ICF stands for International Coach Federation, which is the highest standard for qualified and professional coaches around the world. It is a well-recognized community focused on standard coaching, a global network, and independent accreditation.
Pursuing ICF certification is the smartest move to gain an in-depth understanding of coaching skills and enhance your credibility. You must enroll in life coaching courses that offer ICF certification to gain credibility and position yourself as a qualified Life Coach.
Why Get an ICF Accreditation?
Coaching credentials can take you on a long road to success. It makes you recognized across the world and allows you to seek desired results. If you wish to start your own coaching business as a certified coach, consider getting ICF certification to stand out from the rest.
By holding an ICF coaching certification, it is proven that as a coach, you have ample knowledge, ability, and dedication to meet ethical standards and practices. The certified coach eventually means more clients, trustworthiness, and effectiveness.
Three Core Standards of ICF Coach Certification
The 3 levels of ICF certification includes:
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- Master Certified Coach (MCC)
All the certifications have different requirements, with major differences in training hours, coaching hours, credential level of expert mentoring you. For example, ACC level requires 60 hours of training, PCC requires 125 hours and MCC needs 220 hours.
To earn MCC Credential, you have to log at least 2500 coaching hours while PCC and ACC levels require 500 and 100 logged hours, respectively.
Training Requirements
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC) – There are three applications paths to choose from for ACC Credential. For each path, a candidate requires to complete 60 hours of coach-specific training, min. 100 hours of client coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching for three months, and must clear a performance assessment.
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC) – It includes three application paths. For each, the applicant needs to complete at least 125 hours of coach-specific training, min. 500 hours of client coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching, and must pass a performance assessment test.
- Master Certified Coach (MCC) – MCC path requires 200 hours of coach-specific training, 10 hours of mentor coaching, min. 2,500 hours of coaching experience, performance evaluation, previously held PCC Credential, and complete Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA).
Steps and Requirements to Become an ICF Certified Life Coach
- Complete an ICF accredited coaching course
- Achieve the required coaching experience hours
- Work with a Professionally Trained Mentor
- Additional Requirements: performance evaluation (audio and written transcripts of coaching sessions) and CKA test
As you might have understood by now, getting an ICF certification will raise your credibility among clients and showcase you are committed to offering an outstanding coaching experience.
Coach Transformation offers a wide range of ICF-accredited coach certification programs. You can start from any level depending on your goals and requirements. You can enroll here or contact them here for further information.
