CMI Qualification

Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice

Strengthen your coaching practice and work towards professional recognition, with a pathway that fits your experience.

Qualification

CMI Level 5 Award

Assessment unit

532: The Role of the Professional Coach

Unit credit value

9 credits

Available support

Three individual pathways

Coaching expertise. Professional recognition.

This Level 5 Award is built around CMI Unit 532: The Role of the Professional Coach. It explores what it means to coach with professionalism, from establishing trust to managing relationships with coachees and other stakeholders.

You will consider how to respond to challenges, make sound decisions and maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Critical reflection on your own practice helps you recognise areas for development and strengthen your effectiveness over time.

The unit fits KAA’s practical, reflective approach to professional learning, grounded in real coaching conversations.

Is this right for you?

People developing their coaching practice
Practitioners with experience who want structured guidance
Experienced coaches ready to evidence their practice

Your experience, previous learning and confidence help determine the most suitable pathway. KAA will discuss this with you.

Your route to qualification

Choose the level of learning and support you need while working towards the same qualification requirements.

Discuss your experience

Talk with KAA about your coaching practice, previous learning and professional goals.

Agree your pathway

Choose comprehensive development, guided learning or focused consultation and feedback.

Evidence your coaching practice

Complete the assessment requirements, supported by the learning and feedback included in your pathway.

What you'll learn

Develop the quality of your coaching relationships alongside a more critical understanding of your own practice.

Build trust and communicate effectively

Explore the knowledge, skills and behaviours that support coaching relationships and help others make meaningful progress.

Manage professional relationships

Consider your responsibilities to coachees and other stakeholders, including how to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries.

Respond with sound judgement

Reflect on the challenges that arise in coaching and how to make decisions that support professional practice.

Improve through reflection

Critically evaluate your effectiveness, recognise areas for development and strengthen the quality of your coaching over time.

For you

Connect professional learning with real coaching conversations and build evidence of the knowledge, skills and behaviours you demonstrate.

For your organisation

Explore how a tailored approach to coaching can support leadership capacity, professional learning and a stronger coaching culture.

Qualification details

All three individual pathways work towards the Level 5 Award built around the same CMI unit.

CMI Level 5 –

Unit 532

The Role of the Professional Coach

Explore professional coaching relationships, sound judgement and critical reflection on your effectiveness.

Credits

Total unit hours

Guided learning hours

Choose a learning pathway

Your coaching experience and confidence will shape the most appropriate route. Compare the learning and support included below.

Pathway and suitability

Scheduled learning or consultation

Support included

Professional Practice Pathway

For participants seeking the most comprehensive development and assessment support.

18 hours of guided workshops and coaching

Workshops and coaching with Dr David Porritt
Individual assignment support
Feedback through the assessment process

Guided Qualification Pathway

For people with some coaching experience who want structure and support.

9 hours of guided learning

Focused professional learning
Guidance as you develop evidence for assessment
Feedback through the assessment process

Recognition & Feedback Pathway

For experienced practitioners ready to evidence their existing coaching practice.

90-minute consultation

Consultation with Dr David Porritt
One pre-submission read with formative feedback
Evidence must meet the qualification requirements

Included in every pathway

CMI registration, access to CMI membership and support, ManagementDirect digital resources and the KAA Guide to Coaching.

Build a coaching culture across your organisation

The Organisational Coaching Pathway is a bespoke route for schools and organisations. KAA can tailor a combination of pathways to strengthen coaching culture, leadership capacity and professional learning.

Your commitment and support

KAA can help you understand the full commitment and choose support appropriate to your experience.

Your commitment

The three pathways include different amounts of scheduled learning or consultation. Unit 532 is listed as 28 guided learning hours and 90 total unit hours. Ask KAA how your previous experience, learning, practice and assessment fit the full requirements.

How we support you

The Professional Practice Pathway includes individual assignment support and assessment feedback. The Guided Qualification Pathway includes feedback through the assessment process. The Recognition and Feedback Pathway includes one pre-submission read with formative feedback.

Fees, assessment and dates

CMI registration is included in all three pathways. Contact Kate for current pathway fees, delivery arrangements, start dates and submission timelines.

Discuss your qualification with the KAA team.

We can help you explore the right route, assessment requirements and practical arrangements for you or your organisation.

Kate Beetlestone
CMI Centre Co-ordinator