An ICF coaching log is a record of the clients you have coached and the paid and pro bono hours you have completed toward an ACC, PCC or MCC credential.
You do not need to submit the log with your credential application. Instead, you report your total coaching hours. ICF provides a free Client Coaching Log template to help you keep these records organized.
Key Takeaways
- One coaching hour means a full 60-minute session with a client who hired you as their coach. A 30-minute session counts as 0.5 hours.
- For each individual client, record their name, contact information, coaching start and end dates, and paid and pro bono hours.
- Record team and group coaching separately. Include one participant’s name and email address, along with the number of participants.
- Obtain each client’s consent before adding their information to your log.
- ICF does not require you to submit the coaching log with your application or during an audit. You report your total hours and confirm that they meet ICF standards.
What ICF Counts as a Coaching Hour
ICF counts one client coaching experience hour as a full 60-minute session with someone who hired you specifically as their coach. Shorter sessions count proportionally. For example, a 30-minute coaching session counts as 0.5 hours.
Coaching hours are considered paid when a client compensates you with money or barter. Hours also count as paid when coaching is part of your job or when you coach through an arrangement with an organization.
Pro bono hours are coaching sessions you provide voluntarily, without compensation. You should record paid and pro bono hours in separate columns.
Some professional activities do not qualify as client coaching experience. These include mentor coaching, coaching supervision, reviewing assessments with clients, training, teaching and facilitating workshops. Coaching your direct reports also does not count.
Coaching within a training program, or with students, trainers or mentors, can count only when it takes place outside the classroom, involves a real client and is separate from your training credits.
Your coaching experience also counts only from the start of your coaching education. ICF defines this starting point as any course lasting at least 30 hours, with at least 24 hours focused on the ICF Core Competencies.
Coaching Hours and Clients at Each Level
Each ICF credential has its own requirements for total coaching hours, paid hours and number of clients.
ACC and PCC applicants must also complete a minimum number of coaching hours within the 18 months before applying.
| Credential | Coaching hours | Paid hours | Clients | Hours in the last 18 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | 100 | 75 | 8 | 25 |
| PCC | 500 | 450 | 25 | 50 |
| MCC | 2,500 | 2,250 | 35 | None listed |
For the other requirements at each level, including education, mentor coaching and performance evaluation, see our guides to the ICF ACC credential requirements, ICF PCC credential requirements and ICF MCC credential requirements.
What to Record for Each Client
ICF explains the information you need to keep for different types of clients on its coaching experience requirements page.
Individual Clients
For each individual client, record their name and contact information. Include the start and end dates of the coaching engagement, along with the number of paid and pro bono hours completed.
Team and Group Clients
Keep team and group coaching records separate from individual client records.
For each team or group, record one participant’s name and email address, the coaching start and end dates, paid and pro bono hours, and the total number of participants.
Each participant counts as an individual client. However, the coaching hours are based on the length of the session, regardless of how many people attend.
For example, a one-hour session with six participants counts as one coaching hour and six clients.
ICF accepts groups of 15 or fewer participants unless a co-coach is present and the coaching time is divided between the coaches.
Participants must set the agenda, and the session must include real-time interaction.
Internal and Third-Party Clients
If you coach clients within your organization or through an organization that hires you, record those engagements in the same way as other client coaching.
Some organizations have confidentiality policies that prevent coaches from recording individual client details. In these cases, ICF asks for a reference letter signed on company letterhead instead.
You can find the required information for this letter on ICF’s coaching experience requirements page.
A Simple ICF Coaching Log Template
You can create a basic coaching log using the fields ICF names.
The table below includes those fields, along with a column to identify individual and group coaching. Use one row for each individual client and one row for each team or group.
| Client name | Contact information | Individual or group | Number of individuals (group only) | Start date | End date | Paid hours | Pro bono hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICF also provides its own Client Coaching Log template as a free spreadsheet for both members and non-members.
The template records client information, session dates, individual or group coaching, and paid and pro bono hours separately.
ICF recommends recording your coaching hours as you complete them.
Client Consent and ICF Audits
Before adding a client to your coaching log, ICF asks you to obtain their consent. Keep a record of that consent and make sure your log complies with applicable privacy laws, such as GDPR.
If a client does not give consent, you should leave their name out of the log. However, this may mean you cannot verify those coaching sessions if ICF audits your application.
ICF occasionally audits credential applications to verify coaching experience. If your application is selected, ICF will provide instructions and may request additional documentation.
Even during an audit, ICF does not ask you to submit the coaching log itself.
Reporting Your Hours When You Apply
When you apply for an ICF credential, you report your total coaching hours and confirm that your experience meets ICF standards.
Keeping an accurate log from your first client helps you check those totals. You can also use it to confirm your paid hours, client count and, for ACC and PCC, the hours completed within the 18 months before applying.
Once ICF approves your application, the final step is the exam.
If you are applying for ACC, our ICF ACC exam guide explains the exam requirements and format. You can also prepare with the ICF ACC Mastery Exam Prep & Practice course.
FAQs About the ICF Coaching Log
What is an ICF coaching log?
An ICF coaching log is a record of the clients you have coached and the paid and pro bono hours you have completed toward an ICF credential. For each individual client, ICF asks you to record their name, contact information, coaching start and end dates, and paid and pro bono hours.
Does ICF have a coaching log template?
ICF provides a free coaching log template called the Client Coaching Log. It is available as a spreadsheet on coachingfederation.org for members and non-members. The template lets you record client details, session dates, individual or group coaching, and paid and pro bono hours separately.
Do I need to submit my coaching log to ICF?
You do not need to submit your coaching log to ICF when applying for a credential. Instead, you report your total coaching hours and confirm that they meet ICF standards. ICF may audit your application, but it does not ask you to submit the coaching log itself, even during an audit.
Do pro bono hours count toward ICF coaching hours?
Pro bono hours count toward the total coaching experience required for an ICF credential. However, each credential has a minimum paid-hour requirement. ACC requires at least 75 paid hours out of 100, PCC requires at least 450 out of 500, and MCC requires at least 2,250 out of 2,500.
How do I log group coaching hours for ICF?
To log group coaching hours for ICF, keep each group separate from your individual client records. Include one participant’s name and email, the coaching start and end dates, paid and pro bono hours, and the number of participants. Each participant counts as a client, but the coaching hours are based on the session length and are not multiplied by the number of participants. Only groups of 15 or fewer count unless a co-coach is present and the time is divided between the coaches.
About the author
ExpertCoach.Co Team
This guide was written and reviewed by ICF-credentialed coaches on the ExpertCoach.Co team. ExpertCoach.Co helps thousands of coaches from more than 60 countries prepare for their ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials with clarity and confidence.
