The Evolution of the ICF Core Competencies in 2025
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) periodically reviews and refines its Core Competencies to ensure they stay relevant to the evolving coaching profession.
In 2025, the latest revisions were introduced. According to ICF, these updates “build strategically on the 2019 foundation” — they refine language, clarify nuances, and add specificity rather than overhaul the entire model.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes, organized by competency, and some reflections on implications for practice.
What’s New and What’s Adjusted: Competency-by-Competency
Before diving in, it’s worth noting the headline statistics:
No new competency was added — there remain eight core competencies.
However, 5 new indicators were introduced, 11 indicators were revised, 1 competency’s definition was tweaked, and a glossary of terms was added to the framework.
Also, subtle shifts in wording aim to increase clarity and reduce ambiguity in how behaviors are described.
Below is a closer look at what changed in each competency:
1. Demonstrates Ethical Practice
There was no major structural change to this competency.
- A minor language edit: the indicator “Abides by the ICF Code of Ethics and upholds the ICF Core Values” was clarified by adding “ICF” before Core Values, tightening the reference.
Because in 2025 ICF also updated its Code of Ethics, the alignment between ethics and core competencies becomes more critical.
2. Embodies a Coaching Mindset
This competency retained its structure; the most significant change is a subtle refining of language for greater clarity and coherence.
- The updates aim to reinforce the coach’s ongoing development, reflective practice, cultural/contextual awareness, emotional regulation, and flexibility in engaging with clients.
3. Establishes and Maintains Agreements
This one saw more tangible updates:
New indicator:
- 3.12 “Revisits the coaching agreement when necessary to ensure the coaching approach is meeting the client’s needs.” This adds an explicit expectation of being adaptive and responsive over the course of engagement.
Revisions to existing indicators:
- 3.01 now includes that the coach should be able to describe their coaching philosophy, not just define what coaching is and isn’t.
- 3.02 now emphasizes that agreements should include a commitment to work toward coaching goals.
- 3.11’s language shifts from “end of coaching relationship” to “close,” focusing more on honoring the client’s experience rather than strictly terminating.
These adjustments emphasize that agreements are living, collaborative, and adaptable — not rigid contracts.
4. Cultivates Trust & Safety
No changes were made to this competency in the 2025 update.
The stability here suggests that the ICF finds the existing language and intent robust. However, practitioners should continue to be vigilant about psychological safety, inclusivity, and relational depth.
5. Maintains Presence
A new indicator was added immediately after “demonstrating curiosity”:
- 5.03 “Remains aware of what is emerging for self and client in the present moment.”
This underscores the importance of moment-to-moment awareness in coaching — noticing shifts, surprises, emotional undercurrents, and adjusting in real time.
6. Listens Actively
The changes here are subtle but meaningful:
- 6.02 was revised from “Reflects or summarizes what the client communicated” to “Reflects or summarizes what the client is communicating.”
- 6.05’s wording shifted from “to determine the full meaning of what is being communicated” to “to determine the full meaning of what the client is communicating.”
These tweaks emphasize not just the content but the ongoing, dynamic process of communication — “is communicating” suggests a real-time, unfolding experience, not a static snapshot.
7. Evokes Awareness
One indicator was revised:
- 7.11 changes from “sharing observations, insights and feelings, without attachment, that have the potential to create new learning for the client” to “shares observations, knowledge, and feelings, without attachment, that have the potential to create new insights for the client.”
The introduction of the word “knowledge” is intriguing. It suggests coaches may responsibly bring in more explicit content or frameworks — but still with care, detachment, and in service of client insight.
8. Facilitates Client Growth
- New indicator added: 8.07 “Partners with the client to integrate learning and sustain progress throughout the coaching engagement.”
- Also, 8.08’s wording shifted from “celebrate the client’s progress” to “acknowledge the client’s progress” — a more grounded phrasing.
These changes highlight the importance of ongoing integration and sustainability— not just fleeting breakthroughs.
Additional Improvements: Glossary & Clarity
Beyond the adjustments in individual competencies, ICF added a glossary of terms to the Core Competency document to clarify key language and reduce ambiguity.
Clear definitions help coaches, trainers, assessors, and credentialing evaluators stay aligned in their understanding of terms like “attachment,” “knowledge,” “insight,” “presence,” and more.
Why These Changes Matter
1. Emphasis on Adaptivity & Responsiveness
The new indicators (e.g. revisiting agreements, integrating learning) reinforce that coaching is not static. As relationships evolve, context shifts, or the client’s needs change, coaches are expected to be responsive and flexible.
2. Nuanced Language: From “Communicated” to “Is Communicating”
Shifting to present-continuous phrasing signals that coaching is about what’s unfolding in real time: the subtle shifts, emergent patterns, and evolving sense-making — not just what has already been said.
3. Careful Introduction of “Knowledge”
The insertion of “knowledge” in competency 7 (Evokes Awareness) is fascinating. It reflects a recognition that coaches may draw on their frameworks, experience, or content — but the guardrail remains: this must be offered without attachment, in service of generating client insight, not prescribing solutions.
4. From Celebration to Acknowledgment
Changing “celebrate” to “acknowledge” is a subtle but meaningful shift. “Acknowledge” feels more grounded, respectful, and less performative — it centers the coach’s role as witness and partner, rather than rally leader.
5. Closer Linkage with the Updated Code of Ethics
Because the ICF also launched a new Code of Ethics effective April 1, 2025, these competency updates align with a broader shift in standards, especially around technology, AI, disclosure, and the scope of professional roles.
For example, the new ethics code introduces standards about how coaches use AI or digital platforms, which means coaches need to stay current in both competence and ethical use of technology.
What Coaches Should Do Now
Familiarize yourself with the updated competency document and glossary
Download the comparison chart from ICF and study side-by-side with the prior version to see how each indicator has shifted.
Reflect on how you currently apply each competency in your coaching
Where do you naturally revisit agreements? Do you already partner on integration of learning? How attuned are you to emergent shifts in presence, in-the-moment awareness?
Revise or expand your self-assessment, evaluation, or supervision tools
If you use checklists, feedback forms, or supervision protocols, adjust them to include new indicators (e.g. 3.12, 5.03, 8.07) to ensure your practice evolves.
Engage in peer coaching and supervision focused on the new language
Ask peers or supervisors to listen for when you fail to revisit an agreement, or miss opportunities to partner on integration. Use the new indicators as lenses to deepen practice.
Stay current with the 2025 Code of Ethics
Because ethical expectations have expanded (especially around technology, disclosure, roles), ensure you understand how those changes intersect with the competencies.
Experiment with bringing “knowledge” thoughtfully in evoking awareness
Given the careful insertion of “knowledge” in Competency 7, try offering frameworks or insights — but test them via inquiry, with humility, and without attachment to outcome.
Monitor how credentialing and assessment changes
ICF states that updates to the competencies will “drive corresponding updates to the Minimum Skills Requirements” and assessor training.
Stay alert to how performance evaluations, exams, or credentialing rubrics shift in response.
In Closing
The 2025 updates to the ICF Core Competencies are not radical — they don’t discard the foundational structure. Rather, they polish, sharpen, and adapt that structure for deeper precision, more responsiveness, and clearer alignment with evolving ethical standards.
For coaches, the invitation is both practical and reflective: meet your coaching practice where it is today, and gently elevate it by integrating the new indicators, holding fresh language with curiosity, and aligning your presence and agreements with the evolving expectations of the profession
