Over the past few weeks, I’ve had some thoughtful conversations with coaches considering our upcoming ICF Level 2 – Advanced Professional Coaching Mastery programme.

Some are finishing Level 1 and wondering whether to keep going. Others already hold an ACC credential and want to deepen their practice. Several are asking the same question: “Am I ready?”

Your questions have also helped us clarify our website and programme documentation. So, thank you. Here is a closer look at who the programme is for, what you can expect, and how it fits into your development as a professional coach.

Who can join the programme?

To enrol, you need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have completed our ICF Level 1 Certification.

• Have completed an ICF-accredited Level 1 programme with another provider, with documentation confirming at least 60 hours of coach-specific education.

• Currently hold an ICF ACC credential.

If you trained elsewhere, you are very welcome. We’ll simply need documentation of your completed programme and learning hours.

If you don’t yet meet these requirements, you can begin with our Level 1 Certification or choose the Level 1 + Level 2 bundle for a complete learning pathway.

“Is this a course for Agile coaches? What if I’m not an Agile coach?”

You don’t need to be an Agile coach or have any Agile background to join. Despite our company name, this programme is fully agnostic: it is designed for people coaching individuals, across professions, sectors, and personal or professional contexts.

Agile coaches are very welcome, alongside life coaches, leadership and executive coaches, internal coaches, and other professional coaches who meet the entry requirements.

We explore a broad range of topics, from coaching the whole person, self-awareness, and decision-making to leadership, neurodiversity, ethics, and systemic awareness. We also consider how a client’s relationships, team, and organisational environment influence their choices and experiences.

Throughout these topics, the focus stays on your coaching skills: deepening your presence, listening with greater awareness, evoking insight, and supporting clients to shape their own way forward.

Whatever your niche, you’ll bring your own coaching context into the practice and develop skills you can apply with the people you coach.

“I’ve completed ICP-ACC and ICP-ATF. Is that enough?”

Those two modules alone do not meet our Level 2 entry requirements. They provide valuable foundations, but you’ll need to complete the remaining professional coaching education required for Level 1, unless you already meet another entry criterion.

If you’re unsure what remains, let’s review your learning together and identify your next steps.

“I’ve completed organisational coaching courses. Can I join?”

If you meet one of the entry criteria above, yes.

If your training has focused on organisational coaching and you haven’t completed the professional coaching foundations, we should review your pathway together. Depending on your previous learning, your next steps would include, at a minimum, the Deep Dive module.

Do I need to feel ready for PCC already?

No. You don’t need to arrive already coaching at PCC level. The programme is designed to help you develop towards that standard through practice, reflection, and feedback.

You do need a foundation in professional coaching, a willingness to practise, and openness to examining your own habits as a coach.

If you’ve just completed Level 1, continuing into Level 2 can help you maintain momentum. Equally, you may prefer time to consolidate your learning and work with more clients first.

We organise several cohorts each year, so you can choose a starting point that makes sense for you.

What does the programme include?

The programme combines a consistent learning group with individual support and flexible opportunities to practise.

“Will I actually get to coach?”

Absolutely. Each cohort session combines one hour of experiential learning with one hour of coaching practice, feedback, and learning together.

You’ll coach, observe, listen, and reflect. The intention is to help you recognise what happens in your coaching conversations and make more deliberate choices in your practice.

“How much work is there between sessions?”

The weekly rhythm gives you space to apply what you learn.

Your learning outside class includes at least 10 hours of coaching practice with cohort peers and four hours of Coaching Skills Builder e-learning, alongside reflective journaling and exam preparation resources.

The minimum commitment for this component is 15 hours. There is also enough material in the learning platform and community to spend 30 hours or more exploring the topics that matter most to you.

How does mentor coaching support my development?

Mentor coaching creates space to look closely at how you coach.

Through observation and feedback, you’ll explore how you apply the ICF Core Competencies, recognise your strengths, and identify areas for development.

Your programme includes three individual mentor coaching hours and at least seven group hours. Individual sessions provide focused attention on your practice, while group sessions let you learn from other coaches’ approaches and feedback.

Do I need 500 coaching hours before joining?

No. The 500-hour requirement applies to your PCC credential application, not entry into our programme.

You can develop your skills through Level 2 while continuing to build your client coaching experience.

When you apply for PCC, ICF requires at least 500 eligible coaching hours, including at least 450 paid hours, with at least 25 clients. At least 50 hours must have taken place within the 18 months before your application.

Finishing the training and becoming eligible to apply for PCC may therefore happen at different times. You can plan your learning and experience-building around your circumstances.

“Does classroom practice count towards those hours?”

Classroom coaching exercises support your development, but they do not count towards ICF’s client coaching experience requirement.

Peer coaching outside the training may count when it meets ICF’s requirements: it must be a separate, real coaching engagement rather than an exercise credited towards your education. Keep this distinction in mind when recording your hours.

Do I need to obtain ACC before working towards PCC?

No. You do not need to hold an ACC credential before applying for PCC, provided you meet all PCC requirements.

Our programme’s admission requirements still apply, but obtaining ACC first is a choice rather than a mandatory step on the PCC pathway.

“Will I need to take both ICF exams?”

If you apply directly for PCC, you take the ICF Credentialing Exam required for PCC. You do not need to take the ACC Exam first.

If you obtain ACC by passing the ACC Exam and later apply for PCC, you will also need to pass the ICF Credentialing Exam.

“Do I have to prepare for the exam during the cohort?”

No. Your exam preparation can follow your own timeline.

The programme includes 10 hours of exam preparation workshops, offered four times a year, alongside exam preparation e-learning. You can book the workshops when you’re ready to focus on that stage.

What if I’m still building my coaching practice?

You’re welcome whether you’re developing an independent business or using coaching within an organisation.

During the programme, we’ll also discuss ways to develop your practice and begin building your coaching business before you hold an ICF credential, while communicating your qualifications accurately.

You can bring your own objectives into the learning: greater confidence, deeper coaching conversations, a stronger professional practice, or progress towards PCC.

What happens when I complete Level 2?

Completing a Level 2 programme and earning the PCC credential are separate achievements.

Successful completion of the full programme addresses the education, mentor coaching, and performance evaluation components of the Level 2 pathway. You then apply to ICF when you also meet its coaching experience and other application requirements, and complete the required credentialing exam.

If you finish your training before reaching the required experience hours, you can continue coaching and apply when you’re eligible.

Hear from the coaches who have been there

Sometimes, the most useful perspective comes from someone who has experienced the learning themselves.

Watch participants from our previous cohort share their experiences to hear what the course, practice, and community meant to them.

You may even meet Ted, who is now working towards his teaching certificate!

Let’s find the right next step for you

If you’re considering Level 2, you don’t need to have every part of your coaching journey mapped out. Understanding your starting point and what you want to develop is enough to begin the conversation.

Explore the ICF Level 2 programme or book a conversation with me to discuss your experience, questions, and goals.

I look forward to learning with you.

Natascha Speets
Founder & Course Director, The Agile Company