Whether you are a mentor coach who holds the MCS or a coach preparing for enhanced mentor coaching as part of your application process, this collection brings together relevant tools and guidance to support your journey.
For mentor coaches with an MCS, these resources are intended to strengthen your practice, support consistent evaluation of coaching skills, and help you provide high-quality mentor coaching experiences aligned with ICF standards.
For mentor coaching clients preparing for enhanced mentor coaching, these resources offer clarity on expectations, guidance on how to prepare, and insights into the evaluation process so you can engage in mentor coaching with confidence.
Together, these resources are meant to create a shared understanding of the mentor coaching experience and support both mentors and mentor coaching clients in achieving meaningful development outcomes.
Resources for Mentor Coaching Practice (For Mentor Coaches Directly):
Resource | Who is it for? | What is it used for? | Where to find them? |
ICF Mentor Coaching Handbook | Practicing mentor coaches who hold an MCS | To provide instruction and guidance on how to conduct mentor coaching | |
ACC BARS Resource Guide | Mentor coaches for clients applying for their ACC credential | To evaluate observed or recorded coaching sessions to the ACC BARS, for client development | Located inside ACC BARS Training |
PCC Marker Resource Guide | Mentor coaches for clients applying for their ACC or PCC credential | To evaluate observed or recorded coaching sessions to the PCC Markers, for client development | Located inside PCC Marker Training(s) |
MCC BARS Resource Guide | Mentor coaches for clients applying for their MCC credential | To evaluate observed or recorded coaching sessions to the MCC BARS, for client development | Located inside MCC BARS Training |
Mentor Coaching Forms (For Mentor coaches and Mentor Coaching Clients)
Resource | Who is it for? | What is it used for? | Where to find them? |
Session Observation Form | For Specialized Mentor Coaches working with clients on their coaching skill development. | For any one-to-one mentor coaching session that involves the review of an observed or recorded coaching session | ICF Website > Resources
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Competency Review Forms | For Specialized Mentor Coaches validating their client development over time. | For the end of a mentor coaching engagement that outlines the cumulative development over time. | ICF Website > Resources
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Minimum Skills Requirements (For Candidates/Mentor Coaching Clients:
Resource | Who is it for? | What is it used for? | Where to find them? |
ACC Minimum Skills Requirements | For candidates applying for their ACC | For applicants to understand what coaching skills are expected to be an ACC level credentialed coach | |
PCC Minimum Skills Requirements | For candidates applying for their PCC | For applicants to understand what coaching skills are expected to be a PCC level credentialed coach | |
MCC Minimum Skills Requirements | For candidates applying for their MCC | For applicants to understand what coaching skills are expected to be an MCC level credentialed coach |
Difference between the MSR (Minimum Skills Requirements) and the BARS/Markers
The Minimum Skills Requirements (MSR) and the BARS/Markers serve different but complementary roles in the credentialing process. The MSR is a guidance tool for candidates, outlining the skills and standards they are expected to demonstrate as they develop as coaches. In contrast, the ACC BARS, PCC Markers, and MCC BARS are evaluation tools used by mentor coaches, to observe performance at each credential level. The behaviors described in the BARS/Markers are reflected in the MSR under “Behaviors Consistent with ICF Coaching Standards.”
While candidates use the MSR to understand and build their coaching skills, mentor coaches use the BARS/Markers to observe client development, meaning candidates do not need to engage with the evaluation mechanics themselves.
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