Certified Instructional Coach ISTE Seal of Alignment

i2e Certified Instructional Coach™

Microsoft Certified Coach opens up opportunities to network with instructional coaches from around the world

Network with instructional coaches from around the world

Microsoft Certified Coach sessions are led by passionate coaches and industry thought leaders

Sessions led by passionate coaches and industry thought leaders

Microsoft Certified Coaching Academy activities reinforce learning of best practices and principles

Engaging activities to reinforce learning of best practices and principles

Monthly PD

Informational webinars

Sign up for one of our free informational webinars to learn more about the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ program, which includes a live Q&A session for you to ask any questions you might have. If you can’t make the live webinar, register to get access to the recording to watch later.

Register by Jun 30, 2026 and save $50 with promo code CICJUN50OFF

Upcoming cohorts:

  • Summer 2026 Virtual Cohort (Online)
    Jul 7–9, 2026 & Jul 14–16, 2026

Training for schools & organizations

We work with schools and organizations around the world to host Instructional Coach Academy at various dates and locations around the world. There’s a reason school systems like Atlanta Public Schools, Miami Dade County Public Schools, Girls Day School Trust, and more have invested in this program for their instructional coaches.

“I just knew this was the right direction for my team of phenomenal educational technology specialists to go in. There’s no way I can expect them to effectively train our teachers and students if we haven’t provided them with the training and resources to become experts themselves.” Dr. Natasha Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology at Atlanta Public Schools

Girls' Day School Trust, UK
Atlanta Public Schools, USA
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, USA
Achievement House Cyber Charter School

Interested in bringing this program to your region or system? Let us know.

The process

Attend Coaching Academy

Step 1

Attend Instructional Coach Academy, a 12-hr workshop designed just for instructional coaches, school leaders, and mentors.

Step 2

Continue learning through monthly professional development sessions designed just for our program participants.

Portfolio

Step 3

Successfully complete and submit a coaching portfolio to earn the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ credential.

Celebrate your achievement

Step 4

Celebrate your growth and achievements! Stay engaged through our online coaching community.

What is i2e Certified Instructional Coach™?

The i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ program begins with the Instructional Coach Academy and ends with an industry credential guided by the ISTE Standards for Coaches. Each step of the way, participants are guided in the latest coaching research and strategies.

i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ is a certification program designed by i2e for instructional coaches, school leaders, and mentors in education. The program is guided by the ISTE Standards for Coaches and has been awarded the ISTE Seal of Alignment for its quality and rigor in professional development.

ISTE seal of alignment
Past attendees overwhelmingly rate this workshop as highly satisfactory.

“Thank you for such a meaningful couple of days. I found the content to be relevant, engaging, and timely. It affirmed much of the work that we are already doing and provided a lens through which to consider areas of growth. The facilitators were relatable, passionate, and able to read the room. I would recommend this course to anyone and look forward to working toward my certification in the coming months.”
Author Name
Bellevue 2023 Microsoft Certified Coach cohort

The program begins with the Instructional Coach Academy, a 12-hr workshop designed to provide development, support, and a network of like-minded professionals for ongoing community. Participants are provided with a solid foundation for navigating the 21st century teaching and learning landscape.

Following the Academy, participants are invited to monthly professional development webinars and have access to regular coaching resources aligned to the ISTE Standards for Coaches. After six months, participants are eligible to submit a portfolio of their coaching practice for review. Coaches receive personalized guidance through the portfolio process and, upon approval, receive the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ credential.

What’s included with i2e Certified Instructional Coach™?

  • 12-hr Instructional Coach Academy
  • Access to the coaching resources playbook
  • Clifton Strengths® top five individualized report and access to group coaching session during the Academy
  • Continuing university education credit through MidAmerica Nazarene University (optional)
  • 6-month access to a library of professional growth videos designed for coaches
  • Personalized support through the portfolio submission process
  • Credly badge powered by Acclaim to share on social media and include in your email signature
  • i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ t-shirt
  • Ongoing online support through the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ community
  • Leadership opportunities within the program as mentors and guest speakers

— Elena Aguilar, The Art of Coaching (2013)

What makes i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ different?

Our coaching program has passed the rigorous ISTE Seal of Alignment to ensure it meets the highest standards of instructional coaching. Beginning with the Instructional Coach Academy, the program continues up to 9 months. i2e Certified Instructional Coach culminates in the submission of a portfolio of practice with personalized support and feedback from one of our program facilitators throughout the process.

