ICF individual membership costs US$270 per year. Members receive a US$150 discount on every ACC, PCC and MCC credential application.
If you are considering membership mainly to reduce your credential fees, the numbers are worth looking at. The discount on one application does not cover the annual dues. Whether membership is worthwhile for you also depends on which member benefits you plan to use.
Key Takeaways
- ICF individual membership costs US$270 per year and is valid for 12 months.
- Members save US$150 on every ACC, PCC and MCC credential application pathway and US$100 on each credential renewal.
- One credential application saves US$150, leaving a US$120 difference compared with the annual dues. Two applications within the same membership year save US$300.
- You can become an ICF member if you hold an ICF credential or have completed or enrolled in at least 60 hours of qualifying coaching education.
- ICF membership is optional. Every credential application has a non-member fee.
What ICF Membership Costs
The International Coaching Federation offers individual membership for US$270 per year. Membership lasts 12 months, and you can choose automatic renewal.
To qualify for individual membership, you must meet at least one of these three requirements:
- Hold an ICF credential, either ACC, PCC or MCC.
- Have completed at least 60 hours of coaching education that meets ICF standards.
- Be enrolled in at least 60 hours of coaching education that meets ICF standards.
Member and Non-Member Credential Fees
ICF offers different application and renewal fees for members and non-members.
For ACC and PCC applications, the fee also includes your first exam attempt.
| Fee | ICF member | Non-member | Member saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC application, Level 1 or Level 2 pathway | US$175 | US$325 | US$150 |
| ACC application, Portfolio pathway | US$475 | US$625 | US$150 |
| PCC application, Level 2 pathway | US$375 | US$525 | US$150 |
| PCC application, Portfolio pathway | US$750 | US$900 | US$150 |
| MCC application, Level 3 or Portfolio pathway | US$675 | US$825 | US$150 |
| ACC, PCC or MCC renewal, every three years | US$175 | US$275 | US$100 |
You can find the education, coaching experience and other requirements for each credential in our guides to the ICF ACC credential requirements, ICF PCC credential requirements and ICF MCC credential requirements.
When the Credential Discount Covers the Dues
Consider a coach who joins ICF mainly to apply for a credential.
The annual membership costs US$270, and the application discount is US$150. That means the coach pays US$120 more overall than someone applying as a non-member.
The calculation is the same for ACC, PCC and MCC because every application pathway offers the same US$150 member discount.
Credential renewals follow a similar pattern.
ACC, PCC and MCC credentials must be renewed every three years. Members save US$100 on each renewal.
Maintaining membership for three years at US$270 per year costs US$810. If you complete one credential application and one renewal during that period, the combined discounts total US$250. You would still pay US$560 more in membership dues than you save on those fees.
However, two credential applications within the same 12-month membership period produce a different result.
Two applications provide US$300 in discounts. After the US$270 membership fee, you save US$30 overall.
| Situation | Dues paid | Fee saving | Saving minus dues |
|---|---|---|---|
| One application in a 12-month membership | US$270 | US$150 | minus US$120 |
| Two applications in a 12-month membership | US$270 | US$300 | plus US$30 |
| Three years of membership with one application and one renewal | US$810 | US$250 | minus US$560 |
The credential discounts cover the membership dues only when you complete two or more applications within the same 12-month period.
In every other case, you would need to consider the value of the additional membership benefits.
What ICF Membership Includes
ICF lists several exclusive benefits on its membership benefits page:
- Credential discounts
- Professional development
- Community
- Peer coaching
- Ethics resources
- Business resources
- Coaching research
- ICF branding
- ICF Communities of Practice, where participation earns Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits.
- ICF Member Resource Groups
- A listing in ICF’s global coach directory
ICF also makes some resources available to everyone, including research reports, free webinars and introductory coaching tools. Its exclusive research resources are separate from the publicly available reports.
Every three years, you must complete 40 CCE credits. At least 24 credits must cover the Core Competencies, including 3 credits in coaching ethics.
Participating in ICF Communities of Practice is one way to earn CCE credits.
ICF Membership for ACC and PCC Candidates
For a candidate, the main difference membership makes to the credentialing process is the application fee.
ICF lists the same credential requirements for members and non-members, including coaching education, client coaching hours, mentor coaching, performance evaluation and the exam.
If you are preparing for ACC, our ICF ACC exam guide explains the exam format and requirements. You can also study with the ICF ACC Mastery Exam Prep & Practice course.
For PCC and MCC candidates, our ICF PCC/MCC exam guide covers the exam, while the ICF PCC/MCC Exam Prep & Practice course provides structured preparation.
FAQs About ICF Membership
How much does ICF membership cost?
ICF individual membership costs US$270 per year and is valid for 12 months. You can also choose automatic renewal.
Is ICF membership worth it?
Whether ICF membership is worth it depends on how many credential applications you make and which member benefits you use. One credential application saves US$150, and a renewal saves US$100. Both discounts are smaller than the US$270 annual membership dues.
Do ICF members pay less for credentials?
ICF members pay lower fees for every ACC, PCC and MCC credential application and renewal. Members save US$150 on each application pathway and US$100 on each renewal. For example, an ACC application through the Level 1 or Level 2 pathway costs US$175 for members and US$325 for non-members.
Do I need to be an ICF member to get an ICF credential?
You do not need to be an ICF member to earn an ICF credential. ICF offers non-member application fees for every ACC, PCC and MCC credential pathway.
Who can join ICF as a member?
Coaches can join ICF as individual members if they hold an ICF credential, have completed at least 60 hours of coaching education that meets ICF standards, or are currently enrolled in at least 60 hours of qualifying coaching education.
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.
