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Training Requirements

Credentialing candidates on the ACC Portfolio, PCC Portfolio or MCC paths are required to complete a set amount of coach-specific training and submit robust documentation with their application.

As you review the information below, please ensure that you click on the correct tab for your credentialing path. The text on the tab should turn from teal to gold when you select it.

  • ACC Portfolio

    ACC Portfolio applicants must have a minimum of 60 hours of coach-specific training. Of the 60 hours required, at least 48 of the hours must be:

    • Student contact hours – clock hours spent in synchronous (real-time) interactions between faculty and students. This may include time spent in direct instruction (voice-to-voice or in-person training), real-time discussions, observation and feedback of practice coaching sessions, and mentoring students.
    • Coach-specific training developed and delivered based on the ICF Core Competencies (all 11 ICF Core Competencies must be covered).

    Of the 60 hours required, no more than 12 of the hours may be:

    • Homework/Independent Study – clock hours spent outside of real-time interaction between faculty and students (asynchronous). These may include outside reading, writing, research, journaling, and various other activities that may occur outside of the synchronous setting. All asynchronous hours must be part of the training program and require some method of validating that the activity was completed by the student.

    A maximum of 12 hours outside of the ICF Core Competencies will be accepted.

  • PCC Portfolio

    PCC Portfolio applicants must have a minimum of 125 hours of coach-specific training.

    Of the 125 hours required, at least 100 of the hours must be:

    • Student contact hours – clock hours spent in synchronous (real-time) interactions between faculty and students. This may include time spent in direct instruction (voice-to-voice or in-person training), real-time discussions, observation and feedback of practice coaching sessions, and mentoring students.
    • Coach-specific training developed and delivered based on the ICF Core Competencies (all 11 ICF Core Competencies must be covered).

    Of the 125 hours required, no more than 25 of the hours may be:

    • Homework/Independent Study – clock hours spent outside of real-time interaction between faculty and students (asynchronous). These may include outside reading, writing, research, journaling, and various other activities that may occur outside of the synchronous setting. All asynchronous hours must be part of the training program and require some method of validating that the activity was completed by the student.

    A maximum of 25 hours outside of the Core Competencies will be accepted.

  • MCC

    MCC Portfolio applicants must have a minimum of 200 hours of coach-specific training.

    Of the 200 hours required, at least 160 of the hours must be:

    • Student contact hours – clock hours spent in synchronous (real-time) interactions between faculty and students. This may include time spent in direct instruction (voice-to-voice or in-person training), real-time discussions, observation and feedback of practice coaching sessions, and mentoring students.
    • Coach-specific training developed and delivered based on the ICF Core Competencies (all 11 ICF Core Competencies must be covered).

    Of the 200 hours required, no more than 40 of the hours may be:

    • Homework/Independent Study – clock hours spent outside of real-time interaction between faculty and students (asynchronous). These may include outside reading, writing, research, journaling, and various other activities that may occur outside of the synchronous setting. All asynchronous hours must be part of the training program and require some method of validating that the activity was completed by the student.

    A maximum of 40 hours outside the Core Competencies will be accepted.

Coach-specific Training - ACC Portfolio and PCC Portfolio

  • Definition

    Training that is accepted as coach-specific training:

    • Training from an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or a program that has received the ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) designation
    • Training from a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Provider, ICF conference, Community of Practice (CP) or Chapter event
    • Training that has not been previously approved by ICF and that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies

    Training that is not accepted as coach-specific training:

    • Training that is marketed as teaching other skills, even though the skills can be used by a coach in some manner
    • Personal development courses
    • Education in other areas such as psychology, counseling, NLP, etc., does not count as coach-specific training unless it was actually taught as coach training and from an ICF Core Competencies’ perspective

    Teaching coaching classes may not count as coach-specific training unless the following three requirements are met:

    • The applicant created the class
    • The applicant also taught the class
    • The training curriculum meets the definition of coach-specific training, including direct interaction with trainers and alignment with the ICF Core Competencies, and has been submitted to ICF for accreditation as a CCE, ACSTH or ACTP program

    If all three above apply, subject to review and approval of the training curriculum, then the class may be counted only one time, not each time that the same class was delivered.

  • Documentation

    On the online credential application, you will provide:

    • The number of hours of coach-specific training that you completed.
    • The type of program (ACTP, ACSTH, CCE or non-accredited).
    • The name of the organization that operated the program.
    • The name of each coach training program that you attended.

