of learning
Keep growing
More specializations, community, and membership carry you forward.
Beyond the classroom
Join your peers in the community
Learning continues between and beyond classes with 10+ live events every month in the Coach Academy community.
- Clubs and keynotes
- Unlimited coaching exchange
- Live coach demos
- Case study clinics
- Coaching skills labs
- Q&A with Coach Academy Founder
- Upgrade to Mastermind for mini-courses, leadership circles, business strategies and advanced skills
Membership is open to all students. Ask an Admissions Coach about member rates.
Keep learning
Why Coach Academy
We are different
Grounded in research
Every specialization is built on empirical research and evidence-informed practice, backed by 50,000+ hours of curriculum design since 2016. When the science of coaching moves, our curriculum moves with it.
The pulse of the profession
We study where coaching is heading: new ICF competencies, emerging frameworks, and the skills teams and organizations ask for. You learn what the coaching trends predict.
Learning beyond certification
Our mission is to multiply the impact of coaching in every conversation, and that doesn't stop with certification. Specializations, CCEs, and a community of practice keep you growing.
Here to serve
Small experiential classes, immediate feedback, and the care you would expect from a world-class institute. We are here to serve the coaches who serve everyone else.
The founder
Nathalie Blais, MCC
Founder & CEO, Coach Academy
Nathalie Blais is the Founder and CEO of Coach Academy and an ICF Master Certified Coach whose work focuses on how people think, connect, and lead. Her central idea is both simple and disruptive: connection is a skill.
Blais holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Harvard and has logged more than 50,000 hours in facilitation, learning design, research, and education development. She is the architect of multiple ICF-accredited coach education programs, a TEDx speaker, and has trained thousands of leaders and coaches worldwide.
Watch her TEDx talk: Connection matters more than curriculumQuestions
What people ask before they call
What are CCE credits, and why do they matter?
Continuing Coach Education credits are how the ICF keeps credentials current: credential holders renew every 3 years with 40 CCE units. This course earns you 10 CCEs in one 8-week specialization, applicable to your renewal.
Is this a certification?
This is a specialization for coaches. You'll graduate with a Certificate and Specialization in Coaching Motivation and 10 CCE credits that build on the credential you already hold. For ICF credentials, see our certification programs.
What is the prerequisite?
A practicing coach, or current enrollment in a Coach Academy ICF certification (conditions and exceptions may apply). An Admissions Coach will confirm your eligibility.
Is this course theory, or practice?
Both. You'll study key findings in motivation research, then apply them directly to your coaching strategies through weekly challenges, reflections and practice.
How does attendance work?
Attend live, or watch the recording for missed classes. You'll also post in the classroom each week and complete the assignments, weekly challenges, and Capstone Project.
What is the Capstone Project?
A practical opportunity to walk the talk, and tie your learning and self-reflection to your coaching practice. This is where the curriculum is brought to life.
Can I do this while working full-time?
Yes. One live class per week, a weekly challenge to apply what you're learning, and a reflection to post in the online classroom, all designed for working coaches.
When does the course start?
Once a year, in December.
Do I have to be a Coach Academy graduate to join?
No! Coaches trained elsewhere are welcome. If you meet the prerequisites, we would love your perspective in the classroom. Many students join us from other schools.
How long do I keep classroom access?
Course duration plus 3 months, with no extensions beyond that date. Every class is recorded, so you can revisit lessons during that window. You have 3 months after the program ends to complete all assignments.
Start with a conversation
What happens when I fill out this form?
Fill out the form to set up a call with an Admissions Coach, or view program overviews and get more information. Either way, no pressure. All of our Admissions Coaches are graduates of our programs. They will be able to answer all your questions from first-hand experience as alumni of Coach Academy.
Starts annually in December · All classes live and online
| Program | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Next program starts | December 7, 2027 |
| Class time | Tuesdays at 6:30 PM ET |
| Format | Live, virtual |
The first life to change is yours.