ICF ACC eligibility requirements
ICF ACC applicants need at least 60 hours of coach-specific education, 100 client-coaching hours and 10 mentor-coaching hours, plus evidence of coaching competency and a passing exam score. If you use the Portfolio path, check the January and April 2027 dates before planning mentor hours or submitting evidence.
The five ACC requirements at a glance
ICF reviews education, coaching experience, mentor coaching and competency evidence before authorising the ACC Exam. The evidence you submit depends on your path and application date.
- 60 or more hours of coach-specific education
- 100 or more hours of client coaching
- 10 hours of mentor coaching over at least three months
- Coaching competency evidence for your application path
- A passing score on the ACC Exam
What changes for ACC applicants in 2027?
Level 1/Level 2 applicants continue to submit their programme certificate. ICF says eligible certificates issued before April 1 remain accepted. If your Portfolio mentor hours span January 1, check with ICF which hours and documents apply to your application.
- January 1, 2027: new Portfolio mentor-coaching hours must be completed with a mentor who holds ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS).
- April 1, 2027: Portfolio applications submitted from this date use the mentor’s Competency Review Form in place of a separate performance-evaluation recording and transcript.
- The updated Portfolio path requires at least three individual mentor-coaching hours and at least three coaching sessions observed and reviewed by your mentor. Keep the Session Observation Forms for a possible audit.
What satisfies the education requirement?
Applicants need at least 60 hours of coach-specific education. Graduates of an ICF-accredited Level 1, Level 2 or former ACTP programme normally use the Level 1/Level 2 application path. Other combinations of accredited, CCE and non-accredited education may fit the Portfolio path.
Portfolio applicants must document how their education meets ICF requirements. The current guide states that at least 48 of the 60 hours must focus on Core Competency content and at least 30 hours must be synchronous, meaning real-time interaction with the instructor.
What counts toward the 100 coaching hours?
The current ICF guide requires at least 100 hours of client coaching after the start of qualifying coach-specific education. Keep a contemporaneous log rather than reconstructing months of sessions immediately before applying.
- At least 75 hours must be paid
- At least 25 hours, paid or unpaid, must fall within the 18 months before the application
- The experience must include at least eight clients
- Only client-coaching time should be counted; education, mentor coaching and business development are different activities
What are the mentor-coaching requirements?
Applicants need 10 hours with an eligible mentor coach over at least three months. At least three hours are individual, with the remaining hours available in individual or group sessions.
Under the pre-2027 criteria, an eligible mentor may be a PCC, MCC or ACC who has renewed at least once. Check the transition requirements before counting any Portfolio hours completed from January 1, 2027.
What coaching competency evidence do you submit?
Submit the qualifying programme certificate on the Level 1/Level 2 path. On the Portfolio path, applications submitted before April 1, 2027 use the separate performance evaluation. ICF requires a genuine coaching session, an unedited 20-to-60-minute audio recording and a verbatim transcript for that evaluation.
From April 1, Portfolio applicants submit the Competency Review Form completed by their qualified mentor. Check the applicable form or recording instructions before preparing the files.
Which ACC application path applies?
- Level 1/Level 2: check your accredited programme certificate and record your qualifying client-coaching hours. Check ICF’s instructions if you completed a legacy ACTP programme.
- Portfolio: prepare education certificates and any required curriculum evidence, confirm mentor eligibility by date, and use the competency evidence required for your submission date.
Eligibility checklist before you apply
Checking each requirement before payment reduces the chance of clarification requests and avoidable delays. If your education route is mixed or unusual, use ICF’s path guidance instead of guessing which application fits.
- Your education certificate and any Portfolio curriculum evidence are ready
- Your experience log meets the total, paid, client-count and recency rules
- Your mentor-coaching dates span at least three months
- Your mentor was eligible during the engagement
- Your competency evidence matches your path and planned submission date
- The name in your ICF profile matches the identification you will use for testing
Frequently asked questions
Do I need 100 coaching hours before applying for ACC?
Yes. The current requirement is at least 100 client-coaching hours with at least eight clients. At least 75 hours must be paid, and at least 25 hours must fall within the 18 months before the application.
Can pro bono coaching count toward ACC experience?
Yes, qualifying pro bono hours can count toward the total. However, at least 75 of the 100 required hours must be paid.
Does an ACC mentor coach qualify?
Under the pre-2027 criteria, an ACC mentor can qualify after one credential renewal. For new Portfolio mentor hours from January 1, 2027, verify that the mentor holds ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization.
When can I book the ACC Exam?
You can book after ICF reviews your application and sends exam authorisation. Your education, experience, mentor coaching and path-specific evidence come first.
Official sources
Exam policies can change. Use these first-party pages to confirm details before applying, paying or scheduling.