How to Become an ICF Credentialed Coach: ACC & PCC Pathways
Quick Answer
To become an International Coach Federation (ICF) credentialed coach, you need:
- Coach-specific education
- Coaching experience
- Mentor coaching
- A performance evaluation
- Successful completion of the appropriate ICF exam
College of Executive Coaching provides education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation through its ICF-accredited executive coaching programs.
The coach separately attests to the required coaching experience hours to ICF, and ICF administers their credentialing exam and awards the credential.
There are two live online paths to begin the executive coach certification curriculum at College of Executive Coaching:
- Five-day Intensive — a live online immersive start
- Two-hour-a-week Program — a live online gradual start
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These two entry paths are how you begin with either of our certifications:
- 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification
- 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification
From either starting point, students continue into the required curriculum for their certification. You can work initially toward and complete the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification and later choose to complete the full 128-hour curriculum if you would like.
Alternatively, students who know they want more advanced coach training can initially choose to complete the full 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification.
It's your choice — either of our certifications help you get your ICF credential.
What Is an ICF Credential?
An ICF credential is an independent professional credential awarded by the International Coaching Federation. It is different from coach training school certification.
College of Executive Coaching provides ICF-accredited coach education and mentoring and awards its own coach training certifications. ICF separately awards credentials such as:
- Associate Certified Coach, or ACC
- Professional Certified Coach, or PCC
- Master Certified Coach, or MCC
For most professionals beginning coach training, the ACC and the PCC are the most relevant credentials. ACC is commonly the first professional coaching credential because it requires less coaching experience hours to obtain. The PCC is a more advanced credential for coaches with more coaching education, experience hours, and demonstrated coaching competence.
Why Earn an ICF Credential?
Based on my more than 30 years of experience in the coaching world, there has been a steady increase in organizations requiring that the coaches they hire have an ICF credential. An ICF credential can help open doors for a new coach compared to not having the credential, especially when seeking organizational clients, internal coaching roles, leadership coaching engagements, or referrals from professionals who value recognized coaching standards.
An ICF credential also helps prospective clients understand that you have completed suitable coach education, received mentoring, demonstrated coaching competence, and follow ethical standards. It does not guarantee success as a coach, but it strengthens your credibility and gives buyers more confidence.
What Are the Main ICF Credentialing Requirements?
ICF credential requirements vary by level and application path. Applicants for an ICF credential all need:
- Coach-specific education
- Coaching experience hours
- Mentor coaching
- Performance evaluation
- Successful completion of the exam administered by ICF
- Submission of the ICF credential application
For the ACC credential, ICF currently requires at least 60 hours of coach-specific education, 100 hours of coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and the ACC exam.
For the PCC credential, ICF currently requires at least 125 hours of coach-specific education, 500 hours of coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and the ICF Credentialing Exam.
The important distinction is this: an ICF Level 1 or Level 2 program includes the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portions of the ICF pathway. The coach still needs to separately attest to ICF's coaching experience requirements, submit the application, and complete the required ICF exam.
Because ICF requirements can change, students should always verify the latest requirements directly with ICF before applying for their credential.
How College of Executive Coaching Helps You Prepare
College of Executive Coaching is designed for experienced professionals who want credible, practical coach training. Our student body consists of consultants, HR leaders, psychologists, therapists, healthcare professionals, executives, managers, organizational development professionals, and others who want to add coaching to their current work or build a coaching practice.
The program helps students develop coaching competence through live online training, practice coaching, faculty feedback, mentor coaching, applied learning, and curriculum aligned with ICF Core Competencies. College of Executive Coaching curriculum also includes topics highly relevant to executive and professional coaching, such as emotional intelligence, leadership development, positive psychology, strengths-based coaching, appreciative inquiry, assessment tools, ethics, AI coaching practice tools, and practical coaching applications.
The executive coaching curriculum is organized around two certification outcomes:
- 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification
- 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification
As a College of Executive Coaching student, you decide what level of certification you want to obtain — our 72-hour certification or the more advanced, 128-hour certification.
