ICF is the most globally recognized entity for credentialing coaches and is known and recognized for its independent credentialing program. ICF recently reached a milestone of credentialing over 45,000 coaches—more than any other organization in the world. Holding an ICF credential makes a coach very marketable as all ICF Credentialed Coaches complete rigorous education and practice requirements, providing testimony to their commitment to excellence in coaching.
At this time, coaching is not regulated anywhere in the world. However, if you are serious about becoming a professional coach, your first step needs to be obtaining coach-specific education. Professional coaches say the number one obstacle to the coaching industry is untrained individuals who call themselves coaches (2020 ICF Global Coaching Study). Obtaining ICF-accredited education to become a coach will give you credibility in the industry and help you build your professional network.
As an accrediting body, ICF does not offer coaching education for becoming a coach. We do offer continuing professional development for practiced coaches. To ensure quality training, ICF accredits or approves coaching education programs that meet its high standards. We suggest you access ICF’s Education Search Service (“ESS”) to search for approved and accredited programs. ICF’s approved and accredited programs teach in alignment with ICF Core Competencies, ICF Code of Ethics, and Definition of Coaching. It is up to the coach how to apply this training to their specialty area of coaching.
The search for a coach education program is a highly individual process which depends greatly on your personal preferences and goals. The ICF recommends all approved and accredited programs equally, and cannot recommend one program over another. The ESS is designed to give you basic information about ICF-accredited programs. Fees for these programs and the length of time it takes to complete them will vary. Please contact the respective training organization regarding fees, financial aid, scholarships, dates the programs are offered, and any further information related to the program.
The ESS will allow you to filter search results by:
o Program Type
A LEVEL 2 program is considered an all-inclusive coach preparation program. This kind of program includes a minimum of 125 hours of coach-specific training, Mentor Coaching, and a comprehensive final assessment that evaluates a student's coaching competency. Level 2 programs meet the requirements for the PCC.
A Continuing Coach Education (CCE) program is intended for coaches who already have ICF Credentials or who have completed basic coach training. A CCE program may include advanced coach training that directly relates to or expands upon the ICF Core Competencies, and/or training in skills that contribute to the professional development of a coach (e.g. personal development, coaching assessments or tools, business building, or other material that falls outside of the ICF Core Competencies.)
o Delivery Method: Find live voice-to-voice training you can complete via a virtual platform.
o In-Person Delivery Location: Search by country and state or province for live face-to-face training.
o Education/ Training Language: Choose the language(s) in which the program is delivered.
o Coaching Specialty: Choose from one or more of the top coaching specialties to find a program that emphasizes your niche in coaching.
o Accredited Organization: Use this field only if you are looking up a known organization to see if any of its programs are approved by the ICF.
To access the ESS, Click Here
The ICF offers three main credentials: Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC). A coach can apply for any level of an ICF credential provided eligibility requirements are met. Effective February 2019, applicants are required to hold a PCC credential before applying for an MCC credential. Beginning January 2023, we are also offering an Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) to ICF credentialed coaches who meet specific eligibility requirements.
For more information about the different credentials, please visit:
ICF has launched an online resource for prospective personal and business coaches at becomea.coach. Become a Coach streamlines the research process for prospective coaches by compiling a variety of essential information and links from across ICF’s website in one place.
You may also join ICF membership when you have either started an ICF accredited 60+ hour program or completed 60+ hours of coaching education. ICF is the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches. For more information on membership, please click here
To find a local ICF chapter, please click here
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