CMI Level 5 Diploma Professional Coaching Practice
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£113/month interest-free*
Payments
17 months
Deposit
£118
Total Price
£2,039
- Build the practical knowledge and confidence to coach professionally
- Join live-streamed, tutor-led classes per unit of study with regionally relevant content
- Develop skills for roles like Leadership Coach, Operational Manager or L&D Manager
Why is this CMI course right for you?
If you want to develop the skills to coach others effectively, the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Coaching Practice gives you a more comprehensive route than the Award or Certificate.
Whether you’re new to coaching, already coach others, or use coaching as a manager or L&D professional, you’ll learn how to:
- Build trusting and effective professional coaching relationships
- Use a range of coaching techniques, models, tools, and approaches to meet and respond to different needs
- Communicate effectively through questioning, listening and meaningful feedback
- Handle stakeholder relationships, organisational culture, and workplace change with confidence
- Reflect on your coaching practice and keep building your professional skills as you go
This qualification was created with input from employers, so you’ll build the knowledge and behaviours that really matter at work, making it a great stepping stone if you want to move into roles like Professional Coach, Leadership Coach, Operational Manager, or Learning & Development Manager.
Plus, after you finish your CMI Level 5 Diploma and have at least three years of relevant experience, you can apply for Chartered Manager status, which is the highest professional recognition for managers in the UK.
CMI Level 5 Diploma Course Details
You don’t need any formal qualifications to study the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Coaching Practice, but you must be at least 18.
As this qualification focuses on professional coaching practice, having experience of coaching, management, leadership or supporting the development of others may be helpful.
If English is your second language, we recommend you have an IELTS 6 or equivalent, but we're happy to review your case on an individual basis.
Your CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Coaching Practice course is 100% online.
You’ll choose from a range of coaching-focused modules that help you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective professional coaching practice.
To complete the Diploma, you’ll study at least four of the six optional modules, achieving a minimum of 37 credits.
- Principles of Professional Coaching (6 credits)
- The Role of the Professional Coach (9 credits)
- Strategies for Delivering Professional Coaching (7 credits)
- Professional Coaching Practice (15 credits)
- Management and Leadership Influences in Coaching and Mentoring (8 credits)
- Professional Mentoring Practice (13 credits)
Throughout this professional coaching qualification, you’ll develop the abilities to deliver impact, coach ethically and continue developing your practice.
Like your course, your CMI assessments are 100% online.
You'll complete a written assignment of around 4,000 to 4,500 words for each unit you study. Your assignments will be submitted online through our virtual learning platform, mystudyspace, and marked by our CMI tutors.
For the Professional Coaching Practice and the Professional Mentoring Practice units, you’ll also need to conduct a recorded observation session – where you’ll need to coach or mentor 2x candidates.
For more details, download your free CMI Level 5 Diploma course guide.
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CMI Level 5 Diploma FAQs
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the only organisation in the world that can award Chartered Manager status – the highest professional recognition you can achieve as a manager or leader.
With over 60 years of experience and a Royal Charter to its name, CMI is a globally respected authority on leadership and management. It supports more than 100,000 members worldwide, setting the standard for what great management looks like.
CMI qualifications are recognised by employers across industries, helping you build the strategic skills, professional credibility, and career confidence you need to take the next step in your leadership journey.
Professional coaching helps people build their skills, improve their performance and reach important personal or career goals.
Coaching gives people a supportive space to discuss challenges and try new approaches of working, while learning more about themselves. Depending on the situation, it can offer support in areas such as:
- Career development
- Leadership skills
- Role transitions
- Workplace change
- Working effectively with others
Professional coaching can be done one-on-one, in groups, or with teams.
Coaching and mentoring are both used to support people's development, but they take different approaches. Coaching is usually focuses more on helping someone work towards specific goals, improve performance or develop particular skills. Mentoring, on the other hand, draws more on the mentor’s own experience to support longer-term development.
A coach usually guides by asking questions and listening, as well as giving feedback, helping the coachee find their own answers. A mentor is often more direct, offering advice and sharing their experience when it is helpful.
Both mentoring and coaching can help individuals and teams. Knowing when to use each one is important for building strong workplace relationships.
There is no single path to becoming a professional certified coach. However, earning a recognised coaching qualification can help you get there faster.
The CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Coaching Practice is for those who want to improve their coaching technique. The course covers topics like building coaching relationships, communication, coaching models and techniques, ethical practice, stakeholder management, and ongoing professional development.
The course syllabus follows coaching competency frameworks from groups like EMCC UK, ICF UK, and the Association for Coaching. This helping you develop yourself according to recognised professional standards.
Additionally, your path into professional coaching will depend on the kind of coaching you want to do, your experience, and what employers or clients expect from you.
The right CMI course for you depends on your work experience and career goals.
CMI Level 3 courses are ideal for current or aspiring first line managers, supervisors and team leaders. You can choose to build your management skills or focus on coaching and mentoring:
- CMI Level 3 Award in First Line Management and Leadership and the CMI Level 3 Award in Coaching and Mentoring are the shortest options at level 3, giving you the opportunity to focus on a specific management topic or area of coaching and mentoring.
- CMI Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management and Leadership and the CMI Level 3 Coaching and Mentoring Certificate offer more depth than the Award, allowing you to develop your understanding across a broader range.
- CMI Diploma in First Line Management and Leadership and CMI Level 3 Coaching and Mentoring Diploma are the most comprehensive level 3 qualifications, offering the widest choice of units and the greatest depth of learning.
By completing a Level 3 Diploma qualification you'll be eligible for Foundation Chartered Manager status (fCMgr), subject to retention of your CMI membership.
CMI Level 5 courses are designed for mid-level managers who usually report to a senior manager or business owner and professionals who want to develop their coaching abilities at a higher level.
- CMI Level 5 Award in Professional Coaching Practice is a focused way to start developing your knowledge and skills in professional coaching.
- CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership is a shorter course, covering two modules. It's ideal if you want to focus on developing your core strategic management skills.
- CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Coaching Practice goes further than the award, helping you expand your understanding and use of coaching skills.
- CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership allows you to choose a wider array of modules from a selection of nine options. It's ideal if you'd like to expand your knowledge and master a wide variety of strategic skills, from change management to coaching and mentoring.
- CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Coaching Practice gives you a more complete view of coaching, preparing you for delivering coaching sessions, as well as taking part in coaching supervision.
CMI Level 7 courses are designed for senior managers and directors. They're ideal if you have responsibility for strategically leading an organisation.
- CMI Level 7 Certificate Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is a shorter course, allowing you to focus on the modules that are most valuable to your progression as a leader.
- CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice covers a wider range of modules, giving you the comprehensive management expertise you need to deliver organisational results across a range of business areas.
Completing the Level 5 or Level 7 Diploma then grants you a fast-tracked route to Chartered Manager status, the most prestigious management accolade!


