Online Professional ICF Coaching Program FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession. It sets high standards, provides independent certification, and supports coaches in their professional development. The ICF’s influence is significant in the business world and the agile coaching profession, where its credentials are highly valued for ensuring quality and ethical coaching practices.
Earning an ICF Credential is a rigorous process that confers legitimacy and credibility to credential-holders. The process for obtaining any of the three credentials—Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC)—involves meeting five key components:
- Education
- Obtain coach-specific education aligned with the ICF definition of coaching, ICF Core Competencies, and ICF Code of Ethics.
- Experience
- Accumulate coaching experience hours, starting after you begin a coaching education program.
- Mentor Coaching
- Engage in mentor coaching to enhance your skills within the ICF Core Competencies.
- Performance Evaluation
- Pass a performance evaluation assessing your coaching skills against ICF standards.
- Exam
- Pass a written exam designed to test your understanding and application of the ICF definition of coaching, ICF Core Competencies, and ICF Code of Ethics.
Holding an ICF Credential is extremely important to today’s coaching clients. The 2022 Global Consumer Awareness Study found that 85% of coaching clients believe it is important or very important for their coach to hold a certification or credential. Achieving an ICF Credential provides you with instant credibility and increased visibility to prospective clients.
ICAgile (International Consortium for Agile) and ICF (International Coaching Federation) are two distinct organizations that serve different but complementary purposes within the coaching and agile communities.
ICAgile:
- Focus: Specializes in agile education and certification.
- Primary Mission: To advance high-quality agile learning by providing a framework for education that enables the continuous delivery of valuable products and services.
- Certifications: Offers a variety of certifications in agile methodologies and practices, such as Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC), Agile Team Facilitation (ICP-ATF), and Enterprise Agile Coaching (ICP-ENT).
- Training: Emphasizes specific agile practices, techniques, and principles to help professionals apply agile methodologies effectively within their organizations.
- Audience: Primarily aimed at individuals and organizations seeking to implement or improve agile practices, including roles like Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and Agile Team Members.
ICF:
- Focus: Specializes in professional coaching certification and standards.
- Primary Mission: To advance the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals.
- Certifications: Offers three main levels of credentials for professional coaches—Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC). The Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) is a new and exciting certification aimed at growing the coaching profession beyond one on one coaching.
- Training: Focuses on developing coaching skills, ethical behavior, and core competencies as defined by the ICF. It covers a broad range of coaching areas, not limited to agile contexts.
- Audience: Aimed at professional coaches who want to demonstrate their commitment to high standards and ethical practices in the coaching profession, across various fields and industries.
In summary, while ICAgile is focused on agile ways of working and accredits high quality training organizations and courses that help professionals to implement agile practices, ICF is dedicated to the broader coaching profession, emphasizing ethical standards and coaching competencies applicable across diverse contexts.
The Agile Company’s courses are accredited by both ICAgile and ICF because they have designed their programs to meet the standards and requirements set by each organization, addressing both agile methodologies and professional coaching competencies. Here’s how that is possible:
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Dual Curriculum Design:
- Agile Content: The courses incorporate comprehensive agile training that aligns with ICAgile’s learning objectives. This includes topics such as Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC), Agile Team Facilitation (ICP-ATF), and other specialized agile practices. The curriculum covers practical and theoretical aspects of agile methodologies, ensuring that participants gain a deep understanding of agile principles and techniques.
- Coaching Skills: Simultaneously, the courses integrate coaching competencies and ethics as defined by the ICF. This includes developing core coaching skills, ethical behavior, and advanced coaching techniques. The curriculum ensures that participants are trained in line with ICF’s rigorous standards for professional coaching.
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Accreditation Process:
- ICF Accreditation: The Agile Company has tailored all its coaching to meet ICF’s educational requirements for coaching-specific training hours, mentor coaching, performance evaluations, and examination preparation. By aligning their program with these criteria, they ensure that their participants can earn ICF credentials upon completion.
- ICAgile Accreditation: The courses are structured to cover ICAgile’s certification tracks and learning objectives. By embedding agile-specific education and practical applications into their modules, The Agile Company ensures that their programs meet ICAgile’s standards for certification.
