The ICF ACC credential is the entry-level coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation, and meeting the full set of ICF ACC certification requirements is a multi-step process that takes most coaches 9 to 18 months. There are five core requirements -- 60 hours of coach-specific education, 100 hours of client coaching experience, 10 hours of mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and a passing score on the ICF credentialing exam -- and two different paths through them.
This guide walks through each requirement in detail, explains how the Level 1/Level 2 and Portfolio paths differ, and lays out the application process from your first training hour to your credential approval. Whether you are just starting your coach training or already accruing client hours, you will know exactly what comes next.
The 5 ICF ACC Certification Requirements at a Glance
Every ACC candidate -- regardless of path -- must satisfy all five requirements. The path you take changes how you demonstrate them, but not what they are.
- 60+ hours of coach-specific education aligned to the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics
- 100+ hours of client coaching experience with at least 75 paid hours, accrued after your training begins
- 10 hours of mentor coaching completed over a minimum of 3 months, with both group and individual components
- A performance evaluation demonstrating ACC-level competency in a recorded coaching session
- A passing score on the ICF credentialing exam -- 460 out of 600 on the 60-question, 90-minute Pearson VUE assessment
Two things are worth knowing up front. First, the ACC credential is valid for three years, after which you renew it through continuing coach education. Second, ICF is not affiliated with any exam prep provider, including CoachCertify -- the only official ICF requirements are the five above.
Choosing Your Path: Level 1/Level 2 vs Portfolio
The first decision you make is which credentialing path to apply through. Both paths lead to the same credential, but they differ in how your education and performance evaluation are handled.
Level 1 Path (formerly ACTP/ACSTH)
The Level 1 path is for coaches who complete their training through an ICF-accredited Level 1 program (or the older ACTP/ACSTH-accredited equivalents). These programs are designed to satisfy ICF's education requirements directly. When you graduate, the program submits the performance evaluation on your behalf, and ICF accepts your training hours without additional review.
This is the simplest path. You complete the program, log your client coaching hours, complete your mentor coaching (often included in or arranged through the program), and apply. The application asks for less documentation because the program has already verified your education and competency.
Level 2 Path
Level 2 programs are also ICF-accredited and offer a deeper curriculum -- typically 125+ hours of training -- designed for coaches pursuing the PCC credential or who want more rigorous preparation. Graduates of Level 2 programs are eligible for the ACC through the same streamlined path as Level 1 graduates. If your program is Level 2 accredited, you have already exceeded the 60-hour education minimum.
Portfolio Path
The Portfolio path is for coaches whose training did not come through an ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program. This includes coaches trained through CCE-accredited programs, non-accredited but reputable training, or a combination of shorter courses that collectively meet the 60-hour requirement.
On this path, you self-document your education -- listing each program, its hours, the topics covered, and how the content maps to the ICF Core Competencies. You also submit a recorded coaching session and written transcript directly to ICF for the performance evaluation. The Portfolio path involves more paperwork but is fully equivalent to the Level 1 path in terms of the credential awarded.
Choose the path that matches your training. You cannot mix paths or apply through Portfolio if your program is already ICF-accredited.
Requirement 1: 60 Hours of Coach-Specific Education
The first ICF ACC certification requirement is 60 hours of coach-specific education. ICF defines coach-specific education as training that focuses on coaching skills aligned to the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics -- not generic leadership development, therapy, or consulting content.
What Counts as Coach-Specific Education
To count toward your 60 hours, the training must:
- Be delivered by qualified coach trainers
- Cover material aligned with the 2019 ICF Core Competencies and 2020 Code of Ethics
- Include both content delivery and skill practice, typically with observed coaching exercises
- Be documented with a certificate, transcript, or letter that shows hours and content
Self-directed learning, reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending non-coaching workshops do not count -- even if they are highly relevant.
Level 1/Level 2 Path
If you graduate from an ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program, your education requirement is satisfied automatically. Most Level 1 programs run 60-100 hours; Level 2 programs run 125+ hours. Your program issues a certificate of completion that ICF accepts without additional review.
