Gives Life Skills Coaches opportunities to apply for accreditation based on the varying types of employment undertaken by Life Skills Coaches.

A) Employment Activity must reflect the following 5 areas:

- conduct student intake interviews
- conduct daily life skills groups of 3 hours/day
- carry out appropriate referrals and/or plan for agency interaction when needed
- administrative planning including lesson planning; keeping case notes and group log record
- at least 60% of activities must involve DIRECT group experience

B) Employment Verification

1. Letter to be completed by employer verifying that applicant is coaching Life Skills completed and signed by your supervisor.

2. An official job description to accompany accreditation application and signed by supervisor/employer.

Each applicant must qualify his/herself under one of the following categories:

Category 1

Certificate required:
800 hours of training in Saskatchewan NewStart minimum 30 hours of practicum

Granted by:
A school or college registered with PPSEC [Private Post Secondary Education Commission] and accredited by PPSEC

Internship required:
900 hours in minimum of 3 groups - maximum 5 groups

or,

Category 2

Certificate required:
500 hours of training in Saskatchewan NewStart minimum number of practicum hours 40

Granted by:
A school or college registered with PPSEC

Internship required:
1200 hours minimum 3 groups maximum 6 groups

Acceptable employment experience required Category 1 and 2

36 months conducting Life Skills groups and at least 12 months under the guidance of an accredited Life Skills coach who would verify use of NewStart lessons in sequence and using designated lesson methodology.

Other categories could be developed reflecting varying training and/or internship requirements. Similarly varying employment experience could be outlined and provided.

This model offers accreditation based on three factors:

a) Training/certification
b) Employment experience
c) Peer guidance ensuring implementation of Saskatchewan NewStart or other model as designated by category.

Considerations:
Model is flexible
Inexpensive at source although a fee may be charged to review applications
Model allows for varying training standards and/or experience
Model emphasizes employment
Model is self-directed which is consistent with Life Skills coach training promoting coaches to be accountable and responsible within the profession
Model emphasizes peer guidance as opposed to peer evaluation; assumption is that evaluation of one's skill takes place at the site of training and assures a Life Skills Coach has "passed" the required criteria of any given training institution.