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Mentorship and Evaluation:
- Mentor Coaching: The Agile Company provides mentor coaching sessions that fulfill ICF’s requirements for mentor hours. These sessions help participants enhance their coaching skills in line with ICF competencies.
- Performance Evaluations: The courses include performance evaluations to assess the participants’ coaching abilities according to ICF standards, as well as their proficiency in agile practices in alignment with ICAgile standards.
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Comprehensive Training Approach:
- Blended Learning: The Agile Company offers a combination of live cohort-based learning, e-learning, group mentoring sessions, and practical evaluations. This comprehensive approach ensures that participants gain both the agile skills recognized by ICAgile and the coaching competencies recognized by ICF.
- Resource Access: Participants have access to a wide range of resources, including group practice sessions, e-learning modules, and chat spaces, which support both agile and coaching development.
By meticulously aligning their courses with the requirements and standards of both ICAgile and ICF, The Agile Company successfully provides a dual-accredited training program that benefits participants seeking credentials from both esteemed organizations.
To obtain an ICF credential (ICF ACC or ICF PCC and ICF ACTC) with The Agile Company, you can follow the structured journey packs they offer, designed to meet ICF requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what each journey pack includes:
Level 1 Journey Pack: This pack allows you to reach your ICF ACC credential and includes three modules aimed at building foundational coaching skills for agile teams:
Coaching Agile Teams
- 21 hours of online live cohort-based learning
- ICP-ACC certificate
- 25 hours of ICF Coach Specific training hours
- Access to group mentoring sessions, e-learning, and ICF Chat space
Facilitating Growth in Agile Teams
- 14 hours of online live cohort-based learning
- 16 hours of ICF Coach Specific training hours
- ICP-ATF certificate
- Access to group mentoring sessions, e-learning, and ICF Chat space
Coach Competencies for Agilists
- 20 hours of online live cohort-based learning
- 10 mentor coaching sessions (at least 7 group and 3 individual sessions)
- 1 final competency evaluation for Level 1 certification
- 36 hours of ICF Coach Specific training hours
- Access to group practice & mentoring sessions, e-learning, ICF Chat space, forward-focused conversations e-learning, and ICF credential exam preparation e-learning
Level 2 Journey Pack: This pack allows you to reach your PCC credential and builds on the Level 1 foundation and includes additional modules for advanced coaching skills:
Systemic Coaching for Agile
- 14 hours of online live cohort-based learning
- ICP-SYS certificate
- 17 hours of ICF Coach Specific training hours
- Access to group mentoring sessions, e-learning, and ICF Chat space
Enterprise Coaching for Business Agility
- 35 hours of online live cohort-based learning
- ICP-ENT & ICP-CAT certificates
- 41 hours of ICF Coach Specific training hours
- Access to group mentoring sessions, e-learning, and ICF Chat space
Continuing from Level 1 to Level 2: If you have completed Level 1, you can seamlessly continue to Level 2 by completing the remaining modules. However, if you have already booked your Level 1 evaluation, you may need to book an additional Level 2 evaluation to validate that you have reached the Level 2 competency. Consult your mentor coach for further guidance.
Of course, we keep records of every course you take with us and will adapt the next steps on request. Reach out for a personal recommendation contact@theagilecompany.org
If you obtained your ACC through our Level 1 courses, you only need to pay for the modules you haven’t yet done with us.
If you obtained your ACC through a different organization, please write us here contact@theagilecompany.org so we can discuss a personal learning journey that fits your profile and learning hours needs. Together we select the right path for you to complete the level 2 certification for your PCC!
The great thing about reaching an ICF credential is that is has a wider application than just Agile Coaching! . The ICF credential is versatile and applicable to any type of coaching, including life coaching, executive coaching, health coaching, and more. This flexibility makes the program particularly valuable, as it equips you with skills and a credential recognized across various coaching disciplines, not just agile coaching. This broad applicability enhances your professional opportunities and credibility in multiple coaching fields.
