The International Coaching Federation offers three main levels of individual coaching credentials: Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC). These represent a progressive pathway, signifying increasing levels of coach-specific education, coaching experience, and demonstrated competence.

The primary distinctions lie in the minimum thresholds for training and experience hours:

• ACC (Associate Certified Coach): This is the foundational credential, ideal for coaches early in their careers or professionals integrating coaching skills into their work. It requires at least 60 hours of coach-specific education and a minimum of 100 hours of client coaching experience.
• PCC (Professional Certified Coach): This credential signifies a more established coaching practice and deeper skill integration. It requires at least 125 hours of coach-specific education and a minimum of 500 hours of client coaching experience.
• MCC (Master Certified Coach): Representing the highest level of credentialing, the MCC denotes mastery in coaching. It requires holding or having held a PCC credential, completing at least 200 hours of coach-specific education, and accumulating a minimum of 2,500 hours of client coaching experience.

This tiered structure serves multiple functions. Internally, it provides a clear developmental roadmap for coaches seeking continuous growth. Externally, it acts as a signaling mechanism to the market. Clients and organizations often look for ICF credentials as a mark of quality and professionalism, and the specific level (ACC, PCC, MCC) helps them gauge a coach's depth of experience and investment in the profession. The ACC provides that crucial first level of recognized credibility.

For visual clarity, the core differences are summarized below:

Table 1: ICF Credential Levels at a Glance

While the path may lead towards PCC and MCC in the future, the focus of dedicated ACC mentoring programs is to provide the targeted support needed to successfully achieve the ACC credential milestone. Viewing the ACC as a powerful first step on this ladder builds a strong foundation for continued professional development. Comprehensive details comparing the credentials can be found on the ICF website.

Coaching at the PCC level signifies a substantial advancement beyond the foundational skills demonstrated by an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). The ICF defines the PCC as an "intermediate to advanced" or "experienced" coach, requiring a minimum of 125 hours of coach-specific education and, crucially, at least 500 hours of client coaching experience. While these quantitative milestones are essential prerequisites, the true indicators of PCC-level coaching lie in the qualitative nature of the coaching itself.

A fundamental shift occurs between ACC and PCC coaching. While ACC coaching often focuses primarily on the client's presenting problem, goal, or situation—coaching the "What"—PCC coaching integrates a significant focus on the client's inner world—coaching the "Who". This means the coach partners with the client not just to find solutions or create action plans, but to explore the client's underlying mindset, values, beliefs, emotions, and self-perception that influence their situation. This deeper exploration facilitates greater client self-discovery and sustainable change. The ability to navigate this deeper territory, moving beyond surface-level problem-solving to facilitate the client's understanding of themselves in relation to their goals, is a hallmark of PCC coaching. It requires a different coaching presence—one characterized by greater depth, partnership, and trust in the client's capacity.

The most tangible indicators that a coach is operating at the PCC level are the consistent demonstration of the ICF PCC Markers across the eight Core Competencies. These markers are specific, observable behaviors that ICF Assessors look for during the performance evaluation process. They provide concrete evidence of PCC-level skill. Key behavioral indicators include:

• Deeper Agreement Setting: Partnering with the client not just to set a session goal, but to explore its meaning and importance (Marker 3.3) and define what the client believes needs to be addressed to achieve it (Marker 3.4).
• Enhanced Trust and Partnership: Actively acknowledging the client's unique talents and insights (Marker 4.1), supporting their full expression of feelings and perspectives (Marker 4.3), and explicitly inviting them to respond to the coach's contributions, demonstrating true partnership (Marker 4.4).
• Expanded Presence: Responding to the whole person of the client (Marker 5.1), demonstrating genuine curiosity to learn more about them (Marker 5.4), and skillfully using silence and reflection (Marker 5.5).
• Nuanced Active Listening: Customizing questions based on what has been learned about the client (Marker 6.1), exploring the client's emotions, energy shifts, and perceptions (Markers 6.3, 6.4, 6.5).
• Evoking Deeper Awareness: Asking questions about the client's underlying thinking, feelings, and values (Marker 7.1), helping them explore beyond current thinking about themselves (the "Who," Marker 7.2) and their situation (the "What," Marker 7.3), and sharing observations or intuitions gently to invite exploration (Marker 7.5).
• Facilitating Client Growth: Inviting the client to consider how they will apply new learning (Marker 8.4) and partnering with them to design actions, consider resources or barriers, and establish accountability (Markers 8.5, 8.6, 8.7).

Consistently exhibiting these behaviors, particularly those reflecting a deeper exploration of the client's "Who" and a strong coaching partnership, indicates readiness for the PCC credential. Expert mentor coaching plays a vital role in helping coaches recognize these indicators, understand the underlying competencies, and cultivate these advanced skills in their own practice.

