More and more people are turning to coaching, whether that’s to build a new career, to grow as a leader, or simply to invest in their own personal and professional development. If you’ve strated looking into coach training, you’ll have noticed how quickly the jargon piles up. Level 1, Level 2, ACC, PCC, mentor coaching, accredited hours. Every provider seems to describe their programme slightly differently, and it isn’t always obvious whether you’re comparing like with like.
Only this week we spoke to someone who had spent a long time researching courses before choosing one. It reminded us how hard it can be to compare them when everyone uses different words for similar things. So we wanted to set it out plainly: what the International Coaching Federation (ICF) levels actually mean, how they connect to the letters you see after a coach’s name, and what we’d look at if we were choosing a programme ourselves.
First, what is the ICF?
The ICF is the largest professional body for coaches in the world. It sets the standards for the profession, including a code of ethics and a set of core competencies, and it does two separate things that people often mix up.
It accredits training programmes, and it credentials individual coaches. A programme being ICF accredited means the course itself has been reviewed and approved. It doesn’t automatically make you a credentialed coach. That comes afterwards, when you apply to the ICF yourself with your training, your coaching hours and an exam.
Once you keep those two things separate, everything else becomes much easier to follow.
The three levels of ICF accredited training
ICF accredited programmes are grouped into three levels. The main difference between them is the number of training hours and the credential they prepare you for.
Level 1
Between 60 and 124 hours of coach training. Level 1 programmes lead towards the Associate Certified Coach credential, known as ACC. This is the natural starting point for most new coaches.
Level 2
Between 125 and 175 hours of coach training. Level 2 leads towards the Professional Certified Coach credential, or PCC, although graduates can also use it to apply for ACC first. It’s a deeper programme, and your coaching is assessed at a higher standard.
A lot of people are surprised by that last point. A Level 2 programme can take you to ACC too, which is one reason it’s worth looking at the level of a programme, not just the credential named on the website.
Level 3
An advanced programme of at least 75 hours, for experienced coaches working towards the Master Certified Coach credential, or MCC. You need to hold a PCC before you can take this route.
You might also come across older terms like ACTP or ACSTH. The ICF has retired those, so if a website is still using them, it’s worth asking the provider how their programme fits the current framework.
What’s included, whatever the level
All accredited programmes share a few core elements, and it’s worth checking each one is genuinely part of what you’re paying for:
- Mentor coaching. Ten hours with a qualified mentor coach, spread over at least three months. In our experience, this is where a lot of the real growth happens.
- Observed coaching. Sessions where your coaching is watched and you get detailed written feedback.
- A final assessment of your coaching against the ICF standard for that level.
Once the training is done, you’ll still need to build up client coaching hours before you can apply for your credential. For the ACC, that’s at least 100 hours with a minimum of eight clients. The PCC asks for 500 hours and the MCC for 2,500. You’ll also need to pass the ICF credential exam.
ACC or PCC: which should you aim for?
For most people starting out, ACC is the right first step. It shows you’ve been properly trained and gives you a recognised credential while you build experience.
PCC is for coaches who are practising regularly and want to show a higher level of skill. It’s increasingly what organisations look for when they bring in external coaches, particularly for leadership development and executive coaching.
The useful question isn’t really which letters sound better. It’s where you want to be in two or three years, and which route gets you there without paying for more than you need right now.
How to compare coach training providers
Prices for ICF accredited training in the UK vary a lot, from a few thousand pounds to well over seven thousand. Price on its own won’t tell you much. These are the questions we’d ask:
- Which ICF level is it, exactly? The provider should be able to tell you straight away, and you can check it for yourself on the ICF’s Education Search Service. If they can’t answer that clearly, that tells you something too.
- How many hours, and how are they delivered? Live sessions with real practice are very different from watching recorded videos.
- Who is actually teaching you? Look for trainers who hold ICF credentials themselves and are still coaching clients, not just teaching the theory.
- Is mentor coaching included in the price? Some programmes charge for it separately, which can add a lot to the total.
- How big are the groups? Smaller cohorts mean more practice time and more feedback.
- What happens when the course ends? Support with your credential application and your first client hours makes a real difference.
- What do past students say? Reviews and graduate stories tell you far more than a brochure.
Our approach
Our ICF accredited programme is delivered online over three months, in three modules of four or five days each. It’s led by our two Master Certified Coaches, Liz Connelly MCC and Paul Starbuck MCC. Only a small percentage of coaches worldwide hold the MCC, so you’re learning from people working at the very top of the profession, who still coach every week.
Mentor coaching and the final performance evaluation are built in, not added on afterwards. Once the three months are done, you can work at your own pace to complete your accreditation. For coaches who are further along, we also run a PCC programme.
Self-funded places are £4,000 including VAT, and you can pay in instalments. Company-funded places are £4,000 plus VAT. If you’re eligible for Enhanced Learning Credits, you can use your ELCAS funding towards it too.
We’re proud of what our graduates go on to do. One recent graduate, a former headteacher with 28 years in education, wrote about the programme on Trustpilot, and it’s the kind of feedback that reminds us why we do this.
If you’re weighing up your options, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. Book a call and we’ll have an honest conversation about what you want from coaching, even if that means suggesting a different route is better for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a qualification to work as a coach?
Coaching isn’t regulated in the UK, so legally you don’t. In practice, clients and organisations increasingly expect to see recognised training, and an ICF credential is one of the most widely understood.
Is coach training worth it if I don’t want to be a full-time coach?
Yes. Plenty of people join for their own personal and professional development, or to bring a coaching approach into how they lead their teams. The skills change the way you listen and ask questions, and that shows up in everyday conversations at work, whether or not you ever take on paid clients.
How long does ICF coach training take?
It depends on the level and the format. Many online programmes, including ours, run over about three months, and you’ll then need time afterwards to build your coaching hours before applying for your credential.
Can I do ICF training alongside a full-time job?
Yes, and most people do. Look at how the sessions are scheduled and how much practice is expected between them, so you know what you’re committing to.
What’s the difference between Level 1 and Level 2?
Level 1 is 60 to 124 hours and leads towards ACC. Level 2 is 125 to 175 hours and leads towards PCC, and can also be used to apply for ACC.
How do I check if a programme is genuinely ICF accredited?
Search for it on the ICF’s Education Search Service. It will show the organisation, the programme name, its level and the number of hours.
Can I use ELCAS funding?
Yes, if you’re eligible for Enhanced Learning Credits you can put them towards our programme.