College of Executive Coaching Path to ICF Credential Preparation
| Step | What You Do | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Your Starting Format | Begin with either the Five-day Intensive or the Two-hour-a-week Program. | Both are live online starting formats that lead into the same executive coach certification curriculum. |
| Start the Executive Coaching Curriculum | Learn core coaching skills, practice coaching, and begin receiving faculty guidance and feedback. | You are building the foundation for professional coaching competence and ICF-aligned coach education. |
| Matriculate Into the Remaining Required Courses | Continue through the additional online courses, mentor coaching, feedback, and program components. | This is how students move from the starting format into the full certification curriculum. |
| Complete the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification | Earn College of Executive Coaching's 72-hour, Certified Professional Coach executive coaching certification. | This is the ICF Level 1 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion of an ICF ACC application. |
| Continue to the 128-hour Advanced Certification, if Desired | Complete the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification. (The coaching student has already completed the majority of the required 128-hour coursework when they obtained their 72-hour certification.) | This is the ICF Level 2 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion for either an ICF ACC or PCC application. The coach applies separately to ICF after meeting all ICF requirements, including coaching experience hours and the ICF exam. |
The Two Ways to Begin
Option 1: Begin with the Five-Day Intensive
The Five-day Intensive is a live online immersive start. It is designed for professionals who want to complete a substantial portion of their training quickly and build early connection with faculty and peers.
This option allows students to complete 44 hours of accredited coach training in just five days. After the intensive, students continue into the remaining online courses and program components required for the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification. Those who want more advanced training may then continue toward the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification.
The Five-day Intensive may be a good fit if you want a focused learning experience, can set aside five days for training, and prefer to complete a major portion of the curriculum quickly.
The key point: the Five-day Intensive is not the final certification. It is one way to begin the executive coach certification curriculum.
Option 2: Begin with the Two-hour-a-week Program
The Two-hour-a-week Program is a live online gradual start. It is designed for professionals who want a manageable weekly schedule while continuing their work and personal commitments.
This option may be especially attractive for busy professionals who want time between sessions to reflect, practice, read, and apply coaching skills in their current work.
The Two-hour-a-week Program may be a good fit if you prefer a gradual pace, want a smaller weekly time commitment, and value time between classes to integrate what you are learning.
The key point is the same: the Two-hour-a-week Program is not a separate final certification. It is another way to begin the same executive coach certification curriculum.
The Two Executive Coaching Certifications
After choosing how to begin, students continue through the curriculum toward one of two executive coaching certifications.
Certification 1: 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification
The 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification is College of Executive Coaching's ICF Level 1 program. It provides a strong professional foundation in coaching and is often the first milestone for professionals who want to apply for the ICF ACC credential.
This certification may be a good fit if you want to:
- Build solid coaching skills
- Complete an ICF Level 1 coach education pathway
- Earn a professional coach training certification
- Add coaching skills to your current professional role
- Begin building a coaching practice
- Want to complete training and obtain certification quickly
- Decide later whether to continue into the 128-hour advanced certification
The 72-hour certification does not automatically give you the ICF ACC credential. It provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portions of the ICF ACC application pathway. The coach separately attests to the required coaching experience hours, completes the ICF application, and takes the ACC exam administered by ICF.
Many students complete the 72-hour certification first in six to eight months and then continue toward the 128-hour advanced certification because they have already completed a substantial portion of the advanced curriculum, and they want the additional coaching education and tools.
Certification 2: 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification
The 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification is College of Executive Coaching's ICF Level 2 program. It is the more comprehensive executive coaching certification pathway.
Students may enter this curriculum by beginning with either the Five-Day Intensive or the Two-Hour-a-Week Program. They then complete the remaining required courses, mentor coaching, feedback, and program components.
This certification may be a good fit if you want to:
- Complete a more advanced executive coach training curriculum
- Prepare for an ICF PCC application
- Build deeper coaching competence
- Strengthen credibility with executive, leadership, and organizational clients
- Receive more extensive practice, feedback, and mentor coaching
- Are comfortable with an average of 8-14 months to complete the full advanced certification (one could obtain the 72-hour certification along the way in as little as six months)
- Continue beyond the 72-hour certification into a broader professional preparation path
- Obtain a significant tuition discount when registering for the entire Level 2 advanced coaching certification
The 128-hour certification provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portions for either an ICF ACC or PCC application. The coach separately attests to the required coaching experience hours, completes the ICF application, and takes the ICF exam. The PCC credential requires more coaching experience than the ACC, and is considered the higher-level credential.
