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The Spectrum Council · Accreditation Body

The global standard for neurodivergent coaching excellence.

We set the standards, assess competence, and hold a public register — so families and employers can trust the people they work with.

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IndependentFounded 2026Public registerPublished standards
The Spectrum Council accreditation seal
  • Accredited. Independently assessed against published standards.
  • Evidence-informed. Standards grounded in research and practice.
  • Ethical & accountable. Bound by a written Code of Ethics.
  • Publicly verifiable. Every credential on an open register.

Proficiency

Admission is earned by assessed competence against the Scope of Practice — never bought.

Ethical

Every member agrees in writing to a Code of Ethics and can be held to account.

Accountable

Standing is recorded on the public Register; lapses and breaches are noted.

Transparent

Credentials, specialisms and standing are open for anyone to verify.

45+Countries recognised
2,500+Accredited practitioners
100%Independently assessed
Est. 2026Independent body
Verify a Certified Spectrum Practitioner

Search by name or registration number to confirm a coach’s credential, specialism and current standing.

The Council's published Spectrum Coaching Standards
Evidence-informed standards · real-world impact

A credible standard, written down and held to.

  • A published Scope of Practice that defines what accredited coaching is — and is not.
  • A written Code of Ethics every member agrees to uphold.
  • A clear complaints route, with standing reviewed and recorded.
  • Versioned, dated documents anyone can read in full.
Read the StandardsSearch the Register
The marks of accreditation

What recognition looks like

A certificate of accreditation

Issued on admission, carrying the Council seal and the member’s registration number.

A members’ credential

Carried by practitioners in good standing — recognisable and verifiable.

The published Standards

The Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics, versioned and open to read.

Our accreditation process

Earned against the Standards, not bought

  1. Step 01

    Application

    Eligibility checked against evidence of training, qualifications and supervised practice.

  2. Step 02

    Assessment

    Competence assessed against the Scope of Practice, independent of any training provider.

  3. Step 03

    Admission

    Entered on the public Register with a credential and a unique registration number.

  4. Step 04

    Lifetime credential

    Your credential is yours for life — held on the public Register, free to verify, with no renewal fee.

A register you can trust

Everyone on the Register has demonstrated knowledge — and excellence

A Spectrum Council credential is never granted for finishing a course or paying a fee. Every practitioner has proven their competence against the published Standards, four ways:

Passed a written examination

A rigorous assessment across the full Scope of Practice. Entry requires a minimum score of 80% — there is no pass on attendance alone.

Demonstrated coaching skill

A full coaching session is submitted and assessed against a published competency rubric — knowledge has to be shown in practice, not just on paper.

Proven ethical practice

Each practitioner evidences understanding of confidentiality, scope of practice, safe referral and the Code of Ethics before admission.

Evidenced supervised practice & CPD

Admission requires documented supervised hours and continuing professional development — assessed once, recognised for life.

Every requirement above is set out in full in the published Standards — the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics, versioned and open to read.

The highest standard of evidence

Built on the best reference material — not opinion

Our Standards and recognised curricula are grounded in peer-reviewed research: meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials and published syntheses. We cite our sources, review them as new evidence emerges, and version every change. A selection of the literature our Standards draw on:

SMD ≈ 0.68Emotion-recognition trainingMeta-analysis, autistic childrenView study 18 RCTsJoint-attention interventionsRandomised-controlled-trial meta-analysisView study 12 of 14Social-skills interventionsControlled studies with significant gainsView study 31 studiesVisual supports & predictabilityResearch synthesisView study

The research supports the skill areas our practitioners are trained and assessed in. Standards are reviewed against current evidence and revised — every version dated and open to read.

The Register

A public record of every accredited practitioner and their current standing.

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Standards & Ethics

The Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics every member upholds.

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The Fellowship

CPD, peer supervision and the annual conference for members.

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“When a parent or an HR lead asks how they can trust a coach, we point them to the Register. That is exactly what an accreditation body should make possible.”

Dr Eleanor Whitfield, FSC · Chair, Standards Committee

Trusted by individuals and organisations worldwide

Coaching FederationNeurodiversity InstituteWorkplace Inclusion NetworkFamily Support Alliance

Independent by design

A Standards Committee owns the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics; a separate Registration function decides admissions and reviews standing. Those who set the standard do not sell the training — and no one can buy their way onto the Register.

“A credential is a relationship, not a certificate.”