What is ICF ACC Certification

What skills does the ACC have? 

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

I add this: “Coaches honour the other person as the expert in their life and work and believe they are creative, resourceful, and whole.”

Instead of solving problems for their clients, coaches (at all levels) create the conditions for the team to solve problems themselves.

The ACC coach will be able to help their clients focus on their goals, understand their problems, and identify the next steps. The ICF ACC credential empowers coaches to remain committed to excellence, to an ethical practice, and lifelong learning. 

Throughout the course of their training, ACCs become exceptionally well-versed in the ICF Core Competencies, which establish benchmarks for professional coaching and represent must-have qualifications required to be able to deliver expected coaching results. 

In 2025, the ICF updated their Core Competencies to include an increased emphasis on coaching supervision.

How do I become an ACC Certified Coach? 

As coaches, we are in the business of supporting people through the process of personal transformation. We cannot do that for another person until we have experienced meaningful transformation ourselves. Coach training is the first step.  Beginning the process to become a certified coach is a life changing decision that can lead you to dramatically improve your thinking and outlook on work and life while drawing out your skills and unlocking your potential.

When you learn to coach you leverage the most powerful and effective approach to enhancing human development and performance, and choosing a coach certification program is the first step.

How to choose the right coach certification program 

Choosing the right coach certification program isn’t as simple as Google-ing the top school. You will want to take into account factors such as tuition, access, the training itself, and the programs available. You must weigh your options and choose the right one for you.

How long will it take to become ACC Certified? 

How long the process will take you depends on the certification program you choose, and how quickly you can obtain the required hours of coaching experience.  At The Coaching Academy for Leaders, you can begin the credentialing process for your ACC as soon as you begin the program, congruent to gaining your 60 hours of coach-specific training, 10 hours of mentoring, and the performance evaluation to apply towards certification.

Once you’ve completed the accredited program of your choice and have submitted your ACC Application, the time to review the application varies from 4 weeks (Level1/Level 2 pathway) to 14 weeks (Portfolio pathway). More information on the two pathways is below.

What happens after I’ve completed a certified coach training program? 

After completing your certified coach training program, you can apply for your credential through the ICF.

As of January 2026, the ICF now has two simple application routes for each credential.

The 2026 Pathways:

• Level 1/2/3 Path: You complete an ICF-accredited program. This is the simplest path as it includes all of the necessary mentoring and performance evaluation built into the program.
• Portfolio Path: For those with previously-achieved non-accredited training or Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits. You must submit documentation proving that your training aligns with ICF competencies and that you have the skills to successfully coach at the ACC level across all 8 core competencies. You will also have to submit your experience log and pass the ICF credentialing exam.

If you’ve already started an application under the previous ACSTH pathway, your application has automatically been transferred to the Portfolio Path. To help prevent confusion or overwhelm, the ICF has outlined a simple 6-step process for achieving your credential.