ACC vs. PCC: Which ICF Credential Should You Consider?
ICF ACC Credential
The ACC credential is often a strong first goal for newer coaches or professionals adding coaching to an existing career. Because it requires less coaching experience hours and less coaching education hours, it is faster to obtain than the higher level, PCC credential. It helps establish credibility and demonstrates that you have completed recognized coach education, coaching experience, mentor coaching, and assessment requirements.
For many College of Executive Coaching students, the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification provides the fastest ICF Level 1 pathway toward ACC credential preparation.
ICF PCC Credential
The PCC credential is a more advanced credential. It is often appropriate for professionals who want coaching to become a significant part of their professional identity, consulting practice, leadership development work, private practice, or organizational role.
For students who want the stronger advanced pathway, the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification provides more tools, more case studies, and more faculty interaction. Our 128-hour curriculum leads you to be a graduate of an ICF Level 2 accredited program and provides you the pathway for your PCC credential.
Simple Decision Guide
If you want a strong foundation and an ACC-oriented pathway, begin with either the Five-day Intensive or Two-hour-a-week Program and complete the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification.
If you want a more comprehensive coaching foundation and toolkit and you may want to pursue the PCC, continue from the 72-hour certification into the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification.
If you are unsure, begin with the entry format that fits your schedule and discuss the best certification target with a Program Advisor.
Why ICF Accreditation Matters
ICF accreditation matters because it helps students know that their coach education has been reviewed and approved by ICF. This is important because the coaching field includes programs with different levels of rigor, structure, and recognition — and many are not ICF accredited. Although even within ICF accredited programs there is tremendous variety in terms of quality, student support and sophistication of the peer group.
An ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program simplifies the credentialing pathway, by enabling you to apply with a streamlined application process because ICF knows that the accreditation means the program includes the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portions.
For prospective students, this distinction matters: a coach training school certification and an ICF credential are not the same thing. A school certification confirms that you completed that school's curriculum. An ICF credential confirms that you met ICF's independent credentialing requirements.
Most importantly for obtaining an ICF credential, if one did not complete their training at an ICF accredited program, it can be much more difficult to obtain an ICF credential.
Why Experienced Professionals Choose College of Executive Coaching
The College of Executive Coaching program is particularly well suited for people with graduate-level education and professional experience. College of Executive Coaching is a post-graduate institute.
You will find the quality of your peer group matters. Coach training includes discussion, feedback, peer coaching, and applied practice. Learning with other experienced professionals can make the program more relevant, intellectually engaging, and practically useful.
College of Executive Coaching is proud of our faculty, integrity, high standards, individualized feedback processes, and practical coaching applications. The curriculum is designed by Jeffrey Auerbach, Ph.D, MCC, past vice-president of the International Coaching Federation and past president of the International Association of Coach Training Organizations. The core faculty of College of Executive Coaching includes Master Certified Coaches who are senior leaders and authors in the coaching field. The curriculum includes leadership development, emotional intelligence, strengths-based coaching, positive psychology, assessment tools, and change-oriented coaching approaches that are especially relevant for executive and professional clients. Moreover, College of Executive Coaching advisors are known for their professionalism, warmth and attention to detail, to help you complete your coaching certification smoothly.
How Long Does It Take to Become an ICF Credentialed Coach?
The timeline depends on your starting format, your certification goal, your pace, and how long it takes to accumulate coaching experience hours.
The College of Executive Coaching 72-hour certification is usually completed in about six to seven months. The 128-hour certification often takes about eight to twelve months, although timing can vary.
Becoming ICF credentialed may take longer than completing the College of Executive Coaching certification because you also need to acquire the required coaching experience hours and complete the ICF application and exam process.
