ACC, PCC, ICF… What Does It All Mean?

You’ve seen the acronyms.

ACC. PCC. ICF. MCC.

It’s like an alphabet soup of coaching credentials.

So what do they actually mean—and do they matter?

Let’s break it down, no jargon required.

First: What is the ICF?

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the most recognized professional body for coaches around the world. It’s not a training provider—it's the standard-setter.

They define what good coaching is. They uphold ethics and professional guidelines.

They ensure quality across the board. Being ICF-certified tells the world you’ve been trained, mentored, and evaluated—not just self-declared. And if you want to coach in organizations or internationally, that credibility matters.

The Three Levels: ACC, PCC, and MCC

ACC – Associate Certified Coach

Your first professional credential.

It proves you’ve got foundational coaching skills and real coaching experience under your belt.

You’ll need:

1. 60+ hours of ICF-accredited training
2. 100+ hours of coaching practice
3. Mentor coaching
4. A performance evaluation

At SolutionsAcademy, our Coaching Fundamentals program (ICF Level 1) leads you directly to ACC certification—and more (see below).

PCC—Professional Certified Coach

This is the next level up—and often what companies and serious clients are looking for.

You’ll need:

1. 125+ hours of accredited training
2. 500+ hours of coaching experience
3. More mentor coaching
4. A higher-level performance evaluation

Our Coaching in Organizations (ICF Level 2) guides you every step of the way to PCC—deepening your skills and confidence.

MCC—Master Certified Coach

The highest level. Few get here. But yes, it’s a thing.

MCCs have thousands of hours of experience and demonstrate real mastery of coaching.

(Our founder, Kirsten Dierolf, holds this credential, as do many of our mentor coaches and supervisors, making SolutionsAcademy a unique school in this regards)

Here take a look at our Coaching Masterclass program (Level 3)

What About EMCC and IASTI?

ICF isn’t the only respected certification body in coaching—and at SolutionsAcademy, we prepare you for more:

EMCC Practitioner

Offered by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, this certification is widely respected in Europe and emphasizes reflective practice and developmental support.

Our programs align with EMCC’s competence framework and quality standards.

IASTI SF Practitioner

Focused on solution-focused practice (the foundation of all our training), this certification is ideal if you want to use show your clients the type of coaching approach your set your foundation upon—in leadership, facilitation, education, or therapy-adjacent roles.

One Program—Three Certifications

Our Coaching Fundamentals program prepares you for all of the following:

↳ ICF ACC

↳ EMCC Practitioner

↳ IASTI SF Practitioner

It’s a comprehensive foundation—with structure, support, and real-world application from day one.

Already trained elsewhere, but not certified?

No problem.

We offer:

1. Onboarding towards Level 1 or Level 2
2. Mentor coaching for reaccreditation or renewal
3. Team Coaching or Coaching Supervision for further development

Even if your journey wasn’t linear, we’ll help you meet the ICF requirements.

So... Why does it matter?

↳ It’s about professionalism

↳ It builds trust—with clients, employers, and yourself

↳ It helps you grow—not just as a coach, but as a human

↳ It connects you to a global coaching community

Curious what path is right for you?

Join one of our free info calls or drop into a coaching meetup to get a feel for how we work.

We’re here to help you grow—with clarity, structure, and a little humor along the way.