While both ACC and PCC mentor coaching share the fundamental purpose of developing a coach's capability in alignment with the ICF Core Competencies for the respective credential level, crucial differences reflect the higher standards of the PCC credential. Both typically involve the ICF requirement of 10 hours of mentoring over a minimum of three months for candidates applying via the Level 1/ACSTH or Portfolio paths. However, the focus, depth, and required qualifications diverge significantly.

Firstly, the required credential level of the mentor coach differs. While an ACC candidate can be mentored by a renewed ACC, a PCC, or an MCC, a PCC candidate must be mentored by a coach holding a valid PCC or MCC credential. This ensures the mentor possesses the demonstrated expertise and understanding necessary to guide development towards the more advanced PCC standards.

Secondly, the focus and depth of the mentoring are distinct. ACC mentoring concentrates on establishing foundational coaching skills and ensuring the coach meets the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements, often centered on the "What" of the client's agenda. PCC mentor coaching, conversely, must facilitate the significant qualitative leap required for the PCC level. This involves helping the coach move beyond foundational skills to consistently integrate coaching the "Who"—exploring the client's mindset, values, and beliefs. It demands a deeper dive into the nuances of the Core Competencies as expressed through the specific PCC Markers. The mentor must identify subtle gaps in competency demonstration and guide the mentee in developing the presence, listening skills, and questioning techniques characteristic of PCC-level coaching.

Thirdly, the assessment preparation differs. PCC mentoring specifically prepares candidates for evaluation against the PCC Markers. This often involves detailed analysis of recorded sessions using the Markers as a framework. Furthermore, candidates on the PCC Level 1/Portfolio paths submit two recordings for assessment, compared to one for the ACC Portfolio path, requiring more extensive preparation and feedback.

Therefore, the transition from ACC to PCC mentoring is not just about aiming for a higher credential; it's about engaging in a more rigorous, nuanced developmental process guided by a more experienced mentor. The effectiveness of the required 10 mentor coaching hours hinges on the mentor's ability to facilitate this deeper learning and specifically address the PCC Markers and the crucial shift towards coaching the "Who." The personalized mentoring programs I offer at Giuseppe Totino Mentor Coachings are structured to target the specific competency level required (ACC, PCC, or MCC), ensuring the focus aligns precisely with the demands of the PCC credential, including the explicit integration of PCC Markers.

To further clarify the distinctions, the following table summarizes the key differences between the ACC and PCC credentials:

Key Differences: ACC vs. PCC Credentials

Achieving the ICF ACC credential involves meeting several key requirements, demonstrating a commitment to professional standards. While the candidate undertakes the core activities, specialized mentoring provides critical support in specific areas. The main requirements for the ACC credential include:

1. Coach-Specific Education: A minimum of 60 hours of coach-specific education is required. This training must come from an ICF-accredited program (Level 1, Level 2, ACTP, or ACSTH designations) or meet the criteria for the Portfolio path, ensuring alignment with ICF's definition of coaching, Core Competencies, and Code of Ethics.
2. Coaching Experience: Applicants must log a minimum of 100 hours of coaching experience with at least 8 different clients. This experience must begin after the start of their coach-specific training. Of these 100 hours, at least 75 hours must be paid coaching engagements. Additionally, at least 25 hours of the total experience must have occurred within the 18 months immediately preceding the submission of the credential application.
3. Mentor Coaching: As detailed previously, completion of 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of three months with a qualified ICF Credential-holder is mandatory for most application paths.
4. Assessment (ACC Exam): Candidates must successfully pass the ICF ACC Exam. This exam assesses the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the ICF definition of coaching, the ICF Core Competencies, and the ICF Code of Ethics.

These multi-faceted requirements create a holistic evaluation framework. They assess not just theoretical knowledge (Training, Exam) but also practical application (Experience), and the capacity for reflection and refinement against professional standards (Mentor Coaching). This comprehensive approach ensures that ACC credential-holders possess a well-rounded foundation in coaching, strengthening the credential's value and credibility.

Personalized mentoring programs play a crucial role by focusing intensely on specific components of this framework. While the aspiring coach is responsible for completing the training hours and accumulating client experience, expert mentoring provides dedicated support for the Mentor Coaching requirement itself and, significantly, prepares the candidate to confidently navigate the ACC Exam. Depending on the application path, some training programs include performance evaluations assessed internally; if direct submission of recordings to ICF were required (less common for ACC paths compared to PCC/MCC Portfolio paths), mentoring would also focus on preparing for that. The requirements should be viewed not as hurdles, but as essential building blocks for professional competence. Partnering with a mentor ensures the critical phases of competency refinement and assessment preparation are navigated effectively and successfully. Detailed ACC requirements are available on the ICF website, and information on how specific mentoring programs address these components can be found on provider websites.