Logging your coaching experience is crucial for several reasons:
- Credentialing Requirements: To qualify for ICF credentials, you need to demonstrate a specific number of coaching hours, which shows your practical experience and commitment to professional coaching.
- Personal Development: Tracking your coaching hours helps you monitor your growth, identify areas for improvement, and reflect on your progress as a coach.
- Professional Credibility: Detailed records of your coaching sessions enhance your credibility with clients, showcasing your dedication and extensive experience in the coaching field.
How Many Hours Do I Need to Log for Each ICF Credential and ACTC?
ICF Credentials:
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC): 100 hours of client coaching experience.
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC): 500 hours of client coaching experience.
- Master Certified Coach (MCC): 2,500 hours of client coaching experience.
These hours must be accumulated after the start of your coach-specific training program. They demonstrate your practical experience and readiness for each credential level.
ACTC Credential:
- Experience Hours: At least 5 team coaching engagements within the last five years.
“Paid coaching hours” include any time you spend coaching clients where you receive compensation. This can encompass:
- One-on-One Coaching Sessions: Individual coaching sessions where you are paid for your time and expertise.
- Group Coaching Sessions: Coaching multiple clients simultaneously in a paid group setting.
- Team Coaching Sessions: Coaching entire teams, which is particularly relevant for agile and business coaching.
- Peer Coaching Sessions: Engaging in paid coaching with peers in a professional setting.
- Workshops or Seminars: Coaching participants in a structured, paid workshop or seminar environment.
- Coaching During Work Hours: If you coach as part of your job (e.g., as an agile coach or scrum master), you can count the hours spent actively coaching.
Compensation can be in various forms, such as billable hours, meals, or other tangible benefits. It’s important to note that coaching your subordinates does not count as paid coaching hours due to the inherent imbalance in the relationship.
Accurate documentation of these hours is essential for meeting ICF credentialing requirements.
What is a Level 1 Certificate?
ICF Level 1 Certification
Achieving an ICF Level 1 certification means you have completed a foundational coaching education program that prepares you for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Here’s what you gain:
- Comprehensive Training: The program offers 60 to 124 contact learning hours, with at least 50% delivered in real-time (synchronous) and 80% focused on ICF Core Competencies.
- Mentor Coaching: You receive 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of three months, helping you refine your coaching skills through feedback and practice.
- Practical Experience: The program includes five observed coaching sessions with written feedback on at least three, ensuring you gain practical experience and constructive critique.
- Performance Evaluation by the training provider: A final performance evaluation graded at the ACC level validates your coaching proficiency and readiness for certification.
- Pathway to ACC Credential: Completing a Level 1 accredited program provides a clear pathway to apply for the ACC credential, recognized globally for coaching standards and ethics
What is in your Level 1 Certificate?
Our Level 1 certificate from The Agile Company is fully accredited by the ICF and signifies that you have completed 75 hours coach specific training in professional ( agile ) coaching. This involves three key modules:
- Coaching Agile Teams
- Facilitating Growth in Agile Teams
- Coach Competencies for Agilists (CCA)
The journey is accredited by the ICF, ensuring that all evaluations and mentoring are part of the course. This means you do not need to send in recordings for evaluation to the ICF. The certificate includes over 75 hours of ICF-specific training and allows you to request the ICF Credentialing exam for the ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credential.
After having finished the entire Level 1 track with The Agile Company, you can upload our certificate to the ICF’s website and enroll for your final exam.
As part of your level 1 education with The Agile Company, you will be able to prepare for the exam with our e-learning sequence and you will have the entire community of coaches and mentors at your disposal to practice and work towards successful completion.
You will find all information and a step by step tutorial to “how to apply for your ICF credential” in your learning portal.
What is a Level 2 Certificate?
ICF Level 2 Certification
Achieving an ICF Level 2 certification signifies that you have completed an advanced coaching education program designed to prepare you for the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential. Here’s what you gain:
- Advanced Training: The program offers 125 to 175 contact learning hours, with at least 50% delivered in real-time (synchronous) and 80% focused on ICF Core Competencies.
