What Is Required for ICF Coaching Credential Renewal?

Introduction

All great things start with asking questions. There is so much information about the various topics pertaining to ICF Coaching and Coach Training. With the help of these blog posts, we aim to bring about more clarity on topics surrounding ICF Coaching and Coach Training topics.

What is the end of education?
What is the end of coaching education?
Is there something like ‘the end’ of coaching education at all?
What is our obsession with finding answers, finding solutions, finding clarity or ‘the end’? Where is it coming from?

Coaching is an opportunity for the client to experience a transformational shift. For that to happen, the coach should be:

Trained & Certified (with Regal Unlimited)

Credentialed Member of ICF

Continue to invest in themselves.

When someone chooses to become a professional coach, s/he is also committing to a lifelong journey to learn & grow. Merely getting certified & credentialed is not the end of the journey. In fact, the real journey starts after the ICF credentialing; when we start practising as professional coaches. Partnering with clients will require “deep work” to strengthen the coaching muscle. ‘Mastery in coaching is after all deepening presence, not upskilling.’

What is ICF Credential Renewal?

Why does ICF mandate continuous learning for credentialed coaches at all 3 levels- Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3? These are ACC, PCC and MCC. It is not a matter of choice but prescribed to retain the credentials. This renewal is mandated once every three years. The coaches are expected to stay in the learning journey, pace the journey well over the three years and get the credentials renewed.

Updated Credential Application Paths

Coaching was always part of our consciousness. ICF has brought the concepts together and given a proper structure to them. ICF exists to promote the art, science and practice of professional coaching. It is a young, not-for-profit, organization, hence nimble too. ICF keeps fine-tuning the coaching framework to keep it in pace with market developments. In November 2021, ICF coaching education (one of the verticals of ICF), released an updated accreditation structure for coaching training & education programs with a stated objective to “set the highest standards in coaching”.

ACSTH to Level 1 is for coaching education organizations that offer a path to ACC credential
ACTP to Level 2 is for coaching education organizations that offer a path to PCC credential
Level 3 is the pathway to the MCC credential.

Renewing Your ICF Credential- Where Can I Find the Expiration Date?

ICF membership details, including the expiry date, can be found on the ‘edit profile section’ of the ICF website.

What is Required to Renew Your ICF Credentials?

It is very important that coaches continue to renew their ICF credentials. Many coaches, after getting credentialed, do not renew their credentials. You must enjoy the process, and the system and believe in it. Continuous education, practice and up-skilling are important. Renewing credentials is very important as you also update yourself with the latest trends in coaching. All professionals keep reading, attending conferences, and keeping up to date with the latest trends in their industry – doctors, advocates, etc. to ensure that they can become the best and keep improving.

As coaches, we must also dedicate ourselves to improving our skills through renewing our credentials. Professional Coaching is like any other profession (doctors, advocates, etc.) and therefore requires a regular upgrade in knowledge and practice. Secondly, it is all about the client. Regularly renewing your credentials helps you give the best possible experience to your clients. If we are not constantly striving to improve, we are doing a disservice to our clients.

Thirdly, the spirit of renewing should be correctly understood. There are coaches, who race to hoard the CCEUs at the fag end of the year, just to complete that quota of 40 CCEUs. Mere collection of CCEUs is not the objective of ICF Credential Renewal. It is to re-align, re-visit and absorb the recent trends, practice sharper and pursue some deeper work (as an individual).

Remember, our being gets reflected in the way we coach… That being needs nourishment. And the journey of Renewal (40 CCEUs) is a nourishing space! For more details on the specific requirements to renew your ICF credentials, please refer to the answers below.

What are the Requirements for an ICF ACC Renewal?

The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal.

26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics.
There is an additional 10 hours of Mentoring for ACC renewal only.
14 hours of resource development

For more information on mentoring for renewals, please visit our webpage.

What are the Requirements for an ICF PCC Renewal?

The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 Hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal.

26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics.
14 hours of resource development

What are the Requirements for an ICF MCC Renewal?

The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 Hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal.

26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics.
14 hours of resource development

At Regal Unlimited, we encourage the alumni coaches to regularly connect with the current batches (ACC and PCC) to practice, facilitate and get mentored to sharpen the coaching quotient.

What is Coaching Unlimited?

For the renewals of ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials renewals, Regal Unlimited offers the coaches a very unique opportunity to refresh their coaching skills, the business of coaching and deep work, through ICF-approved CCEUs at Coaching Unlimited. This is a unique program, over three days, face to face, with a small group of professional, practising coaches. It is the first-of-its-kind coach-centric program.

The quality of networking is very high as the participating coaches engage in meaningful conversations and practice. There are many who complete their CCEUs for the sake of it. But how does that improve you as a coach? How does that enhance your coaching capabilities? How does that ensure you become the go-to coach for prospective clients?

Earn CCEUs & Renew your ICF Credentials with Coaching Unlimited.

An Off-Site Face 2 Face Event Experienced Coaches as partners Powerful Coaching sessions Revisiting the Core Competencies In the serene lap of nature… Chasing mastery & beyond as Coaches……. That is the promise and premise of Coaching Unlimited. To know more, visit our webpage on Coaching Unlimited. Mastery in coaching is about staying curious, continuous learning, and delivering a mastery session every time (without performance pressure) all in the client’s service. Check out our webpage on ICF Mentoring services we offer. You can also write to us: info@regalunlimited.com

What is the end of education? Master says, “character”. Everything else, including mastery in incidental.
What is the end of coaching education? Not just mastery. ‘The ability to coach from a state of being. No effort, or doing, Just “be”. Unconscious competency. Coaching as a state of mind. Client-centric, but from a partnering space.
Is there something like ‘the end’ of coaching education at all? No, it is a journey to learn & grow for the coach too. Every client is a default coach after all.
What is our obsession with finding answers, finding solutions, finding clarity or ‘the end’? Where is it coming from? It comes from our upbringing. It is good to stay in the realm of questions, not force answers. Let the answers, guidance come to us. Hence we strongly feel coaching as a process comes to us when we are ready.

To coach at work and in life is an opportunity to touch lives. To be a professional coach is a blessing and a big responsibility. We owe it to our clients, other stakeholders, and ourselves to keep sharpening our coaching mindset. For the best mentoring opportunities for professional coaches, internal or external, visit https://www.regalunlimited.com/icf-acc-renewals-mentor-coaching/

FAQs for ICF Renewal & Mentoring:

How can I find a Mentor Coach?

The best place to find an ICF mentor coach is the ICF website. There is an up-to-date list of all coaches accredited by the ICF. The next best option is www.regalunlimited.com.

What does the ICF Renewal Application look like?

The ICF provides a recertification sample document. It can be accessed from the ICF website using this link: https://coachingfederation.org/app/uploads/2019/05/SAMPLE_Credential-Renewal-Application_12-2020.pdf.

What is the cost of Renewing my ICF Coaching Credentials?

As of 2023, it is $175 for members and $275 for non-members.

How long does renewal typically take?

The estimated timeline for the review of renewal applications at ICF for any credential level is 6-8 weeks. Often with much faster response times from the ICF.

Where can I get ICF CCEs for Credential Renewal?

The various events held by ICF and ICF chapters are one source. This includes ICF’s communities of practice. Also, ICF-approved coach training institutes offer ICF-approved CCE programs. Regal Unlimited’s coaching retreat for professional coaches is one such opportunity to get CCEUs, at the same time, get valuable opportunities to learn and refresh.

How can I renew my ICF Credentials?

Complete the CCEU requirements over the three periods, get additional mentoring for ACC renewal only, and apply to ICF by going to the “renew credential” section of the ICF website.