Portfolio Path
On the Portfolio path, you log each training program separately, including:
- Program name and provider
- Total hours
- Topics covered, mapped to specific ICF Core Competencies
- Dates of attendance
- Verification (certificate, transcript, or instructor letter)
ICF reviews your submission to confirm the training is genuinely coach-specific and meets the 60-hour minimum. If your collection of training falls short of 60 hours or is too narrowly focused, you may need to take an additional course before applying.
Requirement 2: 100 Hours of Client Coaching Experience
The second requirement is 100 hours of client coaching experience. This is where many candidates underestimate the timeline -- accruing 100 client hours takes most coaches several months of consistent practice.
Paid vs Pro Bono
Of the 100 hours, at least 75 must be paid. The remaining 25 hours can be pro bono, barter arrangements, or any unpaid coaching that involves a real client and a coaching agreement.
"Paid" does not have to mean full market rate. Any compensation -- monetary, in-kind, or as part of an employment arrangement where coaching is a defined role -- counts as paid. The intent is to confirm you have built actual coaching experience with real stakes, not only practiced on classmates.
What Counts as a Coaching Hour
A coaching hour is a session conducted under a coaching agreement, with a client who has identified goals you are partnering with them to explore. Specifically:
- Sessions must be one-on-one or with a defined coaching group (not group facilitation or training)
- A coaching agreement must be in place -- written or clearly verbal
- The work must be coaching, not mentoring, consulting, training, or therapy
- Sessions are typically logged in 30- or 60-minute increments
Hours accrued before you started any formal coach training do not count. Your coaching hours must be from after you began your education.
Tracking Your Hours
ICF requires a client log with the following fields for every client:
- Client name (initials acceptable for confidentiality)
- Contact information for verification
- Start and end dates of the engagement
- Total hours coached
- Whether the coaching was paid or pro bono
ICF audits a random sample of applications by contacting clients directly to verify the hours. Keep your log current as you go -- reconstructing 100 hours of coaching from memory months later is a common cause of application delays.
Requirement 3: 10 Hours of Mentor Coaching
Mentor coaching is often misunderstood. It is not a coaching session for you -- it is coaching that focuses on your development as a coach. A qualified ICF mentor coach (PCC or MCC credentialed) observes or listens to your coaching, gives feedback against the ICF Core Competencies, and helps you grow toward the ACC-level standard.
The 10-Hour Requirement
You need 10 hours of mentor coaching, completed over a minimum of 3 months. The time requirement matters: you cannot complete all 10 hours in a single week, even if you wanted to. ICF wants you to integrate feedback, practice, and return for more feedback -- the spacing is part of the developmental design.
The 10 hours must include both formats:
- At least 3 hours of individual (one-on-one) mentor coaching -- private sessions focused on your specific coaching
- The remaining hours can be group mentor coaching, where you and a small cohort observe each other coaching and receive feedback
Who Qualifies as a Mentor Coach
Your mentor coach must hold an ICF credential at the PCC or MCC level. ACC-credentialed coaches cannot serve as mentor coaches. If your training program offers mentor coaching as part of the curriculum, verify that the assigned mentors hold the required credential level -- this is a common point of confusion.
Many Level 1 and Level 2 programs include 10 hours of mentor coaching in the tuition. If your program does not, you will need to arrange and pay for it separately. Independent mentor coaches typically charge $100-$250 per hour for individual sessions and $50-$150 per hour for group programs.
Requirement 4: Performance Evaluation
The performance evaluation confirms that you can demonstrate the ICF Core Competencies at the ACC level. How this works depends on your path.
Level 1/Level 2 Path
If you complete an ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program, the performance evaluation is built into the program. Your trainers observe and assess your coaching multiple times during the curriculum. When you graduate, the program submits a verification letter to ICF confirming you meet the ACC performance standard. You do not submit a recording separately.
This is one of the main reasons coaches choose Level 1/Level 2 programs even when Portfolio is technically available -- the integrated evaluation removes a stressful submission from the credentialing process.
Portfolio Path
Portfolio candidates submit a single recorded coaching session with a real client and a written transcript. The recording must be 20 to 60 minutes, from a real (not role-played) conversation after training began, and include the client's signed consent.