    For coach training programs that have been accredited by ICF as ACTP or ACSTH programs, you must submit proof of completion in the form of a certificate or signed letter issued by the program indicating the name of the program, dates of attendance, and total hours completed.

    For coach training programs that have been accredited by ICF as Continuing Coach Education (CCE) or have not been accredited by ICF:

    • You must submit proof of completion in the form of a certificate or signed letter issued by the program indicating the name of the program, dates of attendance, and total hours completed.
    • You must list the hours of content that are delivered in a synchronous setting and asynchronously. Note that 80% of all instruction must be synchronous, allowing the opportunity for real-time interaction between instructors and students.
    • Applicants will be required to complete a Verification of Training form (a sample is available for download below) within the online application that requires evidence to show that completed training was comprehensive and included a definition of coaching, code of ethics and was related to the ICF Core Competencies. The training received should be organized in a way that encouraged the growth of the coach.
    • You must provide a concise class outline or syllabus that summarizes the names of classes/modules and the time allowed for presentation.
    • You must provide student materials. These materials may include a student or instructors’ manual, handouts, power points, or any other documentation that clearly illustrates the detailed curriculum.

    For classes that you have taught:

    • You must submit a letter that includes the course name and verifies that you created and taught the class.
    • You will be required to complete the “Verification of Training” component of the online credential application that requires evidence that the course is aligned with the ICF definition of coach and Code of Ethics and integrates ICF Core Competencies
    Sample Verification of Training Form (PDF)

  • Completion

    The coach-specific training requirement must be fulfilled prior to submitting your application.

  • Submission

    The coach-specific training requirement must be fulfilled prior to submitting your application.

Coach-specific Training - MCC

  • Definition

    Training that is accepted as coach-specific training:

    • Training from an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or a program that has received the ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) designation
    • Training from a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Provider, ICF conference, Community of Practice (CP) or Chapter event
    • Training that has not been previously approved by ICF and that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies (e.g., university-based training, training from a non-ICF-accredited organization)

    Training that is not accepted as coach-specific training:

    • Training that is marketed as teaching other skills, even though the skills can be used by a coach in some manner
    • Personal development courses
    • Education in other areas such as psychology, counseling, NLP, etc., does not count as coach-specific training unless it was actually taught as coach training and from an ICF Core Competencies’ perspective

    Teaching coaching classes does not count as coach-specific training unless:

    • The applicant created the class
    • The applicant also taught the class
    • The training otherwise meets the definition of coach-specific training

    If all three above apply, then the class may be counted only one time, not each time that the same class was delivered.

  • Documentation

    On the online credential application, you will provide:

    • The number of hours of coach-specific training that you completed.
    • The type of program (ACTP, ACSTH, CCE or non-accredited).
    • The name of the organization that operated the program.
    • The name of each coach training program that you attended.

    For coach training programs that have been accredited by ICF, you must submit proof of completion in the form of a certificate or signed letter issued by the program indicating the name of the program, dates of attendance, and total hours completed.

    For coach training programs that have not been accredited by ICF:

    • You must submit proof of completion in the form of a certificate or signed letter issued by the program indicating the name of the program, dates of attendance, and total hours completed.
    • You must list the hours of content that are delivered in a synchronous setting and asynchronously. Note that 80% of all instruction must be synchronous, allowing the opportunity for real-time interaction between instructors and students.
    • You must provide a concise class outline or syllabus that summarizes the names of classes/modules and the time allowed for presentation.
    • You must provide student materials. These materials may include a student or instructors’ manual, handouts, power points, or any other documentation that clearly illustrates the detailed curriculum.

    For classes that you have taught:

    • You must submit a letter explaining that you created and taught the class.
    • You must submit a description of the class. The description should be detailed enough to show that the training meets the definition of coach-specific training above, including direct interaction with trainers and alignment with the ICF Core Competencies.

    You must submit a sample of materials that you created for the class. The sample could be a course description, PowerPoint presentation, student handbook, or another document that shows some of the content of the program.

  • Completion

    The coach-specific training requirement must be fulfilled prior to submitting your application.

  • Submission

    Do not send documentation to ICF Headquarters by mail or email. Only documentation that has been uploaded with your online application will be accepted. ICF does not provide pre-approval for non-accredited training programs. All curriculum reviews and approvals are completed as part of the application process.

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