Coach Commission™ Certification Standards ©

Accredited Education – Level II (Highest Standard)

Standards for Professional Designations & Board Certifications

United States & International Framework

The Coach Commission™ maintains rigorous certification standards aligned with long-standing professional designation principles in the United States and internationally.

Professional designations have a substantial legal and academic history. U.S. Supreme Court precedent (including the Ibanez decision) has reinforced that bona fide board certifications and professional designations generally include the following core elements:

1. Accredited Education

2. Formal Assessment or Examination

3. Recognized Academic Degree

4. Continuing Education Requirements

5. Ethics & Professional Conduct Standards

6. Documented Professional Experience

These components form the foundation of credible, defensible professional certification standards.

Certification & Accreditation Standards

Level II Accreditation – The Highest Educational Standard

The Coach Commission™ recognizes three primary certification structures.

🥇 Level II – Accredited Education & Examination (Highest Standard)

This is the most rigorous educational pathway.

Level II Accreditation means:

• The college or university is institutionally accredited; and

• The business school (or professional school) is separately accredited by a government-recognized accrediting body.

Examples of Level II accreditation bodies include:

• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)

• ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs)

• EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System)

• ABA-accredited legal education (American Bar Association)

Level II represents dual or specialized accreditation recognized by governmental or nationally acknowledged accrediting authorities.

🥈 Level I – Degree + Examination

This category requires:

• A college diploma or degree; and

• Completion of qualifying examinations.

However, the academic institution may not hold Level II (dual/specialized) accreditation.

This pathway reflects a strong professional standard but does not meet the enhanced criteria of separately accredited professional schools.

🥉 Examination-Based Credential

This structure requires:

• Successful completion of a professional examination;

• No mandatory accredited degree requirement.

Historically, many project management and financial planning credentials have operated under this model. While valid, this represents a narrower educational standard.

Why Level II Matters

A degree earned from a Level II accredited institution is generally:

• More widely recognized internationally

• More easily transferable for academic credit reciprocity

• Preferred by regulatory bodies and sovereign governments

• Accepted for CPA, Chartered Accountant, or advanced professional licensing pathways

• Required for many bar-accredited legal education standards

In Level II accreditation:

• The institution is accredited;

• The business or professional school is separately accredited;

• Accreditation is recognized by bodies such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or equivalent international authorities.

Global Recognition & Public Standards

The Board has consulted with governmental and international bodies, including agencies associated with the United States and international institutions.

These accredited education and examination standards have been publicly disclosed and referenced in governmental and authoritative professional guides for over a decade, including occupational and credentialing reference materials.

Commitment to Educational Integrity

The Coach Commission™ maintains that Level II accredited education combined with examination, ethics, continuing education, and documented experience represents the highest benchmark for professional board certification.

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