We're here to help.
The graduate instructional coaching certificate program at Grand Canyon University is designed to help leaders in education develop the necessary skills to guide and support other professional teachers. Instructional coaches can play an essential role in helping other educators navigate professional development opportunities and achieve positive results for their students.
This instructional coach training certificate can prepare you for the opportunity to coach and support educators. This certificate aligns with the Teacher Leader Model Standards and provides a foundation for theoretical knowledge and professional skills to support the teaching and learning needs within the field of education.
In this instructional coach training certificate program, you have the opportunity to acquire advanced coaching skills, as well as the proper tools to implement these strategies in the areas of instruction, leadership and professional development. This allows you to remain focused on student learning needs and support effective teaching practices in the classroom.
GCU’s instructional coaching certificate online program is designed to equip graduates to create opportunities where they can position themselves to become leaders among their peers by focusing on effective methods of professional learning, instructional practices and development. This certificate teaches graduates to guide and support professionals in the field of education through the role of an instructional coach. Students enrolled in GCU’s instructional coach training online will be taught the skills and techniques to support teachers working in the education environment.
This 15-credit instructional coaching certificate combines the flexibility of online courses with effective leadership practices that can improve teacher performance, self-efficacy and morale.
In this certificate program, you have the opportunity to develop an inclusive, continuously expanding knowledge base of the elements of instructional coaching.
These elements include:
Delivery of effective curriculum using theories and models that enhance adult learning & development
Enrichment of classroom instruction & learning outcomes with an emphasis on decision-making data
Professional coaching and leadership skills
Focus on improving professional practices, workplace culture and effective communication
Assessments using educational research-based evidence and strategies
Effective classroom management
Facilitation of professional development to accelerate the instructional growth of educators
Instructional coaching is constantly expanding and ever-changing, which may leave you with unanswered questions. Here are some of the most asked questions regarding this certificate program.
Instructional coaches inspire others and are well-respected and admired by other professionals often serving as role models and mentors for other teachers and educators. Instructional coaches typically have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and are likely a certified licensed educator with one or more years of experience as a teacher of record.1
Instructional coaching can play a crucial role in teachers’ professional development by providing opportunities to expand and deepen their skills. Through coaching, teachers can evolve into leaders within their industry, gaining from courses, seminars or workshops that focus on implementing new teaching strategies, support systems and data in their classrooms. Such ongoing learning opportunities enable educators to enhance their professional careers and effectively contribute to student success and academic growth.
Instructional coaches play an important role in training other individuals — which makes them teachers within their respective areas of expertise. Their mentorship and guidance not only enhance the teaching skills of educators but also foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment that benefits both teachers and students alike.
A master’s degree in any of the following areas could be helpful in pursuing an instructional coaching career: educational administration, educational leadership or curriculum instruction.
To become a qualified, professional instructional coach, you will likely need excellent communication and listening skills, experience with a variety of teaching strategies, helpful resources and a passion for fostering positive learning experiences for all. Those who regularly pursue professional development training, workshops, conferences, meetings and seminars have strong potential to be instructional coaches.
If you’re interested in becoming a professional educator who is able to guide and support professional development strategies in the educational field, GCU’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching Program may be the right choice for you.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022, Oct. 4). Instructional Coordinators: How to Become an Instructional Coordinator. Retrieved on July 6, 2023.
The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
