FFA became a member of the AFC in 2005 and decided to adopt the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Coach Education courses and implement them in their new 'Advanced Pathway' in 2006. These courses are the A, B and C Licences, as well as the Professional Diploma for elite coaches.

When FFA joined the AFC, the existing Coach Accreditation structure was recognised by the AFC, and conversions were granted. Coaches who held a current accreditation on November 30, 2006, were converted in the following manner:

FFA National Licence >> FFA / AFC A Licence
FFA State Licence >> FFA / AFC B Licence
FFA Senior Licence >> FFA / AFC C Licence

Therefore, for those coaches there is now an Advanced accreditation (see above) and a Community accreditation. For converted coaches the Community accreditation status is 'Senior Licence' (as State and National Licences no longer exist).

Below is some useful information:

• Converted coaches are recognised, and will always be recognised, on AFC's database as an A, B or C Certificate holder. However, they will not receive an AFC certificate as they did not actually attend and pass one of the AFC courses.

• Converted coaches are recognised on FFA's database as an A, B or C Licence holder and a Senior Licence holder. FFA has extended their Community accreditation so that the expiry date of both accreditations will be the same.

• There is a distinction between 'certificate' and 'licence' on the Advanced Pathway. A 'certificate' means a coach has passed an AFC course (converted coaches have that status, by virtue of the conversion, but not the actual certificate). A 'licence' means the coach is accredited as 'currently approved by FFA' to coach at that level.

• Converted coaches will receive an FFA Accredited Coach ID card, with a four-year Advanced Licence accreditation.

• By the end of the four-year licence period, coaches will need to have accumulated a certain number of points in order to gain another four years of Advanced accreditation.

• Alternatively, by attending and passing the next level of Advanced course before the end of the period, coaches automatically gain another four years of accreditation.

• If at the end of the four-year accreditation period the coach has not accumulated the required number of points or the next level of Advanced course, their Advanced licence will expire.

• Renewing an Advanced accreditation automatically renews the coach's Community accreditation.

• If a converted coach is unable to maintain his Advanced accreditation, he can renew his Senior Licence in the usual way, by applying to his local State/Territory Federation.