Incredible Years® Peer Coach Certification
Certified/accredited Group Leaders are eligible to be invited to receive additional training to become an Incredible Years® Certified Coach.
An Incredible Years® Coach is an accredited IY group leader who has demonstrated competency as a peer coach using the IY coaching methods and processes to support new group leaders.
View the Incredible Years® Certification ProgressionAbout Coaching
Research regarding the training of mental health workers, therapists, and teachers has indicated that their ability to deliver evidence-based programs with proficiency requires comprehensive workshops that are collaborative, goal directed, active, reflective and use modeling and rehearsal methods. While this initial training is necessary it is not sufficient. Studies have shown that utilizing ongoing consultation and coaching methods help support and enhance the quality or fidelity of program delivery. Given the complexity of behavior challenges in children and the factors that contribute to therapists’ and teachers’ need for support when working with parents and children with emotional and behavioral problems, this coaching is needed to promote and sustain new practices. Research has shown that without this coaching and consultation support, professionals stop using the newly learned skills.
Key coaching components include direct observation, collaborative meetings and a focus on self-reflection, goal setting, goal review, modeling, performance feedback, instruction on skills, and ongoing planning for specific problems. Accredited group leaders who have had extensive experience delivering the program (at least 6 groups) themselves are selected by accredited mentors in collaboration with the candidate’s agency for training as IY Peer Coaches for Parent program, Teacher Classroom Management and Incredible Beginnings® programs, and both versions of Dina Dinosaur Child program.
Peer Coaches continue to offer IY programs with parents, teachers or children. While delivering these programs they can coach new group leaders as co-leaders. This ongoing clinical experience also serves to provide them with examples and material that will be relevant for their coaching of group leaders. It will also provide opportunities to provide closer clinical supervision of new group leaders while they are delivering the programs together.
Peer Coaches are supervised by IY mentors accredited in the same IY program that the peer coach is delivering and coaching. It is recommended that mentors have yearly consultation days with coaches to review coaching videos and discuss issues related to fidelity program delivery. If yearly consultations are not possible, Skype calls can be arranged for discussing and peer coaching videos sent to mentors for feedback. Accredited peer coaches are encouraged to contact their mentor for support and questions they may have in regard to a group leader’s progress.
Download the Peer Coach Pyramid
The Peer Coaching Pyramid provides a visual display of Peer Coach Roles and Benefits. Peer Coach PyramidArticle about Coaching
Check out this article, which focuses on the Incredible Years® Teacher Classroom Management Training (IY TCM) intervention as an example of an evidence-based program that embeds coaching within its design. The Incredible Years Teacher Training: Using Coaching to Support Generalization to Real World Classroom SettingsThis form should be filled out by the peer coach nominee in collaboration with the mentor or trainer who is nominating the group leader to become a Peer Coach.
Individual Video Review Process (Overview)Video reviews may be conducted by trainers, mentors or peer coaches and can be offered at three different levels.
Parent Peer Coach Certification ChecklistApplication form and checklist of requirements. The training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Group Leader Accreditation/Certification. The difference is that Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles and components of providing videotape review and support to new group leaders.
Baby Parent Peer Coach Certification ChecklistApplication form and checklist of requirements for Baby Parent Peer Coach certification.
Peer Coaching Dosage ExpectationsThis document provides guidelines for frequency of coaching sessions.
Peer Coach Self-Evaluation of Video Supervision (editable)Complete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching.
Evaluation of Quality of Peer Coaching (for Group Leader - editable)Complete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach.
Peer Coaching Process Checklist (Editable, Rev. 2022)This checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session with the group leader who has delivered an Incredible Years® (IY-Parent) group.
This form should be filled out by the peer coach nominee in collaboration with the mentor or trainer who is nominating the group leader to become a Peer Coach.
Individual Video Review Process (Overview)Video reviews may be conducted by trainers, mentors or peer coaches and can be offered at three different levels.
Classroom Dina Peer Coach Certification ChecklistApplication form and checklist of requirements for Classroom Dina Peer Coach Certification. The training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Dina Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Group Leader Certification. The difference is that Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles and components of providing video review and support to new group leaders.
Small Group Dina Peer Coach Certification ChecklistApplication form and checklist of requirements for Small Group Dina Peer Coach certification.
Peer Coaching Dosage ExpectationsThis document provides guidelines for frequency of coaching sessions.
Video Review Checklist for Child Peer CoachThis checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session of an Incredible Years® Small Group Dinosaur intervention or Classroom Dinosaur prevention delivery, or when reviewing a video of themselves providing a peer coach session.
Evaluation of Quality of Peer Coaching (Child Group Leader)Complete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach. This information helps coaches to continually improve the way they provide support.
Peer Coach Self Evaluation of Supervision (Child)Complete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching.
