ACC needs 60+ hours of coach training, 100+ hours of client coaching experience, and 10 hours of mentor coaching. PCC needs 125+ hours of training, 500+ hours of experience, and 10 hours of mentor coaching. MCC needs 200+ hours of training, 2,500+ hours of experience, and 10 hours of mentor coaching. Experience hours must be with real clients (paid or pro bono) — practice with an AI doesn't count toward them.
Three levels, three degrees of demand
ICF has three coaching credentials that build on each other. ACC is entry level, PCC is professional, and MCC is master. What mainly separates them is the number of hours you need behind you.
- ACC (Associate Certified Coach): 60+ hours of training · 100+ hours of experience · 10 hours of mentor coaching. For experience, at least 75 hours should be paid and at least 25 within the 18 months before you apply.
- PCC (Professional Certified Coach): 125+ hours of training · 500+ hours of experience · 10 hours of mentor coaching.
- MCC (Master Certified Coach): 200+ hours of training · 2,500+ hours of experience · 10 hours of mentor coaching. Plus recorded sessions submitted for evaluation.
What does NOT count toward experience hours
Let's be precise here, because it trips people up. "Experience hours" means coaching real people — paid clients or pro bono. Training, reading, and practice with an AI client don't count. Practice is there to make you better and prepared — not to rack up credential hours.
So where does Practice.coach help? In the two things that come before the credential: getting into shape before you coach for real, and getting honest feedback on your sessions along the ICF competencies. The hours with real clients you earn in practice — and you can keep a log of them with us too.
The numbers tell you when you can apply. They don't tell you whether you're ready. That second part is the whole job.
ICF requirements get adjusted from time to time (and from 2027 the evaluation itself changes — we wrote about that separately). Before you build a plan on the numbers, check the current state directly at coachingfederation.org.