The Certified Physician Development Coach is a specialized coaching education program providing participants with coaching concepts, evidence-based coaching processes, and field-tested approaches to develop expertise in the field of physician coaching. The full program, Certified Physician Development Coach Pathway to Excellence consists of three tiers of achievement.

The first tier is the PCI Healthcare Peer Coaching Fundamentals foundation, an immersive experience in peer-to-peer coaching. This 2-day virtual live training introduces the student to the International Coaching Federation’s coaching core competencies which they practice real time with other participants. The goal of this foundation training is to equip healthcare team members with the skills and confidence to facilitate a coaching conversation with colleagues and members of the healthcare team. Participants distinguish a coaching conversation from mentoring or advising and learn to effectively support a colleague in creating awareness and developing a forward-looking plan. There is no prerequisite to enroll in the Healthcare Peer Coaching Fundamentals foundation course.

The second tier is the PCI Certified Physician Development Coach program, 6-month coach learning program along the Certification and Pathway to Excellence that leads to the third tier, the Level 1 Certificate. Enrollment in the Certified Physician Development Coach is open to clinical and non-clinical professionals who meet the enrollment prerequisite of having completed a foundation coaching course. Prospective participants must apply and go through an interview process. The PCI Certified Physician Development Coach program equips participants to coach doctors and advanced practice providers through a range of topics including work-life balance, career fulfillment, burnout prevention, personal well-being and resilience, leadership, and effective interpersonal communication. Throughout this 6-month Certification program, participants hone their ICF coaching core competencies. Extensive buddy coaching practice, mentor observation and feedback are integral to developing proficiency. Courses in practice development, creating an internal coaching program, and team coaching are included as essential topics for this advanced program. Upon successful completion Certification Portfolio, the student earns the Certified Physician Development Coach™ recognition. They also become eligible for the third tier on the Pathway to Excellence.

The third tier of Pathway to Excellence is passing the Performance Evaluation, at which time the coach is awarded the ICF Level 1 Certificate