Licensed providers

Licensed providers are qualified to lead the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ program in different regions around the world. Interested in becoming a licensed provider? Contact us to learn more: info@i2e-llc.com

Buzzbotics

Buzzbotics

South Africa, English

ITLS

ITLS

Middle East, Arabic & French

Download the program syllabus

i2e Certified Instructional Coach informational PDF

Download the i2e Certified Instructional Coach™ PDF overview and syllabus

Frequently asked questions

Registration & Attendance

Currently the certification costs $595 USD.

This price includes:

  • 2 days of workshops totaling 12 hours of professional development
  • Catered lunches on both days (for in-person cohorts)
  • CliftonStrengths® assessment
  • Access to an exclusive global Certified Coach network
  • 6-month access to the Certified Instructional Coach Video PD library
  • Portfolio building coaching
  • Credly badge
  • Certified Coach T-shirt
  • Press kit

We believe the most effective coaching happens face to face and we believe the best practice for learning about coaching should be as well. However, we understand the need to provide an option for coaches who are limited to remote professional development. Currently our workshops are all in-person, but we have plans to release a virtual option in September 2025.

Currently, Certified Instructional Coach trainings are available in the following languages:

  • English
  • Arabic
  • French

Training providers around the world are welcome to apply to become a Certified Instructional Coach provider, and they are free to offer the program in their preferred language. Check our provider directory for currently available training languages.

Coaches from all over the world are welcome to attend and become certified. Currently, cohorts are available in:

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • South Africa
  • Middle East

We are always adding new countries and regions, and training providers from around the world are welcome to apply to become a provider. Click here to view our currently available international Certified Instructional Coach training providers.

Yes, the Certified Instructional Coach certification is open to coaches from all regions. Our licensed providers localize the coaching academy content and offer cohorts around the world.

Contact us for large group pricing for up to 35 participants at your location, customized to your school or district.

The best way to request a cohort near you is to bring Certified Instructional Coach to your school or organization, with a full group of coaches from your area! Contact us for information about arranging a special cohort in your location. You can also contact one of our licensed providers to request a cohort in your region.

Program Information

Because Certified Instructional Coach is aligned to the ISTE Standards for Coaches, we get this question a lot. Both programs are:

  • Competency-based
  • Last around six months
  • Require a professional portfolio

However, the Certified Instructional Coach program is:

  • Specifically designed for instructional coaches working with adults
  • Aligned to the ISTE Standards for Coaches
  • Verifiable through a Credly badge

In contrast, the ISTE Certified Educator program is:

  • Platform-neutral
  • Focused on educators working with students
  • Aligned to the ISTE Standards for Educators

Certification process:

  • 12-hr Instructional Coach Academy workshop
  • CliftonStrengths® Top 5 Assessment
  • 6-month access to the Certified Instructional Coach Video PD library
  • 7 ISTE Standards emails
  • Portfolio support office hours.

Certification completion:

  • Shareable badge
  • T-shirt
  • Press kit
  • Alumni opportunities
  • Lifetime access to the community group

After the 12-hour Instructional Coach Academy workshop, coaches have nine months of professional development and portfolio support. The submission window opens six months after the Academy and closes at the nine-month mark. All program participants have perpetual access to the online community for continued support. So, while the portfolio portion of the process is only nine months, the community connection lasts a lifetime.

The Instructional Coach Academy refers to the 12-hour kick-off training session. It is a part of the Certified Instructional Coach program, but it is not the full certification.

No, attending the 12-hour Instructional Coach Academy is the first step in in the Certified Instructional Coach process. To become a Certified Instructional Coach, in 6–9 months after the kick-off session, you must:

  • Attend monthly online PD
  • Attend training sessions on building your coaching portfolio
  • Complete and pass the portfolio submission process

After your portfolio passes, you will receive your:

  • Certificate of Endorsement from Microsoft Education
  • Credly badge
  • T-shirt
  • Press kit

Yes, you will receive an official certificate of completion at the end of the 12-hour training stating the number of hours of professional development you’ve participated in.

If you have completed the in-person training but did not complete your portfolio during the submission window, you can register for a portfolio-only process. Since you’ve already completed the in-person training, you do not need to attend another two-day cohort, but you will join the next available cohort’s timeline which includes access to the monthly PD, coaching newsletter, portfolio pop-ups, and ISTE Standards emails. The cost for this process is $295.

We offer monthly live meetings for portfolio support as well as asynchronous feedback and help inside our community. For candidates who need to revise their portfolio, the comments contained in the scoring guide will give specific details on how to improve it. Sometimes, a candidate’s first submission does not clearly indicate how artifacts support alignment standards. A second submission is included in the original cost of certification. Additional reviews incur a new registration fee of $295 for portfolio-only access.

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