Your Coaching Journey: Practice Requirements and Getting Your ICF Credential.

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Coaching Practice Requirements

1. Attend and participate consistently in live sessions

You are required to attend at least 80% of the training sessions to complete the programme successfully. Consistent presence supports skill development and ensures you receive the full benefit of supervised practice.

2. Engage in structured peer group practice

You are expected to participate in the required number of peer group hours depending on your programme track. Peer coaching provides repeated live practice and allows you to experience coaching from multiple roles within a protected learning environment.

3. Complete guided self-study in the learning portal

You are required to engage with the online learning material for the specified number of hours through the SolutionsAcademy platform. This material deepens theoretical understanding and supports reflection between live sessions.

4. Record real coaching sessions for developmental review

You will record three coaching sessions lasting between 20 and 60 minutes in audio format. Recording allows you to listen to your own practice with greater objectivity and prepare thoughtfully for mentor feedback.

5. Prepare reflection before mentor coaching sessions

You receive a structured reflection sheet before your mentoring appointment and are expected to complete it in advance. This preparation sharpens your awareness and makes the mentoring conversation focused and productive.‍

6. Participate in individual mentor coaching sessions

You complete three sessions with approved mentors. These sessions provide detailed feedback on your recorded coaching and support steady competence development. One of these recordings needs to be at the level of the credential you are aspiring to.

7. Allow sufficient time between mentoring sessions

Take time to learn and practice what you have discovered between mentoring sessions. Record one audio, submit for mentoring, learn from the feedback, then apply what you have learned in the next recording.

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How to Obtain ACC and PCC After the Programme

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1. Complete your training requirements successfully

You must meet attendance, peer group, self-study, and mentor coaching requirements according to your selected track. Completion qualifies you for the appropriate certification pathway.

2. Accumulate documented client coaching hours

For ACC, you need 100 hours of client coaching experience. For PCC, you require 500 hours of documented client coaching experience. These hours must be recorded accurately in a coaching log or confirmed through reference letters.

3. Ensure written client consent for documentation

Clients whose details appear in your coaching log must provide written consent in accordance with data protection regulations. Proper documentation protects both you and your clients.

4. Apply on the ICF website

Use the appropriate track—Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Team Coaching—to apply on the ICF website. Concrete guidance on how to do this is available from the SolutionsAcademy team.

5. Complete the required credentialing exam with ICF

Once your ICF application materials are approved, you will be invited to complete the professional knowledge examination. Preparation materials are available within the programme resources.

6. Maintain accurate records for future renewal

You are responsible for maintaining documentation of your training and coaching experience for future credential renewals. Organised record keeping simplifies long-term professional development.

Ready to start your coaching journey? Explore the SolutionsAcademy coaching programmes and find the right track for your goals.