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Updates to the ICF Credentialing Process
By: ICFTN Director of Credentialing, Renee Fluty, MBA, PCC
The coaching world has been seeing a lot of press recently about impending changes in the ICF credentialing process. The most pressing questions are “What will these changes mean for me?” and “When will I be impacted?” I have been fielding questions from those contemplating credentialing, those entering the process, those already in the pipeline, those nearing the end of the pipeline, and those who are part of the credentialing process. The reality is that all of us will be impacted.
When I understand why something is happening, my stress levels are reduced and I can see the bigger picture. So, why is ICF changing the rules? The reality is that coaching is a relatively young profession and the International Coaching Federation represents the “gold standard” in coaching. Our profession is emerging from the growing pains that accompany being young.
An important part of what moved us forward as a profession is the establishment of ethical standards and core competencies. The next step in our growth was the struggle with how to know if a coach understands our ethical standards and is practicing the core competencies.
But coaching is more than applying knowledge and skills; the upcoming changes reflect the maturation of coaching as a profession with a stronger emphasis on demonstrated competence, ethical practice, and continuous learning. Today, credentialing places greater emphasis on demonstrating coaching competence through the ICF Core Competencies. The question is no longer, “Have you completed the required hours?” It is increasingly “Can you consistently coach at the standard expected of a professional coach?”
ICF has rolled out the first changes
The most immediate change impacts Mentor Coaches. Beginning January 1, 2027, all mentor coaches must be approved as a Mentor Coach Specialist to provide mentor coaching to credential candidates. Find the most current information on the new Mentor Coach Specialization here
If you plan to submit your ACC, PCC or MCC credential application after January 1, 2027, ICF has made some changes to the mentor coaching requirements that will impact you.
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Those who are submitting applications for ACC, PCC and MCC January 1, 2027 – March 31, 2027, need to talk with your Mentor Coach to see if they are in the process of qualifying as a Mentor Coach Specialist. If not, you will need to complete your mentor coaching hours with them before the end of 2026, and you must submit your credential application no later than March 31, 2027.
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Applications for ACC, PCC, and MCC credential received after April 1, 2027, must have all mentor coach hours provided by a Mentor Coach Specialist.
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If you will be submitting your ACC, PCC or MCC credential application prior to December 31, 2026, the changes will not affect you.
As always, if you have any questions I can help with, do not hesitate to contact me. And, we have monthly credentialing roundtables. Check the calendar for upcoming dates and register for our next meeting. Our most recent meeting focused on Coaching Supervision with Lisa Chenofsky Singer and Zsofia Juhasz. They led a lively discussion about what is involved in coaching supervision followed by a demonstration that participants found to be very powerful. More to come…
