Mental Performance Coach Certification: MGCP vs. CMPC
Mental performance coaching is more accepted today for helping athletes in reaching their full potential by improving mental skills. As the field of sports psychology and performance coaching grows, so does the need for qualified professionals with recognized credentials. You now have options for certification. In this article, you’ll learn about the CMPC vs. the MGCP certification.
Two different mental performance coach certification programs stand out for aspiring mental performance coaches or sports coaches: the Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) certification and the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credentials. This comparison will help you determine which mental performance certification aligns best with your career aspirations, budget, and circumstances.
Understanding Mental Performance Coach Certification Options
Mental performance coaching bridges the gap between sports psychology and performance enhancement techniques. Certified MGCP and CMPC professionals work with athletes, performers, gamers, and traders across all levels to enhance focus, build confidence, manage pressure, and develop mental toughness skills.
Keep in mind that the MGCP certification is not designed to replace the CMPC certification. They are two distinct programs with a different objectives and goals for participants.
MGCP Certification: The Mental Game Coaching Professional Program
Developed by Dr. Patrick Cohn in 2004, the MGCP sport psychology certification, offered through Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP), provides a focused approach to mental performance coaching. The MGCP course emphasis practical application and rapid implementation with athletes and teams.
Certification Course Structure and Features
The MGCP program delivers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip performance coaches with actionable tools and strategies. The certification focuses mostly on practical implementation rather than purely theoretical concepts.
The focus on application helps mental performance coaches to apply their knowledge immediately with athletes and performers. The program covers fundamental mental performance coaching principles including:
- Performance anxiety management
- Concentration and focus techniques
- Confidence building strategies
- Managing mistakes and mishaps
- Goal-setting and goal getting strategies
- Motivation and commitment strategies
- Pressure and expectation management
- Mental toughness and resiliency training
- How to work with individual athletes
- How to work with teams and groups
Course Duration and Accessibility
One of the MGCP program’s most significant advantages is its accessibility and efficient structure. You participate for a total of 12 weeks to complete the course–all online. You meet for two hours per week with Dr. Cohn himself and other MGCPs via video conference.
In addition, you’ll respond to 18 case studies and do live in-class mental coaching breakouts with the Peaksports Team of Mental Performance Coaches. Participants are also required to complete a practicum, with Dr. Cohn’s supervision, in addition to a final case study.
The program is designed for professionals, coaches, life coaches, and therapists who want to add mental performance coaching to their skill set. Participants are not required to commit to two additional year of academic study or completing a Master’s program. This makes it ideal for:
- Current coaches looking to expand their expertise
- Sports psychology professionals seeking to enhance their value
- Career-changers entering the mental performance field
- Therapists and life coaches who desire to work more with athletes
Performance Coach Certification Process
The MGCP certification course process is streamlined and practice-oriented, focusing on building competence in understanding and applying mental performance techniques rather than extensive academic requirements.
An mental skill application-focused approach allows graduates to begin working with athletes and teams more quickly. You learn actionable mental game strategies that have worked for us. In addition, you learn how to do mental game assessments, teach mental skills, and help athletes apply mental performance coaching.
CMPC Certification: Certified Mental Performance Consultant
The Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential, administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), represents a more traditional academic approach to mental performance certification. Typically, participants of this program will complete a master’s in sports psychology from a specific university, such as Springfield College or Florida State University.
Program Structure and Requirements
The CMPC certification follows a more academic model, requiring:
- A master’s or doctoral degree in sport psychology or related field
- Extensive coursework requirements across multiple knowledge areas
- Supervised practicum experience (400+ hours)
- Passing a comprehensive examination
Time Investment and Career Path
The CMPC certification generally requires significantly more time to achieve due to its academic requirements and supervised mentorship hours. The full process typically involves:
- 2+ years to complete a relevant master’s degree
- Additional time for required supervised practice hours
- Preparation for and passing the certification exam
This pathway is designed for those pursuing sport psychology as a primary career focus and who prefer the academic approach to professional development.
Key Differences: MGCP vs. CMPC Certification
Educational Requirements
- MGCP: Focuses on practical techniques and implementation without extensive academic prerequisites. Requires 5+ years experience in coaching, athletics, or counseling. A master’s degree is not required.
- CMPC: Requires graduate-level education in sport psychology or related fields. Typically, this entails a master’s degree designed to incorporate course work for CMPC certification.
Time to Certification
- MGCP: Designed for efficiency, allowing professionals to become certified in months rather than years. The program takes about 12 weeks to complete including final exam.
- CMPC: Typically requires two years of academic study plus supervised practice hours by an approved mentor.
Practice Orientation
- MGCP: Emphasizes immediate practical application with clients and athletes. Participants complete a practicum under the supervision of Dr. Cohn.
- CMPC: Balances theoretical knowledge with practical application. Participants are required to complete mentoring hours with an approved mentor.
Career Integration
- MGCP: Ideal for integrating mental performance strategies into existing coaching, life coaching or consulting practices.
- CMPC: Geared toward dedicated sport psychology professionals who are committed to the field of mental performance coaching.
Investment Considerations
- MGCP: Generally more affordable overall when considering program costs versus graduate degree expenses. The cost of the MGCP live certification is $4600 in 2025.
- CMPC: Higher total investment when including graduate education costs–depending on the school you choose to attend. Contact AASP for graduate programs in sports psychology.
Who Is Each Certification Best For?
The MGCP Certification is ideal for:
- Coaches seeking to enhance their current practice with mental skills training
- Professionals wanting to add mental performance coaching services quickly
- Entrepreneurs building a coaching business
- Those preferring hands-on learning over academic study
- Mental performance consultants focused primarily on practical application over research
The CMPC Certification is suited for:
- Those pursuing sport psychology as a primary career
- Individuals interested in academic research alongside practice
- People who prefer traditional educational credentials
- Mental performance consultants working in settings that specifically require the CMPC credential
Choose Your Sports Psychology Certification
When choosing between these mental performance coach certification options, consider:
- Career Goals: Are you adding mental skills coaching to an existing practice or building a dedicated sport psychology career?
- Time Availability: Can you commit to two years of academic study, or do you need a more efficient path to certification?
- Learning Style: Do you prefer practical, applied learning or academic research-based education?
- Investment Capacity: Consider both financial resources and time investment required for each pathway.
- Target Population: Which credential will most resonate with the athletes and clients you hope to serve?
Conclusion: Finding Your Path in Mental Performance Coaching
Both the MGCP and CMPC mental coach certifications offer valuable credentials for mental performance coaches, but they serve different professional needs and career trajectories. The MGCP certification program provides an efficient, practice-oriented path to implementing mental performance strategies with clients, while the CMPC offers a traditional academic approach.
For many coaches and professionals looking to incorporate mental performance techniques into their practice without years of additional schooling, the MGCP certification offers the ideal balance of credibility, practical skills, and efficient certification process. Its focus on implementation rather than theory enables coaches to make an immediate impact with their athletes and clients.
Whichever path you choose, becoming certified in mental performance coaching helps coaches, life coaches, and therapists to make a significant difference in athletes’ lives. Consultants help athletes achieve their full potential through mental training or mental skills development.