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About Accreditation
About ICF Accreditation
My organization or institution provides in-house coaching for internal coaches. Does ICF accredit these programs as well?
Yes, we encourage businesses, organizations and other institutions with internal coaching education programs to pursue ICF Accreditation. ICF is the industry leader in professional coaching education accreditation, and by pursuing your accreditation with us, your organization will gain credibility, as well as the accountability that comes with meeting the ICF Coaching Education standards and requirement of ICF accreditation.
What are the main differences between each type / level of accreditation?
Level 1
Requires 60+ Participant Contact Hours
Designated as a pathway to the ACC credential
Level 2
Requires 125+ Participant Contact Hours
Designated as a pathway to the PCC Credential
Level 3
Requires 75+ Participant Contact Hours
Designated as a pathway to the MCC Credential
Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
1-40 Participant Contact hours
CCE is considered supplemental and continuing education for those who wish to acquire new learning, professional development and/or those who are renewing their ICF Credential.
It will be up to the organization to determine which one of these accreditation types meets your needs. Please explore each requirements page to gain a full understanding of what ICF has to offer.
What are the different types / levels of ICF Accreditation?
ICF Coaching Education offers four (4) types of accreditations: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and CCE. You can view information on each accreditation in the Coaching Education section of the ICF website.
What does it mean to have a coaching education organization or program accredited by ICF?
ICF Coaching Education gives accredited providers a competitive edge both in their content and stature. Coaches around the world recognize ICF as an industry leader and turn to us for information about initial and continuing accreditation and coaching education. ICF accreditation will give your organization unquestioned credibility and the ability to expose your services to a wider network of coaches.
About Recent Accreditation Updates
Why is ICF Coaching Education moving away from the model of accrediting only curriculum to accrediting the entire organization?
ICF Coaching Education is extending conveyance of accreditation policy and status to the provider and/or sponsoring entity in addition to the accredited curriculum. This allows ICF to recognize the impact and responsibility that a provider’s operations, organization, and administration has upon any participant’s experience of quality and equity with the accredited organization.
What was the reason behind these updates?
In 2020, the ICF Coaching Education Board of Directors approved the creation of a taskforce to evaluate and improve the current ICF accreditation process. This Taskforce on Global Accreditation evaluated and reimagined not only the philosophy of accreditation, but also the structure, policies and procedures to align with current accreditation leading practices across the globe.
We are evolving and innovating our previous global accreditation model to set the highest standards for coach-specific education and continue to put ICF as the standard-bearer for excellence.
ICF Coaching Education, as part of One ICF, exists to establish ICF as the global leader for coaching education accreditation.
What were the recent updates to the accreditation process with ICF and when did they occur?
In November 2021, ICF Coach Training became ICF Coaching Education. As the world has become more complex and the coaching profession more evolved, today’s coaches need more comprehensive education in order to thrive. Along with this new name, two other notable changes occurred at this time:
An updated accreditation structure, moving to level-based accreditations that align with ICF Credential levels.
A new way of accrediting. ICF now accredits entire organizations rather than only a specific curriculum or program.
How is the information submitted in the accreditation application used by ICF?
Any information submitted to ICF in the accreditation application is used strictly for accreditation review and data collection. You can review ICF’s Privacy Policy for additional information.
My organization has applied for ICF accreditation. Can we promote the pending accreditation on our marketing materials?
No. You may only reference ICF Accreditation after the accreditation has been officially awarded by ICF. This includes but is not limited to mention in your marketing information or other materials, or on your website. The submission of an accreditation application does not guarantee that the accreditation will be awarded to an organization. Referencing ICF accreditation prior to official receipt would be misleading and potentially unethical. Making a false claim is a breach of the ICF Code of Ethics and prematurely advertising ICF Accreditation is a violation of the ICF Coaching Education Code of Conduct.
What is the timeline for review of an application once submitted?
The accreditation timeline for review will depend on the accreditation type and the current number of applications in the accreditation queue at the time of submission. Below are the estimated review timelines based on accreditation level:
How do I get my coaching education program accredited?
Applications for ICF Accreditation are thoroughly reviewed by the ICF Coaching Education team. This team has been thoroughly trained in accreditation standards and requirements. Upon submission, ICF staff will continue to communicate regularly with the applicant with regards to the application status, and the outcome of the accreditation application after the review process is complete.
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