This form should be filled out by the peer coach nominee in collaboration with the mentor or trainer who is nominating the group leader to become a Peer Coach.
TCM Peer Coach Certification ChecklistApplication form and checklist of requirements. The training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Teacher Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Teacher Workshop Group Leader Certification. The difference is that Teacher Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles.
Peer Coaching Dosage ExpectationsThis document provides guidelines for frequency of coaching sessions.
Evaluation of Quality of Peer Coaching (Teacher Group Leader)Complete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving TCM group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching. (For Coach)
TCM Group Leader Evaluation Of Peer Coching Teacher Group Leader Evaluation Of Peer Coach - EditableComplete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach. (For Teacher)
Peer Coaching Process Checklist (Editable, Rev. 2022)This checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session with a group leader who has delivered an Incredible Years® (IY-TCM) teacher classroom management workshop. Also for reviewing and self-reflecting on a recording of themselves providing a peer coach session to a group leader. (For Coach)
View the Teacher Training, Coaching, and Support Infrastructure:
Teacher Training, Coaching and Support InfrastructureThere is a certification application fee of $800 which includes detailed DVD video review and supervisory report (up to two video reviews), registration process, and certificate of certification. Additional video review, if needed, is billed at the rate of $210 per hour. The certification application fee must be received for the DVD to be reviewed. If the supervisory report has been approved by a certified mentor (rather than an Incredible Years trainer) then the cost of certification is $185.
Send Application Materials and certification fee to:
Incredible Years, Inc.
Certification Committee
1411 8th Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119 USA
incredibleyears@incredibleyears.com
Peer Coaching of Parent Group Leaders
NORW Individual Video Review Process (Parent)Video reviews may be conducted by trainers, mentors or peer coaches and can be offered at three different levels.
Parent Peer Coach Certification Checklist NORWEGIANThe training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Group Leader Accreditation/Certification. The difference is that Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles and components of providing videotape review and support to new group leaders.
NORW Peer Coach Self-Evaluation of SupervisionComplete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching.
NORW Evaluation of Quality of Peer Coaching (for Group Leader)Complete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach.
NORW Video Review Checklist for Parent Peer CoachThis checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session with the group leader who has delivered an Incredible Years® (IY-Parent) group.
Peer Coaching of Child Group Leaders
NORW Individual Video Review Process (Peer Coaching of Child Group Leaders)Video reviews may be conducted by trainers, mentors or peer coaches and can be offered at three different levels.
Child Peer Coach Certification Checklist NORWEGIANThe training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Dina Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Group Leader Certification. The difference is that Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles and components of providing video review and support to new group leaders.
NORW Video Review Checklist for Child Peer CoachThis checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session of an Incredible Years Small Group Dinosaur intervention or Classroom Dinosaur prevention delivery, or when reviewing a video of themselves providing a peer coach session.
NORW Evaluation of Quality of Peer Coaching (Child Group Leader)Complete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach. This information helps coaches to continually improve the way they provide support.
NORW Peer Coach Self-Evaluation of Supervision (Child)Complete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching.
Peer Coaching of Teacher Group Leaders
TCM Peer Coach Certification Checklist NORWEGIANThe training requirement of an experienced Incredible Years® Teacher Peer Coach involves a process similar to that for Teacher Workshop Group Leader Certification. The difference is that Teacher Peer Coach training embraces a broader experience in supervision principles.
NORW Teacher Group Leader Evaluation of Peer CoachComplete this questionnaire about the quality of peer coaching you are receiving from your peer coach. (For Teacher)
TCM Peer Coach Self-Evaluation of Supervision NORWEGIANComplete this self-evaluation about the quality of peer coaching you are giving group leaders in training. This information will help you to reflect on the way you provide coaching.
NORW Peer Coach Video Review Checklist (TCM)This checklist is designed for peer coaches to complete following a peer coaching session with a group leader who has delivered an Incredible Years (IY-TCM) teacher classroom management workshop. Also for reviewing and self-reflecting on a DVD of themselves providing a peer coach session to a group leader. (For Coach)
NORW Teacher Training, Coaching and Support InfrastructureMaintaining Fidelity after Accreditation/Certification
In order to assure that accredited Peer Coaches continue to deliver with fidelity, we highly recommend the following:
-Accredited Peer Coaches should continue to lead groups (lead at least one group every 18 months)
-Accredited Peer Coaches should participate in a fidelity check every 12-18 months: this could be a coaching session with an accredited Mentor/Trainer, a video review of a coaching session by a Mentor or Trainer from the Incredible Years office, an in-person consultation day, or Skype consultation calls with a certified Mentor.
Even expert Peer Coaches benefit from on-going feedback and discussions about their work. Without fidelity checks, it is easy for coaches to drift from the original model. Ongoing consultation is also a chance for coaches to hear about new materials or innovations to the programs.