ICF Credentials Explained: ACC, PCC, MCC and the New Level 1–3 Paths
Feeling Lost in the ICF Credential Maze?
If you’ve ever opened the ICF website and thought: “ACC, PCC, MCC… Level 1, Level 2, Level 3… ACTP, ACSTH, Portfolio.
Can someone please just translate this?”
You’re not alone.
Coaches tell us the same story again and again:
They care deeply about doing this profession “the right way.”
They know an ICF credential is a powerful marker of quality and credibility.
And yet, the actual paths, requirements and terminology feel dense, fragmented, and ever-shifting.
This guide is here to change that.
We’ll walk through:
What an ICF credential actually is
The differences between ACC, PCC and MCC
The updated Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 application paths
When each path (and each level of credential) makes sense
How to choose the route that fits your practice, experience and goals
Think of this as your plain-language briefing so you can move forward with calm, clarity, and a strategy that actually matches where you are.
What Is an ICF Credential, Really?
At its core, an ICF credential is professional proof that you:
Have completed a defined amount of coach-specific education
Have logged real client coaching hours
Have received mentor coaching
Have demonstrated competence against the ICF Core Competencies
Have passed the ICF credentialing exam and committed to the ICF Code of Ethics
It’s not just a badge. It’s a signal—to clients, organizations, and yourself—that you’re operating at a recognised global standard.
ICF currently recognises three credentials:
ACC – Associate Certified Coach
60+ hours of coach-specific education
100+ hours of client coachingPCC – Professional Certified Coach
125+ hours of coach-specific education
500+ hours of client coachingMCC – Master Certified Coach
PCC in hand (or previously held)
200+ hours of advanced coach-specific education
2,500+ hours of client coaching
Each credential reflects a different stage of your professional journey—from emerging practitioner (ACC) to established professional (PCC) to master-level coach (MCC).
Non-Negotiables for Any ICF Credential
No matter which level you’re pursuing, some elements are always present:
Coach-Specific Education: A minimum number of hours in coach-specific training, aligned with ICF Core Competencies.
Client Coaching Experience: Logged hours, across a minimum number of clients, with a defined portion being paid.
Mentor Coaching (10 hours): At least 10 hours over a minimum of three months, with a credentialed mentor coach (PCC or MCC, and MCC for Level 3/MCC paths).
ICF Credentialing Exam: An online exam that tests your understanding of the ICF Core Competencies, Code of Ethics, and ethics-in-practice scenarios.
Ethics & Professional Practice: Alignment to the ICF Code of Ethics and responsible documentation of hours, logs, and client agreements.
The shape of the journey changes depending on your path. Those paths are where a lot of the confusion lives—so let’s clean that up next.
From ACTP/ACSTH to Level 1–3: What Changed?
Historically, coaches had to navigate:
ACTP – Accredited Coach Training Program
ACSTH – Approved Coach Specific Training Hours
Portfolio Path
As of August 2022, ICF simplified and transitioned to Level 1, Level 2, Level 3. The older designations (ACTP/ACSTH) are being phased out in favour of a more intuitive, stackable structure.
Here’s the new landscape in plain language:
Level 1
~60+ hours of coach-specific training
Includes mentor coaching
Designed to prepare coaches for ACC-level performanceLevel 2
~125+ hours of coach-specific training
Includes mentor coaching
Designed for PCC-level performance (and can also be used for ACC)Level 3
75+ hours of advanced, post-PCC training
Mentor coaching by an MCC
Designed specifically to support the MCC journey
You’ll also still see references to Portfolio paths—options for coaches whose education comes from multiple sources, including non-accredited programs.
ACC: Associate Certified Coach – Your Professional Starting Point
The ACC is often a coach’s first ICF credential.
It signals:
A foundational understanding of ICF Core Competencies
A commitment to ethics and professional practice
Enough experience to work reliably with clients at a beginner-to-intermediate level
WHO ACC IS FOR
ACC is ideal if you are:
Newer to professional coaching but serious about standards
Transitioning from another field into coaching
A leader, HR professional, or consultant who wants to formalise and standardise your coaching practice
ACC REQUIREMENTS (High Level)
To apply for ACC, you’ll typically need:
60+ hours of coach-specific training (Level 1 or equivalent)
100+ hours of client coaching, with at least 8 different clients
At least 75 hours paid, and 25 hours completed in the 18 months before applying
10 hours of mentor coaching over at least 3 months
A recorded coaching session (20–60 minutes) with transcript
Passing the ICF Credentialing Exam
ACC PATHS AT A GLANCE
You’ll usually come through one of three routes:
Level 1 Program: The most straightforward: a single ICF-accredited Level 1 program designed for ACC.
Level 2 or Legacy ACTP: If you’re in (or completed) a longer, PCC-aligned program, you can still apply for ACC using those hours while accumulating experience.
Portfolio Route: For those with training from multiple sources (including non-ICF programs), you gather proof of 60+ coach-specific hours and demonstrate competence through recording and documentation.
ACC is less about perfection and more about declaring your professional intent—that you are a coach, operating under recognised standards, with a solid foundation to build on.
