ICF Credential and Recredential
Posted by Sue - Admin on Jun. 14, 2021 / Subscribe 0
Coaching the Profession
Coaching is one of the fastest growing professions, and currently, is unregulated. Basically, that means that anyone can call themselves a coach. Making a choice to get an ICF credential will not only set you apart from the pack, but it lets people know that you take coaching seriously and you are highly invested in your own professional development.
As of July 2020, there are 30,079 coaches in 130 countries and territories who hold one of three ICF Credentials: 16,898 Associate Certified Coaches (ACC); 11,946 Professional Certified Coaches (PCC); and 1,235 Master Certified Coaches (MCC).
To Credential or Not?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is an internationally recognized, membership-based organization of coaches focused on the advancement of the coaching profession. Members who join this organization believe they represent the highest quality of professional coaches. To be a member, you pay an annual fee and go through the steps to receive your ICF credential. Members also have to adhere to a certain level of mentor coaching hours and continuing education to maintain their membership.
Consider the journey of becoming a lawyer or accountant. Anyone can get the degree. Only a certain amount of each pass their professional certifications: the BAR or CPA. Who do you want representing you in court? Doing your taxes?
Why would you trust your life or your life’s work to anyone who is not credentialed? Does it mean non-credentialed coaches are not good? Not at all. However, the certification is a way to ensure you are working with someone who knows how to stay in the coach’s lane and not deviate into the Advisory or Consultant, or even the Mentor or Therapy, areas, which are often the areas to which untrained coaches wander.
What is the value of a Coaching Credential from ICF?
Chances of success increase by obtaining a coaching certification. According to many professional coaches, coaching certifications help you to attract more clients. In this way, there are better chances to achieve success in your coaching business.
With an ICF credential, you set yourself apart from the sea of other coaches. It also lets your clients know how serious you are about your profession and your commitment to your own professional development.
What are the options for Certification and what does obtaining it entail?
There are three types of ICF credentials you can apply for: Associate Certified Coach, Professional Certified Coach and Master Certified Coach.
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC
- 60+ hours of coach training to apply
- 100+ hours coaching experience
- $100 for ICF members or $300 for non-members
- An estimated four weeks to review
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- 125+ hours of coach training to apply
- 500+ hours coaching experience
- $300 for ICF members or $500 for non-members
- An estimated four weeks to review
- Master Certified Coach (MCC)
- 200+ hours of coach training to apply
- 2,500+ hours coaching experience
- $575 for ICF members or $775 for non-members
- An estimated 18 weeks to review
Additionally, you need to gain 10 hours of feedback (mentor coaching) with a qualified mentor coach for each ICF credential. These all need to have taken place within a three-month period. The mentor coach must also have an equal or higher certification than the one you’re applying for.
ICF Credential Renewal
In order to ensure an ICF-accredited coach maintains the highest standards of coaching, the body requires all credentials to be renewed every three years. Each certification requires continuing Coach Education (CCE) training.
Each renewal requires 40 hours of continuing coach education. Of the 40 hours, 24 hours must be focused on the ICF Core Competencies and Ethics. The remaining 16 hours can be comprised of resource development. A recent change to the requirements now allows you to use 10 hours of mentor coaching as 10 hours of CCE also. Choose training programs that will help you round out your skills and fill gaps in your coach education.
ICF Credential holders are required to demonstrate completion of at least three (3) Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units in the area of coaching ethics to be eligible for renewal of their ICF Credentials.
For ACC re-credentialing, you’ll need to have completed another 10 hours of mentor coaching. Again, these all need to have taken place within a three-month period.
A renewal fee of $175 for ICF members and $275 for non-members also applies.
Upgrading Your Credential
It is not possible to upgrade to a higher credential via the credential renewal application. If you wish to pursue a higher credential, you must complete an initial application for that credential.
How can we best support you?
Let us know how we can support your coaching journey. Contact me at [email protected]
Kathleen Cashman-Walter
www.linkedin.com/in/kathleencashman
ICF NJ Director of Membership 2021-22
0 Comments