The Pre-Requisties
The Certified LeSS Coach (CLC) program is designed for experienced practitioners who want to deepen their impact in large-scale product development. To ensure a meaningful learning journey, we ask applicants to bring a solid foundation in agile ways of working and an active interest in organizational improvement.
We believe a good starting point is to have one of the following:
- 3 years of (Agile/Technical) Coaching experience,
- 4+ years as a Scrum Master, or
- executive experience operating with Lean principles while acting as a coach.
In addition, applicants are expected to have a basic understanding of the essentials that underpin LeSS, its principles, rules, and cores, such as Lean thinking, Scrum, Technical Excellence, organizational design, systems thinking, and continuous improvement. This helps ensure that everyone enters the certification with a shared baseline and is ready to learn, contribute, and grow together.
Pre-Requisties for Certified LeSS Coach 1
1. Spice up your LeSS Knowledge
To join the LeSS Coach program, we expect you to have a solid grasp of the ideas that form the foundation of LeSS.
If you’re not fully there yet, no problem — the journey starts here.
Start with the source:
- Explore and absorb all the material on https://less.works/less/.
This is the heart of LeSS: principles, rules, guides, case studies, and the thinking behind them.
Then deepen your understanding with these books:
- Read Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS (download free here)
- Read Leading Teams by Richard Hackman
- Read The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge
- Read Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
- Read Extreme Programming by Kent Beck
- Read Agile Coaching by Rachel Davies
If you have read a similar book which replaces one of the above, check with your Mentor!
These readings help ensure that every applicant enters the program with a shared foundation — ready to learn, apply, and grow as a LeSS Coach.
2. Experience LeSS, by Training
In order to grasp what LeSS is really about, it is required to have done 2 Certified LeSS Practitioner courses, with different trainers. By doing this, you will gain valuable different perspectives. The Certified LeSS Trainers base their training uniquely on their own experiences of their LeSS Adoption(s).
- 1x Certified LeSS Practitioner (or provisional CLP) with any trainer at a reduced price
- 1x Certified LeSS Practitioner with Bas Vodde or Craig Larman (these are free or at cost for CLC)
The CLP course can be taken via a public or private course inside your company. Reach out to your Mentor or any other trainer to arrange that.
One of the CLP should have been taken before the Review.
We understand it is not always possible to arrange the 2nd CLP timely, therefore it is allowed to have it during the year of the LeSS Coach mentorship. Discuss it with your Mentor if needed.
For available courses, check https://less.works/courses/less-courses, contact the trainer directly and mention you are working on the pre-requisites for your Certified LeSS Coach 1.
3. Request the Review
When you are comfortable with your LeSS knowledge (see #1 and #2), you request the Review with your Mentor.
You will receive access to the online LeSS Knowledge Check. These are 30 questions about all aspects of LeSS. Complete that and the Mentor will schedule the Review.
There is no good or bad here! It will be used as a basis for the Review, together with your mentor.
Pre-Requisties for Certified LeSS Coach 2
In addition to all CLC1 requirements above, CLC2 candidates must also have:
- Participated at a Global LeSS Conference or LeSS Coach Camp
- Done a LeSS adoption
- Written a Mini Case Study, which is reviewed by 2 Mentors.