International Coach Federation Guidelines

How to get ICF Credentialed: ACC, PCC or MCC

Gaining your International Coach Federation (ICF) Credential shows your commitment to the profession of coaching. We believe in and align with the ICF in partnership to support the ethical and best practices of a professional coach and hope that as a professional coach you join with us in the largest international coaching organization.

For your convenience, we've outlined the process to become an ICF Credentialed coach. Please verify with the ICF (www.coachfederation.com) for the most up to date information on the credentialing process.

Getting your ICF Credential

STEP ONE: ICF Accredited Coach Training
Depending on the level at which you wish to become credentialed (ACC, PCC or MCC) - you will attend 60, 125 or 200 hours of ICF Accredited coach-specific training hours. The ICF defines Coach-Specific Training as: 'Training that is predominantly marketed as teaching coaching skills and not something else and where the major emphasis is on coaching skills or applying technical skills as a coach and in a manner consistent with the ICF Core Competencies."

STEP TWO: ICF Mentor Coaching
At the Baraka Institute you may intiate step two of your ICF credentialing process as soon as you complete your first CORE: Coaching Communication Mastery In-Person Intensive or your second month in our CORE:Distance Program. Currently the ICF requires for all three credential levels 10 hours of ICF Mentor Coaching.

STEP THREE: Coaching Fieldwork & Experience
Again, depending on the credential level you are applying for you will be working toward 100, 750 or 2500 coaching hours. Of these hours 75% must be paid or in fair-value trades. If you have questions as to what would be a fair-value trade please feel free to call and ask us or the ICF.

The ICF defines one coaching hour as follows: "For purposes of individual credentialing for ACC, PCC, and MCC, a client coaching hour is 60 minutes coaching time with a person who has hired you as a coach, with whom you have a formal coaching agreement, and who you coach rather than providing any other service such as consulting or therapy. If you perform coaching and other services for a client, you may only count the actual time spent coaching toward certification. You may not count time providing other services."

STEP FOUR: Coaching Exam
For the ACC Level once you have earned your ICF Coach Training, ICF Mentor and Coaching fieldwork hours you may apply online for your credential. Approxiamately 30-90 days later you will be scheduled for your 30 minute coaching exam. For your PCC and MCC Level in addition to your 30-minute coaching example you will be asked to take a written exam.

We have provided links to useful documentation and training dates
related to your ICF Credentialing process below:

• Upcoming ICF Accredited Trainings & Mentor Coaching
  - A list of ICF coach trainings to meet your ICF requirements for Coach Specific Training and ICF Mentor Hours in preparation for your ICF Credential.
  
• ICF Credential Requirements Chart
  - Breaks down your Coach Training, Mentor & Fieldwork requirements as well as your letters of recommendation.
  
• ICF 11 Core Competencies
• Credentialing Policy Manual
• ICF Coaching Hours Log
• ICF ACC Passing Exam - Examples
• ICF Ethics