Advanced Coach Education

The C Diploma is delivered by Soccer Nova Scotia and develops the coach’s capacity to meet the demands of coaching grassroots soccer and is the entry-course to the Advanced Coach Education Pathway.

The B Diploma is delivered exclusively by Canada Soccer and develops the student coach’s capacity to meet the demands of coaching youth & senior amateur players in a development environment.

The Concacaf A Diploma focuses on developing and refining the student coach’s capacity to meet the demands of coaching elite youth and top level senior amateur players in a performance environment.

The Children’s Diploma prepares the student coach to meet the demands of coaching children 5-12 years of age in a development environment.

The Goalkeeper Diploma prepares the student coach to meet the demands of coaching youth and senior amateur players in a development environment.

In December 2024, Canada Soccer became a founding member of the CONCACAF Coaching Convention. To align with these new Confederation standards, all Canada Soccer Advanced Coach Education Program licences issued prior to 2024 must be upgraded.

What is the CONCACAF Coaching Convention?

This regulatory framework standardizes coach education across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Key benefits include:

– Standardization: Ensures consistent coaching quality across the region.

– Portability: Allows for mutual recognition of qualifications across CONCACAF Member Associations, offering coaches greater mobility.

Upgrade Timeline (2025–2030)

Upgrades for the C, B, Youth, and A licences will roll out in phases. The 2026 Intake Schedule is as follows:

• C Licence → C Diploma: 4 Intakes
• B Licence → B Diploma: 3 Intakes
• Youth Licence → B Diploma: 3 Intakes
• A Licence → A Diploma: 2 Intakes

Learn More: For specific application and course dates, visit the Upgrade Home Page