In order for NCCP coaches to maintain their Certified – Renewed status, they will be required to obtain Professional Development (PD) points. Accumulation of PD points begins once a coach is Certified. If you aren’t already certified then you will not accumulate PD points for events that you participate in. PD points can be earned through a multitude of activities that coaches already participate in, including: national and provincial sport organization conferences and workshops, eLearning modules, NCCP workshops, coach mentorship programs, and active coaching. In most cases coaches are already earning their required PD points — Maintenance of Certification Status is simply the introduction of tracking these points and recognizing coaches for their efforts.
PD points accumulated in a rolling 5 year window. The window resets every five (5) years to ensure that coaches are staying current. Coaches records in The Locker will reflect whether the coach has accumulated sufficient PD points to remain renewed. A coach’s certification status in The Locker is listed as “Not Renewed” if a coach has not accumulated the required PD points within the five year window. Coaches never lose credit for the education levels they have attained however, starting in the 2021/22 season when competitions require coaches to be Certified this will also mean that coaches will be required to be “Renewed” or up to date with their PD points.
A coach who is flagged as “Not Renewed” only needs to accumulate the required PD points for their certification level in order to re-establish their Renewed Certification status.
Log into The Locker, the National Coaching Certification Program database, for an up-to-date record of your PD points. Click HERE for more instructions on how to use The Locker including how to create your own NCCP number and how to self report Professional Development.
Coaches can accumulate PD points in a variety of ways. Inside The Locker there are a number of eLearning Opportunities that coaches can take advantage of, many of which are free. As well, in person NCCP modules are available as well as other online workshops. Coaches are also allowed to self report active coaching and independent learning opportunities within the Locker. The Coaches Association of Canada website has a convenient page where these courses can be found. Of course, the OCC also offers our OCC Webinar Series and access to our Archived Webinars which also qualify for PD Points.
The OCC has presented this information in a webinar. NCCP and PD Explained
For more information on accumulating Professional Development points and Maintenance of Certification, check out these pages:
- Maintenance of Certification – Coaches Association of Ontario
- Professional Development Opportunities – Coaches Association of Ontario
- Annual Coaches Conference – Coaches Association of Ontario
- Maintenance of Certification – Coaching Association of Canada
- More Maintenance of Certification – Coaching Association of Canada
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