How to Become a Coach
Process to Earn a Membership and the ACC, PCC, or MCC Credential with the ICF
Process to Earn a Membership and the ACC, PCC, or MCC Credential with the ICF
When you are starting or continuing the journey of becoming a coach, the Center for Coaching Certification offers different levels of training programs (Professional, Master, Specialist, Foundational Cohort Level 1, Growth Cohort from Level 1 to Level 2, or Advanced Cohort Level 2) to give you options with your time and budget, and also the level of training based on your plans for coaching.
These infographics answer the common questions: How do I get ICF certified? and What do you need to be a certified coach?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) requires 60 hours of training to become a member. In addition to membership, the ICF offers credentialing - think about it this way: becoming a member of the ICF is much like getting an associates degree, and then earning a credential is much like getting a degree, masters, or doctorate.
For other professionals coach training often supports existing careers:
Earning a credential with the ICF requires five steps:
The ICF explains the process for earning a credential at https://coachingfederation.org/credential/?navItemNumber=502
For additional details on each credential click here: ACC, PCC, MCC
To learn more, watch the videos on Coaching Certification and on ICF Membership and Credentialing on our YouTube channel.
Click here to go directly to the video on Coaching Certification.
Training programs are available a-la-carte or in Level 1 and Level 2 credentialing cohorts.
The first training program is the ICF-approved Certified Professional Coach - a 30 hour program that serves to initiate people into the coaching competencies and develop coaching skills, plus provide a process.
The second program is the ICF-approved Certified Master Coach program totaling 35 hours (the Certified Professional Coach program is a prerequisite). The Certified Master Coach combined with the Certified Professional Coach completes the 60 hours required for membership in the ICF, and also the hours required for the first level of credentialing. The Certified Master Coach and program is a deeper dive into the competencies and takes your coaching expertise to a more advanced level.
The third program is one of the Certified Advanced Coach (Business, Career, Executive, Life, Wellness) programs totaling 35 hours. The Certified Advanced Coach programs provide the training focused specifically in different coaching areas.
The fourth program is the Coaching Experience class of 30 hours that when combined with the Professional, Master, and Specialist certifications completes the training hours for the PCC.
The Center for Coaching Certification training model is built on the ICF’s Core Competencies while also being informed by multiple other models:
The ICF-approved 30-hour Certified Professional Coach program is offered in either online with a face-to-face program or completely online. The core content is based on the ICF's Core Competencies of a coach. This certification provides a solid foundation in coaching and for further developing the coaching competencies.
The ICF-approved 35-hour Certified Master Coach program is designed to further develop the ICF's Core Competencies of a coach and prepare you for the Coach Knowledge Assessment required for credentialing with the ICF. Combined with the Certified Professional Coach program it completes the ICF training requirements for membership and for the ACC credential. The complete program is online.
The ICF-approved 35-hour Certified Advanced Coach programs are advanced training for coaches based on your area of interest. Serving to further advance skills and expertise, these programs offer the additional training hours required for membership and support ACC, PCC or MCC credentialing. The classes also serve as continuing education for members of the ICF. The examples and discussion are designed to focus on the specific area of coaching. Options include:
The ICF-approved 30-hour Coaching Practicum class is advanced training for coaches seeking additional practice and/or additional training hours for a higher level credential. Serving to further advance skills and expertise, the purpose of the practicum class is to offer the additional practice time, the training hours required for PCC or MCC credentialing, and also as continuing education for members of the ICF.
The ICF requires 10 hours of Mentor Coaching following very specific parameters. For those pursuing a credential the Center for Coaching Certification offers an Mentor Coaching Group package or individual mentor coaching - click here for details.
Offering quality coach training on the ICF's Core Competencies of a Coach, the Center for Coaching Certification (CCC) is the only ICF-approved program accredited by IACET to offer CEUs. CCC provides professional support with a robust suite of tools, post-graduate opportunities and support, and free continuing education.
The Center for Coaching Certification is your best choice for ICF-approved coaching certification with CEU credits, resources, post-graduate opportunities, and free continuing education.