Gold Coast assistant coach Dean Solomon is one of six coaches accepted into the AFL’s exclusive coaching accreditation course for 2017.

Solomon, 37, joined Gold Coast as an assistant ahead of the SUNS’ inaugural season in 2011.

Alongside Scott Burns (Collingwood), Brett Kirk (Sydney), Brendon Lade (Port Adelaide), Leigh Tudor (North Melbourne) and Steven King (Western Bulldogs), Solomon will complete the third year of the level four program, which reflects an industry consensus on the next wave of senior AFL coaches.

After a lengthy interview process, the AFL on Monday evening notified the successful candidates, who will be assigned an individual mentor and complete workshops with successful international coaches.

The two-year curriculum is based on a model from the International Council for Coach Education and is tailored to each coach's experience level.

The course's development has been led by the AFL's Michael Poulton, with input from former senior coaches Brendan McCartney and Neale Daniher as well as Essendon coach John Worsfold during its infancy.

Nineteen coaches have now been involved in the program, with the inaugural group of nine completing their exit interviews at the end of last year.

Last year's intake – which will remain active in 2017 – included Justin Longmuir (West Coast) and Jade Rawlings (Melbourne), as well as Peter Sumich and Brett Montgomery, who have since left the AFL system.

It is expected the course will eventually become mandatory for all senior coaching candidates when it has a proven track record of success.

Senior coaches Brendon Bolton (Carlton) and Simon Goodwin (Melbourne) were part of the inaugural intake in 2015.