Summary: College of Executive Coaching Pathway — Questions and Answers
| Decision | Options | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| How do I begin? | Five-day Intensive or Two-hour-a-week Program | These are the two live online starting formats. |
| What is my first certification milestone? | 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification | ICF Level 1 pathway provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion of an ACC application. |
| What is the advanced certification option? | 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification | ICF Level 2 pathway provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion for an ACC or PCC application. |
| Who awards the ICF credential? | International Coaching Federation | ICF independently awards ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials. |
| What else does ICF require? | Experience hours, exam, application approval | The coach separately attests to experience hours and ICF administers the exam and reviews the application. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does College of Executive Coaching award the ICF credential?
No. College of Executive Coaching awards its own coach training certifications and provides ICF-accredited coach education. ICF separately awards ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials after applicants meet ICF's requirements.
Is College of Executive Coaching the original executive coaching ICF-accredited training program?
Yes, College of Executive Coaching was the first ICF-accredited coach training program focused on executive coaching, rather than life coaching. Many coach training programs have sought to emulate College of Executive Coaching, including using similar names and initials. However, College of Executive Coaching's curriculum, faculty, and student body are not available elsewhere.
How many ways are there to begin the executive coach certification program?
There are two ways to begin: the Five-day Intensive and the Two-hour-a-week Program. Both are live online options and both lead into the same executive coach certification curriculum.
Are the Five-day Intensive and the Two-hour-a-week Program separate certifications?
No. They are two starting formats. They are not separate final certifications. From either starting format, students continue through the curriculum toward the 72-hour certification and, if desired, the 128-hour advanced certification.
What are the two executive coaching certifications offered by College of Executive Coaching?
The two executive coaching certifications are the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification and the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification.
Can I start with the Five-day Intensive and later complete the 72-hour certification?
Yes. The Five-day Intensive is a live online entry point into the certification curriculum. After completing it, students continue into the remaining required curriculum components for the 72-hour certification.
Can I start with the Two-hour-a-week Program and complete the 128-hour certification?
Yes. The Two-hour-a-week Program is another live online entry point into the same executive coach certification curriculum. Students may complete the 72-hour certification and then continue into the 128-hour advanced certification.
Which certification should I choose if I want to apply for ICF ACC?
The 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification is College of Executive Coaching's ICF Level 1 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion of an ICF ACC application relatively quickly. Alternately, you can plan to complete our Level 2, 128-hour Advanced Certified and Personal Coach Certification, which would give you more training and tools. Either certification prepares you to apply for the ACC credential. You still need to meet ICF's coaching experience requirement, apply to ICF, and pass the ACC exam.
Which certification should I choose if I want to apply for ICF PCC?
The 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification is College of Executive Coaching's ICF Level 2 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion of an ICF PCC application. You still need to meet ICF's coaching experience requirement, apply to ICF, and pass the ICF Credentialing Exam.
Do I need to decide immediately whether I want the 72-hour or 128-hour certification?
No. Many students begin with and complete the 72-hour certification and then decide whether to continue into the 128-hour advanced certification. However, there are tuition savings for making an initial commitment to the 128-hour advanced certification.
Are College of Executive Coaching courses online?
Yes. The Five-day Intensive and the Two-hour-a-week Program are both live online options. All the other courses in our curriculum are also conveniently online.
Conclusion
Becoming an ICF credentialed coach involves more than taking a course. It requires coach education, mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, coaching experience, ethical understanding, successful completion of ICF's exam, and ICF's application process.
Moreover, because you engage in so much practice coaching and learning along the way, most people find completing coach training a rewarding, developmental experience also.
College of Executive Coaching gives experienced professionals a clear and flexible way to begin. You choose one of two live online starting formats: the Five-day Intensive or the Two-hour-a-week Program.
After that initial start, you continue through the executive coaching curriculum toward the 72-hour Certified Professional Coach Certification.
If you want more advanced training and possible PCC preparation, (which is what most of our students do) you would continue into the 128-hour Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach Certification.
The 72-hour certification is the ICF Level 1 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion of an ACC application. The 128-hour certification is the ICF Level 2 pathway and provides the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation portion for either an ACC or PCC application.
Next Steps
The best next step is to speak with a Program Advisor. A short conversation can help clarify which starting format fits your schedule, whether the 72-hour or 128-hour certification best fits your goals.
Schedule a call with a Program Coordinator
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