Holacracy Certifications

Get certified to help coach in your own organizations or prepare to join the Holacracy Licensing Program.

The Holacracy Certification Program offers three levels of certification to recognize different degrees of expertise in Holacracy. It grants these credentials to individuals who successfully pass the Holacracy Governance and Tactical Assessments.

Holding a Holacracy certification does not automatically grant an individual permission to sell Holacracy-related services professionally.

If you’d like to use, sell, advertise, or deliver paid Holacracy-related services, then you’ll need to join the Holacracy Licensing Program. The Holacracy Coach certification is required to join the Licensing Program and, therefore, to deliver any paid consulting services.

Certification Levels

Level 1

Holacracy Facilitator

Requirement: Granted to someone who has scored between 3 – 6.5 points at the Governance assessment, and 4 – 8.5 points at the Tactical assessment.

Displays that the individual is qualified to facilitate a newly practicing circle effectively enough to keep the process and outputs generally aligned with the rules of Holacracy. However, it doesn’t convey a level of skill and experience sufficient to coach a newly-practicing circle towards deeper understanding and effectiveness of Holacracy.

Allows to facilitate meetings as part of a Holacracy adoption led by a licensed and Certified Holacracy Coach.

Renewal: Certification valid for 2 years. May be renewed by engaging in certain continuing education activities

Level 2

Holacracy Coach

Requirement: Granted to someone who has scored between 7 – 8 points at the Governance assessment, and 9 – 11 points at the Tactical assessment.

Displays that an individual has first-hand experience working in an organization using Holacracy, has personally faced and integrated many of its unique paradigm shifts, and has demonstrated the capacity to coach others through such a transformation. A Holacracy Coach is thus well-equipped to facilitate an organization’s Holacracy adoption.

Allows all permissions from Level 1, plus the option of entering into the Licensing Program which, in turn, grants permission to sell Holacracy-related services including presentations, workshops, coaching, and adoption services.

Renewal: Certification valid for 2 years. May be renewed by engaging in certain continuing education activities

Level 3

Holacracy Master Coach

Requirement: Granted by an authorized Holacracy Foundation representative after the candidate is assessed over many months of actual Holacracy practice and facilitation. There is currently no other formal process to gain this credential.

Displays that an individual has the demonstrated capacity to support complex organizational transformations using Holacracy practices and principles, including adapting ancillary organizational processes to better align with the paradigm shift behind Holacracy.

Allows any activity within the scope of the Licensing Program. No other restriction.

Renewal: Certification valid as long as the individual satisfies the same continuing education activities required for the Coach Certification.

Assessments

The Holacracy Facilitation Assessments are designed to both assess and reinforce your ability to facilitate and coach a circle learning the new habits required in a Holacracy adoption.

There are two assessments, the Governance Facilitation Assessment and Tactical Facilitation Assessment, which evaluate your ability to facilitate and coach during simulated Governance and Tactical Meetings.

Depending on your performance, you may be able to obtain the Holacracy Facilitator or Holacracy Coach credential for a period of 2 years. Passing both Governance and Tactical Assessments at the appropriate level is required to obtain either credential.

Continuing Education

Once in the program, you’ll be responsible for keeping your knowledge current by maintaining your Certified Holacracy Coach (CHC) credential via continuing education. There are several ways to engage in continuing education.

Continuing Education Activities

As defined by the Certification Standards, to maintain the Facilitator, Coach, or Master Coach credential, individuals need to engage in specific continuing education activities. Continuing education is designed to ensure that Facilitators and Coaches keep their Holacracy skills sharp and up to date.

Certifications expire at the end of the calendar year two years after the credential is earned. Once the requisite continuing education requirements have been met, the certification will be renewed for another two years.

In order to maintain your Certified Holacracy Coach or Facilitator credential, you may choose from these options:

Every two years:

  • Attend the Holacracy Forum.

OR

Every year (choose one):

  • Retake either the tactical or governance assessment with a 25% discount.
  • Deliver a Governance or Tactical Assessment (applicable to Assessors only).
  • Attend any one in-person provider gathering hosted (at least in part) by HolacracyOne.
  • Attend or watch recordings of any six virtual Holacracy Ecosystem gatherings hosted (at least in part) by HolacracyOne.
  • Present at a virtual Holacracy Ecosystem gathering.
  • Attend or coach at any one multi-day Practitioner or Coach Training hosted by anyone with a Trainer Badge.
  • Two mentoring sessions with a Master Coach.
  • Share a presentation on the work and lessons learned from a coaching client (such as a recorded video or a blog post).
  • Create a tool/documentation/blog post for other providers.
  • Host a recurring practice group in your native language for would-be coaches, and share your learning.
  • Mentor a younger coach and share your learning points and journey.

PLUS

Attend one Constitution Workshop for each major release (in addition to the above).

Record your activity in your personalized Continuing Education Log, which you received in your certification email.

Continuing Education Attestation