Trained ICF assessors evaluate the session against the eight ICF Core Competencies, looking for the behavioral indicators ICF defines for ACC-level coaching. If your recording does not pass, you can resubmit after additional practice. This is why mentor coaching is such an important investment for Portfolio candidates -- targeted feedback before recording reduces the risk of a failed evaluation.
Requirement 5: Pass the ICF Credentialing Exam
The fifth and final requirement is the ICF credentialing exam. Until November 2024, the exam was the Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA). ICF transitioned to a new knowledge-based credentialing exam, which became mandatory for all candidates from March 14, 2025 onward.
Exam Format
The current exam is delivered through Pearson VUE, either at a physical test center or remotely via the OnVUE platform. Key facts:
- 60 multiple-choice questions with one correct answer each
- 90 minutes total, split into two 30-question sections
- Optional 10-minute break between sections
- Scaled scoring from 200 to 600, with 460 required to pass (~76% correct)
- No penalty for wrong answers -- always answer every question
For a complete breakdown of the format, see the ICF ACC exam format guide.
What the Exam Tests
The exam content is divided into three domains:
- Coaching Ethics: 30% -- the 2020 ICF Code of Ethics
- Definition and Boundaries of Coaching: 30% -- ICF Definition of Coaching, distinctions from related disciplines
- Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques: 40% -- applying the eight competencies to scenario-based situations
Two important specifics: the exam tests the 2019 ICF Core Competencies (not the 2025 update) and the 2020 ICF Code of Ethics (not the 2025 revision). If your study materials reference newer versions, confirm they align with the exam's source documents.
Exam Fee and Retakes
The exam fee is included in your credential application -- $175 for ICF members and $375 for non-members. If you do not pass on the first attempt, retakes cost $105, with a 14-day waiting period between attempts and up to six attempts per year from the date of your first exam. For a full cost breakdown, see the ICF ACC exam cost guide.
The ACC Application Process Step by Step
With all five requirements understood, here is the actual sequence most candidates follow.
Step 1: Complete Your Coach-Specific Education
Level 1 programs typically run 4 to 9 months. Portfolio candidates combining multiple shorter courses may take longer. You can start logging coaching hours during training -- you do not need to wait until you graduate.
Step 2: Accrue Client Coaching Hours
Most coaches build their 100 hours over 3 to 9 months, often overlapping the second half of training. The biggest bottleneck is reaching 75 paid hours, so start charging early -- even at introductory rates.
Step 3: Complete Mentor Coaching
Plan for at least 3 months. If your training program includes mentor coaching, it often runs concurrently with the latter portion of the curriculum. Portfolio candidates arrange mentor coaching independently and should schedule it well before they intend to apply.
Step 4: Prepare and Submit the Performance Evaluation
Level 1/Level 2 candidates: your program handles this. Portfolio candidates: record a real coaching session with client consent and submit it with your application. Many Portfolio coaches record several sessions and select their strongest.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
ICF's online credentialing portal walks you through the application. You upload your education documentation, client coaching log, mentor coaching verification, and (for Portfolio) your recording and transcript. The application fee is paid at submission. ICF review typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Step 6: Schedule and Pass the Exam
Once approved, ICF authorizes you to schedule the exam through Pearson VUE. You typically have 12 months from authorization to test. Most candidates schedule 4 to 8 weeks out to allow time for structured exam preparation. Pass, and you are awarded the ACC credential and added to ICF's public Credentialed Coach Finder.
Costs and Timeline at a Glance
Putting the full path together, here is what each requirement typically costs and how long it takes:
Coach-specific education is the biggest line item, usually $3,000-$15,000+ and 4-9 months of study, depending on whether you choose a Level 1 or Level 2 program.
100 client coaching hours have no direct cost beyond your time, and they typically take 3-9 months to accumulate while overlapping with your training.
10 hours of mentor coaching generally run $500-$2,000 and need to be spread across at least 3 months to meet ICF's requirements.
Performance evaluation is included in your program if you go the Level 1 or Level 2 route, or built into the application fee for Portfolio candidates, with Portfolio reviews taking around 2-4 weeks.
Application and exam fees total $175 for ICF members and $375 for non-members, with ICF review typically taking 4-8 weeks before you can schedule the exam.
