ACC vs. PCC vs. MCC: Understanding ICF Credential Levels

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the biggest professional organisation for coaches in the world, with more than 55,000 credentialed members as of 2026. The ICF credentials are becoming a standard in the industry for professional coaches to demonstrate their training and experience.

Understanding the different ICF credential levels is important to help you decide whether it is something you want to pursue or not. Credentials, accreditations, or certifications are not mandatory for one to call themselves a coach; however they offer credibility and show standards of practice that are sought after by most clients, particularly organisations.

In this article, we are going to breakdown the three levels of credential so you get a great idea of their requirements and their benefits.

What are the ICF Coaching Credentials?

But first, let’s explore what those credentials are.

The ICF has three credential levels for coaches:

Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
Master Certified Coach (MCC)

To earn an ICF credential, a coach needs to have completed a coach training, have coaching experience, and have successful passed the ICF exam. To learn about the specific requirements for each, keep reading.

Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Requirements

ACC is the first level of accreditation delivered by the ICF. It is usually where most coaches start their credentialing journey. It certifies that you have successfully shown a certain level of competency and knowledge through various requirements:

A coach-specific training of 60 hours minimum,
Being mentored by an experienced coach for additional feedback and guidance,
Coaching practice of 100 hours minimum,
Successful completion of the ICF ACC exam.

Getting the ACC accreditation is an important step in the career of a professional coach, and some choose to stay at this level. Others strive to build upon their ACC credential to aim at the second level of credential, which is PCC.

Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Requirements

PCC is the second level of accreditation delivered by the ICF. For many coaches, it is seen as the “golden” standard because it shows a strong dedication to professional learning and development, and a consistent practice of coaching. Going from ACC to PCC can take many years since it is required of coaches to complete:

A coach-specific training of 125 hours minimum, which usually means coaches need to attend a second formal training (if their initial training was less than 125 hours),
A minimum of 500 hours minimum,
Successful completion of the ICF Credentialing exam.

Your coaching style also needs to evolve when you prepare for your PCC. At that level, you are expected to coach the person, not the problem.

Master Certified Coach (MCC) Requirements

The third and last level of ICF credential is MCC. Very few people reach this level. In their most recent Annual Report, the ICF shares that less than 5% of credentialed coaches are MCC.

The main reason for this number is that the standards of a MCC coach are much (much!) higher than ACC and PCC. Not all coaches want to – or are able to – develop their practice to consistently coach at MCC level. It also means completing another course to meet the minimum of 200 hours of coach training, and providing two recordings of real coaching sessions at MCC level after having been mentored by another MCC coach. Let’s not forget about the required 2,500 hours of coaching practice, which is a very steep increase from the 500 hours of PCC.

The time and cost involved in the preparation of an MCC credential may not suit everyone. For those who get on that path, it is a great way to develop your coaching style and transform your approach to coaching sessions.

How long does it take to get an ACC/PCC/MCC credential?

The time it will take for you to get an ICF credential will depend on:

Which credential you apply for,
How prepared you are for the process,
The time and energy you can commit to getting experience.

The credential you apply for

The higher credential you aim, the longer it will take you. That’s why we recommend that coaches take it step-by-step, by applying first to their ACC, and then upgrading to PCC and MCC if they wish.

Your preparation

We sometimes see coaches look into the credential requirements after they started their coach training. This is a mistake. You want to be very intentional about the training you choose because it will make the credentialing process much easier and faster if you choose an ICF-accredited coach training like our Professional Coaching Skills Certification.

Your time and energy

Aside from the training, the length of time it will take you to get an ICF credential will greatly depend on your ability to coach 100, 500 or 2,500 hours for each credential. This is the step that usually takes the longest, especially when time is lacking in your day-to-day. Make sure to create a plan in order for you to prioritise accruing hours and experience.

What are the benefits of getting an ICF credential?

The benefits of getting an ICF credential are wide. It gives coaches recognition for the effort, time, and energy they committed to becoming great at what they do. It elevates the visibility of professional coaches because it is a differentiator in an industry where everyone can call themselves a coach. Not everyone can call themselves a certified coach or an ICF-credentialed coach.

It’s also becoming a minimum standard when working with coaching companies. Many organisations now require an ICF credential, in some cases they even ask for PCC. But it is also important to have a credential when you contract work directly with companies for their employees as many decision makers in HR and Learning and Development are aware of the ICF and the credentials.

Which ICF credential is right for you?

Choose the credential that fits your experience, your coaching approach, but also your professional goals. There is no point in aiming for a PCC credential if your coaching style is not aligned with what the ICF expects at that level. A higher credential doesn’t necessarily come with added benefits if you are not intentional about what you will do with this credential upgrade. So think about your own goals and aspirations for your career as a coach: