If you search for "what's on the ICF ACC exam," most of the results still describe an exam that no longer exists. ICF replaced its credentialing exam with a new knowledge-based format in November 2024, and as of March 2025, every ACC candidate sits for this updated version. The content domains are different. The weightings are published. The question approach has changed.
This post covers what the new ICF ACC exam actually tests in 2026: the three content domains and their weightings, how the current format differs from the old credentialing exam, which source documents you need to study, and what all of this means for how you prepare.
What Changed on the ACC Exam in November 2024
On November 18, 2024, ICF launched a new credentialing exam for the ACC credential. This was not a minor revision -- it was a structural overhaul. The old exam was retired, and by March 14, 2025, the new format became mandatory for every ACC candidate worldwide.
The previous credentialing exam was the same test used across all ICF credential levels. Whether you were pursuing your ACC, PCC, or MCC, you sat for the same exam, calibrated at the PCC level of coaching skill. For ACC candidates, this created a mismatch -- you were being tested against competency expectations that exceeded your credential level, using scenarios designed to evaluate experienced coaches rather than those at the start of their credentialed career.
The new exam fixes that problem. It is calibrated specifically for ACC-level coaching, testing the knowledge and judgment expected of a coach who has completed their foundational education and initial coaching hours. You still need to demonstrate solid understanding of the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics, but the questions reflect what an ACC-level coach should know and apply -- not what a PCC-level coach would demonstrate after years of additional experience.
ICF also introduced greater transparency. The new format publishes three explicit content domains with defined percentage weightings, so you know exactly how the exam distributes its 60 questions across different areas. This is a meaningful improvement over the old format, which did not provide this level of detail about content distribution.
The exam logistics did not change. It is still 60 multiple-choice questions, still 90 minutes, still delivered through Pearson VUE at a test center or remotely via OnVUE, and still scored on a 200-600 scale with a passing threshold of 460. For a complete walkthrough of timing, sections, breaks, and scoring, see the full exam format breakdown. What changed is what those 60 questions test and how they are written.
The Three Content Domains on the ACC Exam
Every question on the ACC exam maps to one of three content domains. ICF publishes the percentage weightings, which means you know in advance how the exam distributes its focus. This information is valuable for structuring your study time proportionally.
Coaching Ethics (30%)
Roughly 18 of the 60 questions fall under this domain. These questions test your knowledge of the 2020 ICF Code of Ethics -- not your general sense of what is ethical, but specific provisions of the code itself.
Expect questions on confidentiality obligations and their exceptions, conflicts of interest and how to manage them, professional conduct standards, dual relationships, and the boundaries of the coaching agreement. The ethics domain also covers referral obligations -- specifically, when and how a coach should refer a client to another professional such as a therapist, counselor, or medical provider.
This domain trips up candidates who assume their personal ethical compass is sufficient. It is not. The exam tests the ICF Code of Ethics as a specific document with specific provisions. You need to know what the code says about client data, informed consent, fee transparency, and professional boundaries -- not just what feels right in the moment.
Study the 2020 ICF Code of Ethics line by line. Pay particular attention to sections that address situations where ethical obligations might conflict -- those tend to produce the most challenging exam questions. Flash cards are particularly useful for drilling ethics provisions until the specific language becomes second nature.
Definition and Boundaries of Coaching (30%)
Another 18 questions cover this domain. It tests your understanding of what coaching is, what it is not, and where the boundaries sit between coaching and adjacent professions.
The foundation here is the ICF Definition of Coaching, which describes coaching as a partnering process that stimulates thought and creativity to maximize personal and professional potential. You need to know this definition precisely and understand how it distinguishes coaching from therapy, counseling, consulting, mentoring, and training.
Boundary questions are practical. You might be asked to identify when a client's needs fall outside the scope of coaching, how to handle a situation where a client asks for direct advice rather than coaching, or what to do when a coaching conversation begins to resemble a therapeutic intervention. The correct answers consistently align with the ICF definition and the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements.
This domain also covers the coaching agreement -- what should be established before coaching begins, what the client should understand about the coaching process, and how the coach maintains the structure of the engagement. If you have completed an ICF-accredited training program, much of this will be familiar. But the exam tests these concepts with precision, so review the exact language ICF uses rather than relying on how your training program phrased things.
Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques (40%)
The largest domain accounts for roughly 24 of the 60 questions. It tests your knowledge of the eight ICF Core Competencies from the 2019 framework and your ability to recognize competent coaching in practice.
The eight core competencies, organized by category:
Foundation -- (1) Demonstrates Ethical Practice and (2) Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Co-Creating the Relationship -- (3) Establishes and Maintains Agreements and (4) Cultivates Trust and Safety
Communicating Effectively -- (5) Maintains Presence and (6) Listens Actively
Cultivating Learning and Growth -- (7) Evokes Awareness and (8) Facilitates Client Growth
Questions in this domain present coaching scenarios and ask you to identify which response best demonstrates a specific competency, or which action aligns with effective coaching at the ACC level. You need to know these competencies beyond their names -- the behavioral indicators under each one describe specific, observable actions that the exam uses to construct both correct and incorrect answer options.
The ACC Minimum Skills Requirements also influence this domain. They describe the level of coaching skill expected at the ACC level, which helps distinguish ACC-appropriate responses from those that might reflect PCC or MCC-level coaching. When a question asks what a coach "should" do in a given scenario, the correct answer reflects ACC-level expectations.
Focus your study on the behavioral indicators under each competency. When you can articulate why a particular coaching response demonstrates Competency 6 (Listens Actively) rather than Competency 7 (Evokes Awareness), you are prepared for the level of distinction this domain requires. Scenario-based practice questions help build this applied understanding.
How the New Exam Differs from the Old Format
If you studied for the ACC exam using resources published before late 2024, you may have prepared for an exam that no longer exists. Here are the key differences between the current format and its predecessor.
Credential-specific calibration. The old credentialing exam was the same test for ACC, PCC, and MCC candidates, calibrated at the PCC level. The new exam is designed specifically for ACC candidates, testing knowledge and judgment at the level expected for coaches early in their credentialed career. The questions are more appropriately matched to what you should know after completing ACC-level education and initial coaching hours.
Published content domains with defined weightings. The new exam explicitly defines three content domains -- Coaching Ethics (30%), Definition and Boundaries of Coaching (30%), and Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques (40%) -- with published percentage weightings. The old exam did not provide this level of transparency about how content was distributed across the test. Knowing the weightings allows you to allocate study time strategically.
Knowledge-based question format. ICF describes the new exam as "knowledge-based," testing your understanding of coaching concepts, competencies, and ethics through scenario-style multiple-choice questions. Each question presents a coaching situation and asks you to identify the most appropriate response based on your knowledge of ICF frameworks. The new format places clear emphasis on demonstrating knowledge of specific ICF source documents rather than general coaching intuition.
Same structural format. The delivery structure did not change significantly. It is still 60 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, two sections of 30 with an optional break, delivered through Pearson VUE, and scored 200-600 with a 460 passing threshold. The changes are about what the questions test, not how the test is administered. For full details on structure, see the exam format guide.
Domain-level score reporting. Your score report breaks down performance across the three content domains. This feedback helps you identify specific areas of strength and weakness -- particularly useful if you need to retake and want to target your additional study. It is also helpful if you pass, as it shows where your knowledge is strongest and where continued development would be valuable.
Watch for outdated prep materials. Many study guides, blog posts, and preparation courses still reference the old format. Look for materials that explicitly mention the three content domains, the November 2024 transition, and the knowledge-based format. If a resource describes the exam as "PCC-level" or does not mention content domain weightings, it was likely written for the previous version. Outdated materials will not necessarily mislead you if the underlying competency and ethics content is accurate, but they may not reflect how the current exam distributes its emphasis.
Key References the ACC Exam Tests
The ACC exam draws from a specific set of ICF source documents. These are not optional background reading -- they are the foundation of the exam content. If you study nothing else, study these.
2019 ICF Core Competencies. The exam tests the eight core competencies from the 2019 framework, including the behavioral indicators under each competency. ICF released an updated competency model in 2025, but the ACC exam currently tests the 2019 version. Do not study the 2025 update for exam purposes -- it may introduce concepts or language that differ from what the exam expects.
2020 ICF Code of Ethics. The Coaching Ethics domain (30% of the exam) is built on the 2020 Code of Ethics. ICF also published a revised Code of Ethics in 2025, but the exam currently tests the 2020 version. Study the 2020 code specifically, with close attention to provisions around confidentiality, conflicts of interest, informed consent, and referral obligations.
ICF Definition of Coaching. The Definition and Boundaries domain (30% of the exam) relies heavily on the official ICF definition. Know the definition precisely, and understand how it distinguishes coaching from therapy, counseling, consulting, and mentoring.
ACC Minimum Skills Requirements. These describe what ACC-level coaching looks like in practice. They influence the Competencies domain (40% of the exam) by establishing the standard against which correct answers are evaluated. Understanding these requirements helps you distinguish between responses appropriate at the ACC level versus those reflecting PCC or MCC-level expectations.
Referral guidelines. The exam tests your understanding of when and how to refer a client to another professional. This crosses both the Ethics and Boundaries domains. Know the conditions under which referral is appropriate and how to handle the conversation with the client.
All of these documents are available on the ICF website. Read them directly rather than relying on summaries -- the exam tests specific language and provisions that summaries often gloss over.
How to Prepare for the New ACC Exam Format
The published content domains and weightings give you a structural advantage that candidates under the old format did not have: you know exactly where the exam puts its emphasis. Use that information deliberately.
Allocate study time proportionally. Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques carries 40% of the exam weight -- roughly 24 out of 60 questions. Coaching Ethics and Definition and Boundaries each carry 30%, or roughly 18 questions each. Your study schedule should reflect these proportions. Spending most of your time on competencies while skimming the ethics code might feel productive, but it leaves 30% of the exam underserved.
Study the source documents before anything else. Before you touch a practice question, read the 2019 Core Competencies at the behavioral indicator level, the 2020 Code of Ethics in full, and the ICF Definition of Coaching. These documents are the source material for every exam question. Practice questions help you apply that knowledge under exam conditions, but they cannot replace understanding the source material itself.
Use practice questions to test application, not memorization. The exam does not ask you to recite competency definitions or quote the ethics code verbatim. It presents coaching scenarios and asks you to apply your knowledge to identify the best response. Rote memorization of competency names is not enough -- you need to understand why a particular coaching response aligns with one competency rather than another. Working through scenario-based practice quizzes builds this applied understanding more effectively than re-reading notes.
Take timed mock tests before exam day. The 90-minute time limit is real, and pacing at 90 seconds per question matters. If you have never answered 60 coaching-scenario questions under a clock, the time pressure on exam day will feel unfamiliar. Full-length mock tests with 60 questions in 90 minutes and scaled scoring from 200 to 600 give you a realistic preview of the experience and help you identify pacing issues before they affect your actual score.
Track your performance by domain. After each practice session, look at how you performed across the three content domains. If you consistently score well on competencies but struggle with ethics, redirect your study time accordingly. CoachCertify's performance reports break down results by competency and content domain so you can see exactly where your gaps are. CoachCertify is not affiliated with or endorsed by ICF, but all practice content aligns with the 2019 Core Competencies and 2020 Code of Ethics.
Use current prep materials. If your study resources do not reference the three content domains, the November 2024 transition, or the knowledge-based format, they were likely written for the old exam. The underlying coaching knowledge may still be relevant, but the emphasis and framing may not match what the current exam tests. The ICF ACC exam study guide covers a week-by-week preparation plan built around the current format, and the free practice test is a good place to benchmark your starting point.
The Exam Is More Transparent Than Ever
The new ICF ACC exam is a better-designed test for ACC candidates than what came before. It is calibrated to the right credential level, it publishes its content domains and weightings, and it tests the specific documents that define professional coaching at the ACC level. For candidates willing to prepare methodically, that transparency is an advantage -- you do not have to guess where to focus.
Read the source documents. Practice with questions that reflect the current format. Track your performance across all three domains. The exam is designed to confirm that you have the knowledge to coach ethically and competently at the ACC level. Structured preparation is the most reliable path to demonstrating exactly that.