The timeline for achieving the ICF PCC credential is not fixed and can vary significantly based on individual circumstances. Factors influencing the duration include the structure and schedule of the chosen coach-specific training program, the pace at which the required 500 coaching experience hours are accumulated, and the availability of a suitable mentor coach.

However, a general timeframe often cited is between 6 to 12 months. Some training programs themselves span 4-6 months or longer. It is crucial to remember the mandatory minimum three-month duration for the 10 hours of mentor coaching. Additionally, once an application is approved and an invitation to test is received, candidates typically have a 60-day window to schedule and complete the ICF Credentialing Exam.

This 6-12 month estimate reflects more than just the time needed to complete tasks. It encompasses the period necessary for meaningful learning, skill integration through practice with diverse clients, and the essential reflective cycle built into the mentor coaching requirement. Attempting to rush the process might compromise the intended developmental benefits.

Engaging in structured, personalized mentor coaching can significantly contribute to streamlining this journey. By providing focused feedback, clarifying the application of competencies, offering practice opportunities, and helping prepare effectively for the assessment, mentorship builds confidence and enhances readiness, potentially making the path to application more efficient. Proactive planning, diligent tracking of coaching hours , and active engagement in both training and mentoring are key to navigating the process effectively. This timeframe represents an investment in building a robust foundation for a successful coaching career, and partnering with a mentor can make this investment journey more focused, insightful, and rewarding.

Definitely! I suggest arranging a 30-minute chemistry call before purchasing a program. This will enable us to optimize the chances for success in our partnership.

Please schedule a 30-minute chemistry session with me through the link provided on this page.

No! You can reserve as many hours as you need; there is no minimum. However, keep in mind that only the hours spent in direct, face-to-face interactions will count toward your credentialing application for Mentor Coaching hours. 

The time the Mentor spends reviewing session recordings cannot be counted for this purpose. The ICF has set this rule!

Yes! You have six months to use the Mentor Coaching hours you buy.

That's a great question!

When we agree to review a session recording, I charge 1 hour and 15 minutes of mentoring time for recordings up to 40 minutes long and 1 hour and 30 minutes for those longer than 40 minutes but not exceeding 1 hour. 

I don't recommend sending recordings for review that exceed one hour unless we've discussed it beforehand. 

The written review we agree upon will provide feedback that highlights strengths and suggests areas for further growth.

Refunds are processed as follows: 

Cancellations made before the program's start date are eligible for a full refund. For cancellations made after the program begins, a pro-rata refund will be issued within six months from the purchase date. No refund is available for cancellations made more than six months after the purchase. Refunds will be processed after deducting any applicable payment processing fees.

Understanding and effectively integrating the ICF PCC Markers into coaching practice is fundamental to achieving the PCC credential, as these markers are the specific behavioral indicators assessors use to evaluate performance. The mentoring program I developed is meticulously designed to demystify these markers and empower candidates to embody them consistently.

The mentoring process centers explicitly on developing PCC-level competency in the ICF Core Competencies, with the PCC Markers serving as a practical roadmap. Rather than treating the markers as abstract concepts, they are actively utilized during mentoring sessions to provide context and clarity. A cornerstone of this approach is the detailed written review of client coaching session recordings (premium packages only). Mentees receive comprehensive written and verbal feedback, accompanied by a rough transcript, pinpointing precisely where and how PCC Markers are demonstrated effectively and where development opportunities exist. This targeted feedback transforms the markers from a list into actionable insights directly applicable to the candidate's unique coaching style.

Furthermore, the program offers candidates the invaluable opportunity to engage in 1:1 practice coaching sessions with me. This provides a safe, supportive environment to experiment with applying the markers in real time and receive immediate, constructive feedback, accelerating the integration process. Because the mentoring is highly personalized, it focuses specifically on the individual's competency gaps, ensuring that developmental efforts are concentrated on the markers requiring the most attention.

A significant factor amplifying the effectiveness of this approach is my extensive background as an experienced ICF Assessor and Assessor Trainer. This dual perspective allows me to provide guidance that is not only grounded in coaching best practices but also informed by a deep, current understanding of how ICF evaluates recordings. Mentees benefit from insights into the nuances of marker interpretation and common pitfalls observed during actual assessments. This insider perspective helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of the markers and the practical ability to demonstrate them in a way that resonates with ICF assessors, thereby streamlining the path to mastering and integrating these crucial behaviors. The personalized, assessor-informed feedback loop is designed to refine skills and build the confidence needed to coach consistently at the PCC level.

