Credential Renewal: Simplified Process

 May 22, 2025 — Your credential is a meaningful recognition of your growth and expertise, maintaining that hard-earned credential is also important. Based on feedback from ICF credential-holders and candidates, some changes are coming to the credential renewal process. 

These changes will go into effect on November 3, 2025.  

The ICF Credentials and Standards Board has approved the following enhancements to simplify the credential renewal process.  

• Routine Application Audits: Currently, when renewing a credential, you are required to report Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits in your renewal application and submit documentation for each activity. Beginning November 3, as part of our commitment to maintain high standards, a percentage of renewal applications will be randomly selected for additional review through an audit check. To support this review process, all candidates can upload documentation, such as certificates of completion, for their CCE credits. If your application is selected for audit, you will be required to provide these documents. 

• Lapsed Credentials: If you miss your renewal deadline and the two-month grace period, your credential or certification will lapse. After this time, you have an additional 10 months to renew. Previously, you needed to calculate and submit extra CCE credits for each month your credential or certification was lapsed. However, beginning November 3, those with lapsed credentials or certifications will be assessed a $100 USD late fee. This fee is in addition to the standard renewal cost for your credential — $175 USD for members and $275 USD for non-members. To renew a lapsed credential, you must submit the renewal application, provide the required 40 CCE credits, and pay both the application and late fees. Once submitted and approved, your credential will be renewed for three years from its most recent expiration date. 

These changes will make the experience of applying for an ICF credential or credential renewal more straightforward to navigate than ever before, while maintaining our high standards for coaching knowledge, skill, and practice.