- Enhanced Mentor Coaching: You receive 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of three months, crucial for advanced skill development and feedback.
- Extensive Practical Experience: The program includes six observed coaching sessions with written feedback on at least four, providing extensive practical experience and detailed critique.
- Rigorous Performance Evaluation by the training provider: A final performance evaluation graded at the PCC level, including recorded coaching sessions, ensures you meet the high standards required for advanced coaching.
- Pathway to PCC Credential: Completing a Level 2 accredited program provides a clear and structured pathway to apply for the PCC credential, signifying your advanced coaching skills and adherence to professional standards.
What is in a Level 2 Certificate by The Agile Company?
A Level 2 certificate from The Agile Company indicates advanced training in professional coaching, building on the foundational Level 1 training. It includes two additional key modules:
- Systemic Coaching for Agile
- Enterprise Coaching for Business Agility
This journey is accredited by the ICF and includes all necessary evaluations and mentoring as part of the course. You do not need to send in recordings for evaluation to the ICF. The certificate comprises additional ICF-specific training hours, allowing you to pursue the ICF PCC (Professional Certified Coach) credential.
To reach the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential with The Agile Company, follow these steps:
Complete Level 1 Journey Pack:
- Modules: Coaching Agile Teams, Facilitating Growth in Agile Teams, and Coach Competencies for Agilists.
Complete Level 2 Journey Pack:
- Modules: Systemic Coaching for Agile and Enterprise Coaching for Business Agility.
- Additional training hours and certifications.
Mentoring and Experience:
- Accumulate 500 hours of client coaching experience.
- Complete at least 10 hours of mentor coaching (group and individual, Included in the third module)
- Pass a competency evaluation with your mentor coach for your level 2 certification
ICF Exam:
- Pass ICF performance evaluation and written exam.
For more details, visit The Agile Company’s level 2 Path.
What is the AATC Certificate?
The Advanced Agile Team Coaching (AATC) certificate from The Agile Company signifies expertise in advanced agile team coaching. Accredited by both ICAgile and ICF, it includes:
Program Inclusions:
- Live Cohort Sessions: 24 live cohort calls
- Mentoring and Supervision: At least 5 supervision sessions
- E-Learning: Extensive access to e-learning resources.
- Evaluations: Comprehensive competency evaluations.
Reaching the ACTC Credential:
- Complete the AATC program.
- Document at least 5 team coaching engagements
- Pass the ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam.
Enroll in AATC Program:
- Engage in a our cohort-based program with 24 live cohort calls, at least 5 supervision sessions, and extensive e-learning.
Fulfill Education and Experience Requirements:
- Accumulate 60+ hours of team coaching education.
- Complete at least five team coaching engagements within the last five years.
Supervision and Evaluation:
- Participate in five hours of coaching supervision.
- Pass the ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam.
After completing the learning modules and the group mentoring sessions (7) , individual mentor sessions (3 – Included with the 3rd module) and having successfully completed your Level 1 or 2 evaluation with your mentor coach (Included with the CCA) you will receive your ICF Level 1 or 2 Certificate which you need to upload to the ICF website when you want to request your ICF credentialing Exam.
To reach your ACTC:
Yes, we do offer standalone ICF mentor coaching. Our standalone mentoring services are specifically designed for coaches pursuing the Portfolio Path or seeking credential renewal. These sessions provide personalized guidance and feedback tailored to your unique needs, helping you refine your coaching skills and achieve your professional development objectives.
Please note that our standalone mentor coaching does not include Level 1 or Level 2 evaluation.
Whether you need a few hours of one-on-one mentoring or prefer participating in our interactive group sessions, we offer flexible options to fit your schedule and specific requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our standalone ICF mentor coaching services and how they can enhance your coaching practice.
Yes, but it depends. We need to review your certificates first. Regardless of prior learning, all students must complete Module 3, Coach Competencies for Agilists (CCA), before any Level 1 or Level 2 certification is issued. This module includes mandatory mentoring and evaluation.
For more details: natascha.speets@theagilecompany.org
No, not yet. Perhaps in a year or two.
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