PCC: Professional Certified Coach – The Established Practitioner
The PCC is where many coaches ultimately land as their “home base.” It reflects:
Greater depth of practice
Stronger embodiment of the ICF Core Competencies
A track record of working with a broader range of client scenarios
WHO PCC IS FOR
PCC is ideal if you:
Have been coaching consistently for some time
Work with organizational or leadership clients
Want to position yourself as a seasoned professional in competitive markets
Are considering future progression to MCC
PCC REQUIREMENTS (High Level)
To apply for PCC, you’ll typically need:
125+ hours of coach-specific training (Level 2 or equivalent stack of Level 1 + other hours)
500+ hours of client coaching with at least 25 clients
At least 450 hours paid
At least 50 hours completed in the 18 months prior to application
10 hours of mentor coaching over at least 3 months
Two recorded coaching sessions (with transcripts) at PCC standard
Successful completion of the ICF Credentialing Exam
PCC PATHS AT A GLANCE
Common routes include:
Level 2 / (Legacy) ACTP Path
A single, comprehensive program that includes training, mentor coaching, and an integrated performance evaluation.Mixed Level 1 + Additional Training
Building on a Level 1 foundation, you add further approved coach-specific education to reach 125+ hours.Portfolio Path
You compile 125+ hours from different sources (including non-accredited programs) and prove alignment with ICF standards through recordings and documentation.
PCC isn’t just “ACC plus more hours.” It represents a meaningful shift in how you hold space, partner with clients, and navigate complexity.
MCC: Master Certified Coach – The Pinnacle
The MCC credential is the highest distinction the ICF awards. It’s less about volume and more about demonstrated mastery over time.
WHO MCC IS FOR
MCC is suited to coaches who:
Have been coaching professionally for years
Already hold (or have held) a PCC
Are ready to deepen their craft at an advanced level
Often contribute to the profession through mentoring, supervision, training, or thought leadership
MCC REQUIREMENTS (High Level)
You’ll typically need:
An active or previously held PCC
200+ hours of advanced coach-specific education
2,500+ hours of client coaching with at least 35 clients
10 hours of mentor coaching with an MCC over at least 3 months
Submission of recordings that demonstrate true master-level coaching
Passing the MCC performance evaluation
MCC PATHS AT A GLANCE
Level 3 Path
For those who choose a dedicated advanced program aligned to MCC standards.Portfolio Path
For coaches who have accumulated advanced education across multiple programs and need to bring it together into one recognisable submission.
MCC is as much about who you have become as a coach as it is about what you can demonstrate in any single recording.
Choosing Your Path: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Portfolio?
Instead of getting stuck in the acronyms, ask yourself:
Where am I now in terms of education and hours?
What kind of structure do I want—single program or modular stack?
How quickly do I want (or need) to reach this credential?
What kind of support helps me thrive—high structure, high flexibility, or a blend?
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
Choose Level 1 if you’re earlier in your journey and want a clear, ACC-aligned starting point.
Choose Level 2 if you’re ready to commit to a deeper, PCC-oriented path with built-in structure.
Choose Level 3 if you’re already PCC and serious about MCC-level mastery.
Choose Portfolio if your education has been spread across diverse, non-accredited or mixed programs and you’re willing to do more admin to bring it together.
There is no “one right way.” There is only the path that best matches your current reality and future goals.
Where Mentor Coaching and Supervision Fit In
Across all levels, mentor coaching is non-negotiable—and deeply valuable when it’s done well.
Mentor coaching helps you:
Hear your work through assessor ears
Map your practice directly to ICF Core Competencies
Refine your presence, questioning, and partnering in real time
Prepare recordings and yourself for the credentialing process
Coaching supervision complements this by focusing on:
Ethics and complex client dynamics
Your emotional responses and patterns as a coach
Sustainability, boundaries, and wellbeing
At The Art of Strategy, this is where Coaching Mastery (Mentor Coaching) lives: at the intersection of rigor, compassion, and growth.
And What About the Business Side?
One thing the credential framework doesn’t directly address?
Your coaching business.
You can be fully aligned with ICF standards and still struggle with:
Consistent clients
Pricing and packaging your work
Communicating your value without feeling salesy
Building a business that actually supports your life
That’s why, alongside Coaching Mastery, we created Beyond the Badge™ (Business Mastery)—to help coaches turn professional standards into sustainable practice.
ICF gives you the what.
Mentor coaching and business development help you build the how.
So… Where Do You Go From Here?
If this all still feels like a lot, that’s okay.
You’re not expected to hold the entire map in your head.
Here’s a simple next step sequence:
Locate yourself clearly.
Download The Credential Map™ and use it to identify whether you’re in Exploration, Activation, or Momentum for ACC, PCC, or MCC.Choose your focus.
Are you primarily working on:Getting or upgrading your credential (ACC/PCC/MCC)?
Growing your coaching business?
Or both, in parallel?
Surround yourself with the right room.
Join the free Community of Practice (COP) waitlist to stay connected to a global community of coaches who are walking similar paths.Add depth with structured support.
When you’re ready:Explore Coaching Mastery for mentor coaching and ICF-aligned development.
Explore Beyond the Badge™ to turn your credential into a viable, sustainable business.
You don’t have to rush, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Your path to ACC, PCC, or MCC is not a race—it’s a professional narrative you’re crafting day by day. The more clearly you see the options, the more intentional you can be about the journey.
With you in the work,
The Art of Strategy
Strategy. People. Performance.