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Understanding the different ICF accreditation levels is important to help you decide whether it is something you want to pursue or not. Credentials, accreditations, or certifications are not compulsory for one to call themselves a coach; however they offer a certain credibility and show standards of practice that are sought after by most clients.
The best source of information about International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential is obviously the ICF website. You will find below a summary of the 3 levels of ICF accreditations for coaches so you know what to research if you need any additional information.
We put together the requirements of each of the ICF credential in a one-page document.
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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:
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 accreditation.
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:
Once coaches reach PCC level, many of them stay at this level for years before they are able to move to the final accreditation.
The third and last level of ICF accreditation is the MCC credential. Very few people reach this level. In their 2020 Annual Report, the ICF shared that there were 1,349 MCC-accredited coaches, out of 41,500+ accredited coaches. That’s a little over 3%.
The main reason for this low 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 usually 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.
The time and cost involved in the preparation of an MCC accreditation 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.
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International Coaching Federation, https://coachingfederation.org/
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