Exam preparation ranges from $0 to about $500 and most candidates spend 4-8 weeks getting ready.
In total, expect to invest roughly $4,000-$18,000+ and 9-18 months from your first training class to credential in hand.
The largest variable is your training program. Premium ICF Level 2 programs can exceed $15,000 alone, while shorter Level 1 programs may run $3,000-$6,000. Mentor coaching costs also vary widely depending on whether it is bundled with your training.
After You Pass: Maintaining Your ACC
The ACC credential is valid for three years. Renewal requires 40 hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCEs) -- 24 in Core Competencies and 16 in Resource Development -- plus an additional 10 hours of mentor coaching per renewal cycle. Many coaches use the three-year window to work toward the PCC credential, which requires 125+ training hours, 500 coaching hours, and a separate performance evaluation.
Common Mistakes That Delay Credentialing
Logging coaching hours before training started. Hours accrued before your coach-specific education began do not count, even if you have been informally coaching for years.
Counting non-coaching hours. Mentoring, consulting, training delivery, and therapy do not qualify, even when the work overlaps with coaching skills. Your log must reflect actual coaching conversations under a coaching agreement.
Mixing up mentor coaching and supervision. Mentor coaching is feedback against the ICF Core Competencies from a PCC- or MCC-credentialed coach. Supervision is a broader reflective practice that does not satisfy the requirement.
Underestimating the paid-hours requirement. Reaching 75 paid hours often takes longer than expected. Start charging early, even at introductory rates, rather than coaching extensively for free and scrambling later.
Treating the exam as an afterthought. The first-attempt pass rate is roughly 73-75%, and candidates who do not pass almost always cite under-preparation. Build in 4 to 8 weeks of structured prep with practice quizzes and full-length mock tests before your exam date.
Studying outdated source material. The exam tests the 2019 ICF Core Competencies and the 2020 Code of Ethics, not the 2025 updates. Verify your study materials match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for the ICF ACC credential?
The ICF ACC credential requires 60+ hours of coach-specific education, 100+ hours of client coaching experience (with at least 75 paid), 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of 3 months, a performance evaluation demonstrating the ICF Core Competencies, and a passing score (460 of 600) on the ICF credentialing exam delivered through Pearson VUE.
What is the difference between the Level 1 and Portfolio paths?
The Level 1 path is for graduates of an ICF-accredited Level 1 or Level 2 program -- the program submits your performance evaluation, so you only need to log your coaching hours and pass the exam. The Portfolio path is for coaches with 60+ hours of non-ICF-accredited training; you self-document your education, submit a recorded coaching session for evaluation, and complete the same hours and exam requirements.
Do I need 100 paid coaching hours for the ACC?
No. The ACC requires 100 total client coaching hours, of which at least 75 must be paid. The remaining 25 hours can be pro bono, barter, or other unpaid arrangements -- as long as they involve a real coaching client and a written or clearly verbal coaching agreement.
How long does it take to get the ICF ACC credential?
Most coaches complete the ACC path in 9 to 18 months. Coach-specific education typically takes 4 to 9 months, accruing 100 client hours another 3 to 9 months (often overlapping training), mentor coaching has a 3-month minimum, and the application review and exam scheduling add 4 to 8 weeks at the end.
How much does the ICF ACC credential cost in total?
The total investment usually ranges from $4,000 to $18,000+. Coach training accounts for most of it ($3,000-$15,000+), followed by mentor coaching ($500-$2,000), the application/exam fee ($175 for ICF members and $375 for non-members), and optional ICF membership (~$245/year). Exam preparation and any retakes ($105 each) add smaller amounts on top.
Your ACC Path Starts With a Plan
The ICF ACC certification requirements are clear, public, and unchanging. What varies is how efficiently candidates work through them -- and how prepared they are when they reach the final step.
If you are at the beginning of the journey, choose the path that matches your training, build a realistic timeline, and start logging hours from day one. If you are nearing the end, the exam is the last variable in your control. The five requirements have already cost you significant time and money; the credential they lead to is worth preparing thoroughly to claim. When the exam is what stands between you and your ACC, structured practice with scenario-based questions and timed mock tests is the most direct path to a passing score.