The journey to PCC, while rewarding, presents distinct challenges that applicants must navigate. Recognizing these hurdles and having a supportive strategy to overcome them is essential for success. Common challenges include:

1. Mastering the PCC Markers: Moving beyond simply understanding the definitions to consistently demonstrating the specific behaviors associated with each marker across diverse coaching situations can be difficult.
2. Bridging Competency Gaps: Achieving the required depth and consistency across all eight ICF Core Competencies at the PCC level often requires significant skill development beyond the ACC foundation.
3. Embracing the "Who": Making the crucial qualitative shift from a primary focus on the client's problem ("What") to integrating a deep exploration of the client's being ("Who")—their mindset, values, beliefs, and emotions—represents a significant conceptual and practical challenge for many coaches transitioning from ACC.
4. Strategic Recording Selection: Identifying which coaching sessions best showcase the breadth and depth of PCC competencies and provide clear evidence of the Markers for assessment can be daunting.
5. Navigating the Assessment Process: Understanding the nuances of the performance evaluation and facing the ICF Credentialing Exam can induce anxiety and uncertainty.

My personalized 1:1 mentoring program is structured to directly address these common challenges, transforming them into opportunities for focused growth:

• Addressing Marker & Competency Gaps: Through a meticulous review of recordings and direct practice, the program pinpoints the specific markers and competency areas where the candidate needs development. Feedback is concrete and targeted, providing clear examples and actionable recommendations to close these gaps effectively.
• Facilitating the "Who" Shift: The mentoring explicitly focuses on developing PCC-level competency, which inherently involves guiding the coach to deepen their presence, listening, and questioning to effectively explore the client's inner landscape ("Who") alongside their external goals ("What"). The personalized nature allows for tailored support in making this crucial transition.
• Guiding Recording Selection: I actively assist mentees in analyzing their recordings against the PCC Markers to identify those sessions that offer the strongest evidence of their skills, simplifying the selection process and increasing the likelihood of assessment success.
• Demystifying Assessment: Leveraging my experience as an ICF Assessor, I provide invaluable insights into the evaluation process, clarifying expectations and reducing anxiety. The structured support, including access to learning resources like the EASIER Framework and coaching demos in premium packages, further builds confidence.

The mentoring programs aim to accelerate learning and pave a smoother, more confident path to achieving the PCC credential by tackling these challenges head-on with personalized strategies, targeted feedback, and expert guidance informed by direct assessment experience.

Selecting the right coaching recordings for the PCC performance evaluation is a critical step, as these sessions serve as the primary evidence of a candidate's coaching competence at this level. For candidates applying via the Level 1/ACSTH or Portfolio paths, two recordings, each between 20 and 60 minutes long and featuring real coaching sessions with paid or pro bono clients, must be submitted.

The best recordings are not necessarily those where the client had the biggest breakthrough or expressed the most satisfaction, but rather those that most clearly and consistently demonstrate the PCC Markers across a range of the eight ICF Core Competencies. The sessions should showcase coaching that exemplifies the PCC standard:

• Evidence of "Who" Coaching: The conversation should move beyond surface-level problem-solving to include exploration of the client's perspectives, values, beliefs, emotions, or identity as relevant to their goals.
• Strong Partnership: The recording should reflect the coach and client working as partners, with the coach inviting client input on the direction and focus of the session.
• Deep Listening & Presence: The coach's responses, questions, and observations should clearly stem from attentive listening to the client's words, tone, energy, and underlying meaning. The coach should appear fully present and attuned.
• Evocative Questioning: Questions should be open-ended, curious, and designed to provoke new awareness, challenge assumptions, and help the client explore possibilities beyond their current thinking.
• Facilitating Growth: The session should demonstrate the coach supporting the client in integrating learning, considering actions, identifying resources or barriers, and establishing accountability.
• Ethical Conduct: The coaching must align fully with the ICF Code of Ethics. Avoid sessions where the coach slips into consulting, advising, or therapy, or dominates the conversation.

Choosing recordings that meet these criteria requires careful analysis. This is where my mentoring provides crucial support. My process involves:

1. Expert Review: Mentees can submit recordings for review, receiving detailed written and verbal feedback.
2. Marker-Based Analysis: This feedback specifically analyzes the session's strengths and weaknesses against the PCC Markers, highlighting moments that provide strong evidence for assessment and areas that might fall short.
3. Strategic Selection Guidance: Based on this analysis and informed by my deep understanding of the ICF assessment process gained through years of experience as an ICF Assessor, I directly help mentees identify and select the recordings that are most likely to meet the PCC standards and pass the performance evaluation.

This support transforms recording selection from a potentially subjective and stressful task into a strategic, evidence-based decision. It leverages expert insight to maximize my mentee’s chances of successfully demonstrating their PCC-level capabilities to the ICF assessors.

If you need further details, feel free to get in touch via the contact form accessible through the Contact link in the menu.