Definitions, Categories & Key Terms

Associate Certified Coach (ACC)

First level of credential for a Professional Coach.

Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

Second level of credential for a Professional Coach.

Master Certified Coach (MCC)

Advanced level of credential for a Professional Coach.

Coach Specific Training

Coach Specific Training is training that is predominantly marketed as teaching coaching skills and not something else and where the major emphasis is on coaching skills or applying technical skills as a coach and in a manner consistent with the ICF core competencies.

Client Coaching Hours

For purposes of individual credentialing for ACC, PCC and MCC, a client coaching hour is 60 minutes coaching time with a person who has hired you as a coach, with whom you have a formal coaching agreement, and who you coach rather than providing any other service such as consulting or therapy. If you perform coaching and other services for a client, you may only count the actual time spent coaching toward certification. You may not count time providing other services.