The International Coaching Federation’s ACC credential requires 60 hours of coaching education, 100 coaching hours (including 75 paid), and 10 mentor coaching hours over at least three months. You must also pass a coaching performance evaluation and the ICF ACC Exam.
- 1 60 hours of coaching education Complete 60 hours of coach-specific education covering coaching skills, ethics and the Core Competencies. Complete it through an ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program, or through other coaching education on the Portfolio pathway.
- 2 100 hours of coaching experience Coach at least eight clients for 100 hours. At least 75 hours must be paid. Complete at least 25 coaching hours within the 18 months before you submit your application.
- 3 10 hours of mentor coaching Complete 10 hours with an eligible mentor coach over at least three months, including three hours of individual sessions.
- 4 A performance evaluation Portfolio applicants submitting before April 1, 2027 send ICF one coaching recording with a transcript.
- 5 The ICF ACC Exam Pass the 60-question multiple-choice exam with a scaled score of 460. The 90-minute appointment includes instructions and a break.
Which Application Pathway Applies to You
| Level 1 or Level 2 pathway | Portfolio pathway | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Completed Level 1/2 accredited program | Education includes Continuing Coach Education (CCE) courses or non-accredited training |
| Mentor coaching and performance evaluation | Included in your program | Arranged separately |
| ICF member fee | US$175 | US$475 |
| Non-member fee | US$325 | US$625 |
| Review time | About 4 weeks | About 14 weeks |
Your first exam attempt is included in the application fee. Coaching education and separately arranged mentor coaching cost extra.
How to Apply for the ICF ACC Credential
Apply once you meet the education, coaching hours and mentor coaching requirements.
- 1 Prepare your documents Save your coaching education certificates as PDF, JPEG or PNG files. If your mentor coaching took place outside an accredited program, note your mentor's name and contact details, the session dates and hours, and whether each session was one-on-one or in a group.
- 2 Submit your application and pay the fee ICF begins the review once the fee is paid in full. Track the status of each part of your application in your application dashboard.
- 3 Answer any questions from ICF If ICF needs more information, it emails you and marks that section "Additional Information Needed" in your application.
- 4 Take the ICF ACC Exam within 60 days After approval, ICF sends your exam invitation by email. Schedule and take the exam within 60 days, at a Pearson VUE test center or online.
- 5 Receive your results You receive preliminary results as soon as you finish the exam. ICF updates your record with your official results within one week, and the credential comes with a digital badge.
What Counts Toward Your ACC Coaching Hours
One coaching hour is a full 60-minute live session with a client who hired you specifically as their coach. A shorter session counts as a partial hour, and only hours after you begin your coaching education count.
Paid hours include sessions paid in money or barter, coaching that is part of your job, and coaching you provide through an arrangement with an organization. Pro bono hours are sessions you volunteer at no cost.
Group and team coaching counts for groups of up to 15 people. Larger groups count only with a co-coach, and the coaches split the hours. A one-hour group session adds one coaching hour, and each participant is a separate client.
Coaching your direct reports, mentor coaching and coaching supervision do not count. Practice coaching during your coaching education counts only with a real client, outside the classroom, and only when the session is not also counted toward your education hours.
ICF does not ask for your coaching log with the application. Report your total hours and confirm they meet ICF's standards. ICF audits applications periodically to verify coaching experience. Keep a log with each client's name, contact details, start and end dates and paid and pro bono hours, and get each client's consent before adding them.
Mentor Coaching and the Performance Evaluation
Level 1 and Level 2 programs include both mentor coaching and the performance evaluation. Portfolio applicants arrange both themselves.
Choose a mentor coach who holds a PCC or MCC, or an ACC who has renewed at least once. Of the 10 mentor coaching hours, at least 3 must be one-on-one. The other 7 can be one-on-one or in a group of no more than 10 people.
For the performance evaluation, submit one recorded coaching session. Record a full, unedited audio session of 20 to 60 minutes as one file in MP3, WMA, MP4 or M4A format. Add a word-for-word transcript as a Word document. The client must be a regular client who hired you for coaching and gave written permission for the recording.
A trained ICF assessor who holds a PCC or MCC reviews the recording, usually within 6 to 8 weeks. If you do not pass, you can submit a new recording within six months of receiving your results, for US$150 per recording.
The ICF ACC Exam
The ICF ACC Exam covers Coaching Ethics (30%), Definition and Boundaries of Coaching (30%), and Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques (40%). Each multiple-choice question has one correct answer.
An exam retake costs US$105. Wait 14 days after your first attempt and 30 days after each later attempt.
ICF Changes Coming in 2027
From January 1, 2027, new mentor coaching hours, for both applications and renewals, must be with a mentor coach who holds ICF's Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS). Hours completed before that date still count.
For ACC Portfolio applications submitted on or after April 1, 2027, an enhanced mentor coaching requirement replaces the performance evaluation. Your MCS mentor coach observes and reviews at least three of your coaching sessions and completes a Competency Review Form for your application. This change does not apply to the Level 1 / Level 2 pathway.
Renewing Your ICF ACC Credential
Renew the ICF ACC credential every three years by completing 40 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits in each cycle, including 24 in the Core Competencies and 3 in coaching ethics.
ACC renewal also requires 10 hours of mentor coaching over at least three months. These hours count toward the 24 Core Competency credits.
Submit your renewal up to 10 months before your expiration date. The renewal fee is US$175 for ICF members or US$275 for non-members. ICF reviews renewals in about 6 to 8 weeks and allows a two-month grace period after expiry. A lapsed credential can be renewed up to one year after expiry with a US$100 late fee.
Renewal keeps your current credential. To move up a credential level, submit a new credential application.
ICF ACC Mastery Exam Prep & Practice
Prepare for the ACC exam with topic reviews, flashcards, practice quizzes, exam strategies and a simulator for timed exam practice.