How To Get An ICF Credential
The route to an ACC is largely decided by the training you pick, and an accredited programme takes the least predictable step out of it altogether.
Whether you want to become a professional coach, or have been coaching for many years, you have probably looked into getting a credential. The coaching industry is unregulated, in the sense that anyone can call themselves a "coach" - even people who are not trained or who aren't even practicing coaching.
Professional bodies like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) set the much needed standards for the coaching profession, whether it is about defining what coaching is and isn't, the coaching skills and behaviours to master as a practitioner, or the ethical code to follow.
Getting a credential is not mandatory, but we highly recommend it to easily show clients and companies the seriousness of your approach. In this article, we are going to talk about how to get an ICF accreditation.
First, what ICF credential should you go for?
We won't go into too much details about the three different levels of ICF accreditation. For more information, you can check this other article.
We can assume that if you searched for this article, you are starting to get familiar with the ICF framework. You probably haven't completed a training already, or you may have but you are unsure about next steps. Many coaches - if not all - start with the first level credential, Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and work their way up from there. You may be tempted to aim for a higher level credential if you have more experience, but it is not necessarily the best option. ACC is more accessible than PCC, and it is very well recognised and valued in the industry.
We are going to focus here on how to get an ACC accreditation.
Pick your training (very) wisely
Completing a coach training is mandatory for an ICF credential. Depending on the training you choose, the criteria for the ICF credential will vary.
Choose a Level 1 accredited training
The easiest, fastest and most certain way to an ICF credential is to complete an ICF Level 1 accredited training. A Level 1 programme is all-inclusive and takes you from start to finish: at least 60 hours of training, the 10 hours of mentor coaching the ICF requires, and a final performance evaluation assessed by your training provider.
The standards are high, and you do have to pass that final evaluation to earn your certificate. The reward is that you never submit a coaching recording to the ICF: your performance has already been evaluated. Your ACC application is then your training certificate, 100 hours of client coaching, and the credentialing exam, with no assessor’s verdict on a single session standing between you and your credential.
Check our Level 1 Professional Coaching Skills Certification (https://register.coachingstudies.com/professional-coaching-skills-certification)
The next best thing: Level 2 accredited training
If you have the time, money and motivation to go further in your coach training, you can go for a Level 2 accredited training, which prepares you for both the ACC and the PCC credential. It is all-inclusive in the same way as Level 1, with mentor coaching and a performance evaluation built in, so there is still no recording to submit to the ICF. What you gain is reach: a Level 2 programme runs to at least 125 hours and covers the training requirement for both credentials, so when your client hours reach 500 you can apply for your PCC without going back to study.
The trade-off is cost and time. A Level 2 programme asks for a longer commitment from the start, and it only pays off if you intend to keep going past the ACC. If you are certain you want to build a full coaching career, it is the better investment of the two.
Practice, practice, practice
To apply for your ACC, you need at least 100 hours of coaching practice from the first day of your coach training. Coaching is an art that needs to be practiced in order to be perfected. Seek to coach as many people as possible on various topics so you get confident and improve your skills.
We published an article on how to get the first 100 hours of coaching hours if you are interested.
Get familiar with ICF standards
If you have to submit a recording for your application , you will need to understand what is expected of that recording. The ICF is very transparent about their standards. They shared the minimum skills required for ACC on their website. Read those a few times to evaluate where your strengths and potential areas of development are. Use these standards as a compass to guide your practice, but remember that they are not the only way to coach. They just show you the criteria used to assess your recording.
Another important element of the ICF framework is their Code of Ethics. One of the main things that will be assessed, in the recording but also in the credentialing exam, is your understanding of coaching ethics. Integrating the ideas of the Code of Ethics to your practice will not only protect you, your clients and the coaching profession, but it will also show in your ICF application.
Record your sessions and listen back to them
Listening to your own sessions is an opportunity to observe your coaching skills as if you were a peer, and not solely base your judgement on your post-session memory or impression. Use the ACC markers as reference when listening to recordings, like an ICF assessor would. Don't expect or try to hit all markers in a 30-minute session, that is simply not realistic. The goal is to showcase your ability to tap into all 8 ICF Core Coaching Competencies to support your client's agenda.
Work with a mentor coach
Getting support is crucial for coaches who aim for an ICF accreditation. If you have the opportunity, working with a Mentor Coach who is also an experienced ICF-credentialed coach can be a great way of improving your coaching skills. Check our article on Mentor Coaching for more information.
Prepare for the ICF credentialing exam
The final step of the credentialing process is to take the ICF exam. For this it is essential to review the ICF Updated Core Competencies, as well as the Code of Ethics.
