ICF Credential Levels Your Path to Professional Mastery
3. ICF Credential Levels: Your Path to Professional Mastery
Build credibility. Deepen expertise. Elevate your impact.
Earning an ICF credential is more than just checking boxes — it’s a proud declaration of your professionalism, your skills, and your dedication to growth.
ICF credentials are celebrated worldwide as a standard for coaching excellence. They help guide your development, build trust with clients, and offer a clear path ahead — whether you’re beginning your journey or reaching for the highest levels of mastery. Let’s walk through each level and what it really means:
ACC – Associate Certified Coach
Start strong. Lay your foundation.
The ACC is the first professional credential offered by ICF, ideal for those who have completed their foundational coach training and are just starting their coaching journey. It serves as your welcoming entry into the ICF community — and provides a great foundation for building a reliable, ethical, and confident coaching practice.
Requirements include:
- At least 60 hours of coach-specific training through an ICF-accredited program (Level 1 or higher)
- A minimum of 100 hours of real client coaching
- 10 hours of mentor coaching with a qualified ICF mentor
- Submission of a recorded coaching session for evaluation
- Successful completion of the ICF Ethics and Coaching Knowledge Assessment
This level shows you’ve established solid coaching foundations and are prepared to confidently work with clients in a professional setting.
PCC – Professional Certified Coach
Advance your skill. Grow your presence.
The PCC is widely recognized as one of the most valued ICF credentials, and it's easy to see why. It showcases a coach who has gone beyond the fundamentals, demonstrating a rich depth, subtlety, and steady commitment in their practice. Many organizations and coaching firms look for this level or even higher when they are hiring, underlining its importance.
Requirements include:
- At least 125 hours of coach-specific training
- A minimum of 500 hours of client coaching (with at least 25 clients)
- 10 hours of mentor coaching
- Submission of multiple recorded sessions for review
- Passing the ICF Credentialing Exam
At the PCC level, you’re encouraged to showcase the full spectrum of ICF Core Competencies — including emotional intelligence, being fully present, and creating a supportive space for meaningful client transformation.
MCC – Master Certified Coach
Mastery in motion.
The MCC represents the highest achievement in ICF certification — only a select few, less than 5% of credentialed coaches worldwide, reach this level. It signifies a seasoned coach who brings intuition, skill, and depth into every session, making each one meaningful. It’s not just about being a good coach — it’s about coaching with elegance, presence, and true transformative power.
Requirements include:
- At least 200 hours of training
- A staggering 2,500+ hours of client coaching experience
- A minimum of 35 clients
- Extensive peer-reviewed performance evaluations (with recorded sessions)
- Demonstration of profound coaching presence, ethical integrity, and client impact
Earning an MCC is a wonderful achievement that truly highlights your expertise. It recognizes you as a leader among coaches — someone who is a mentor, a master, and a trusted partner in the journey of transformation.
ACTC – Advanced Certification in Team Coaching
Coaching systems. Unlocking collective potential.
While the traditional ACC-PCC-MCC pathway mainly emphasizes one-to-one coaching, the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) celebrates expertise in guiding groups and systems. It’s a wonderful choice for coaches who enjoy supporting leadership teams, departments, or cross-functional collaborations.
ACTC validates your ability to:
- Navigate team dynamics
- Facilitate group growth and shared goals
- Work with conflict, alignment, and culture
- Apply team-focused coaching tools and ethics
It’s a growing area of credentialing and in high demand for organizational development work.
What These Levels Really Represent
Each ICF credential isn’t just about hours logged or forms submitted. It’s about who you’re becoming as a coach.
- Are you deepening your presence?
- Are you becoming more attuned to your clients?
- Are you growing in integrity, humility, and mastery?
The credentialing journey is a path of becoming — not just a professional badge, but a lived commitment to excellence.
Which One Is Right for You?
- If you’re just beginning, ACC provides you with a solid foundation of credibility and clarity.
- For those who have some experience and want to take their coaching to the next level, aiming for PCC is a wonderful goal.
- If coaching feels like your true passion and calling, then MCC is the natural next step for your growth.
- And if you enjoy working with groups, teams, and systems, exploring ACTC can open exciting new opportunities.
Remember, each credential builds upon the previous one, so there's no need to rush—just keep moving forward at your own pace.
Need help deciding which credential level fits your experience?
Book a session with a Program Advisor to map out your next steps.
