At ICF, it’s our job to ensure high standards in the coaching profession. Those high standards start with our accredited providers. We believe the better the education offerings are, the better the coaches will be.
ICF Coaching Education provides accredited providers with a competitive edge both in their content and stature. Coaches worldwide recognize ICF as an industry leader and turn to us for information about initial and continuing education. ICF accreditation will give your program unquestioned credibility and the ability to expose your services to a wider network of coaches.
Though there are many steps in the accreditation process, ICF is here to help you navigate it. Get started with the steps below.
The ICF Accreditation portal is ICF’s platform to simplify and enhance your accreditation experience so that you can spend more time focused on your students and the education you provide. This portal streamlines all accreditation needs into one place where you can:
How to Access and Navigate the ICF Accreditation Portal: This video tutorial offers step-by-step guidance on accessing the accreditation portal and provides a comprehensive overview of its features and functionality.
How to Access & Complete Application and Make a Payment: This video tutorial provides detailed guidance on accessing and completing your accreditation application, including instructions for submitting the payment for the application fee.
To apply for ICF accreditation, you will first need to Sign In to the ICF website with your member or non-member credentials (username and password). If you do not have an ICF profile, you will need to create a profile please Create Login here.
*Note: ICF membership is not required to apply for ICF accreditation
Select “Access Profile” under your individual information or please select your name which will be hyperlinked next to the Search and Logout icons.
Next, select “Coaching Education Accreditation” under the My Account Links section.
If you are a new organization or need to link to an already existing organization, you will first select the “Link to an Organization” icon.
Next, type in the organization you are working on behalf of under Organization Name and Search.
If your organization already exists, please select the “Link to This Organization” icon, or you will see an option to add a new organization to the system or select None of the Above to create a new organization profile.
If you are linking to an already existing organization, the primary contact of the organization will receive an email requesting permission to grant you access.
To access the Accreditation Portal, you will need to select “Access Accreditation Portal.”
You will be redirected to the organization’s profile where you can apply for a new ICF accreditation, submit requests on behalf of an existing accreditation and see any additional information that might need to be updated.
To request an ICF accreditation application, you will need to choose the “Apply for Accreditation” option.
The next step will be to select the ICF accreditation application type you want to apply for: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC), or Continuous Coaching Education (CCE).
Once you have chosen the application type, you will need to insert the program name and choose the scope of hours for the certificate type that fits your program. Once you have entered that information, choose the save option in the bottom left-hand corner.
On the following page, click the Submit icon to submit the application request.
You will have to wait for the application to be opened and assigned before you can access and complete the application.
ICF accreditation staff will open the application for you to access and complete within 48-72 business hours and you should receive a notification from icfheadquarters@coachingfederation.org.
Thank you for your interest in ICF Accreditation. We want to ensure transparency and efficiency in our application process. Please note that applications are processed strictly in the order they are received. If our ICF Accreditation Manager requires additional information or clarifications regarding your application, you will receive an email from icfheadquarters@coachingfederation.org. Kindly check your spam folder to ensure you don’t miss any correspondence.
As of our current estimations, the review timelines are as follows:
Sample Level 1 Accreditation Application | Download PDF
Sample Level 2 Accreditation Application | Download PDF
Sample Level 3 Accreditation Application | Download PDF
Sample Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC) Application | Download PDF
Sample Continuing Coaching Education (CCE) Application | Download PDF
ICF accreditation applications must be paid in full before they are considered submitted and scheduled for reviewed.
Payment Type Options: All major credit cards are accepted online. If you wish to pay for your application through another method, such as PayPal or Bank Transfer, please reach out to support@coachingfederation.org with your request.
NOTE: The application will not be considered submitted and the application’s review will not begin until the application fee has been paid in full.
Refund Policy: ICF Accreditation applications and Accreditation Renewal applications are non-refundable once submitted and include not only the review of all submitted materials but also any benefits included in the ICF accreditation cycle if accreditation is awarded.
How to Access & Complete Application and Make a Payment: This video tutorial provides detailed guidance on accessing and completing your accreditation application, including instructions for submitting the payment for the application fee.
If you have questions or need support regarding ICF accreditation applications or any of the requirements, please visit the ICF Support page.
Ensuring the ongoing quality and relevance of ICF accreditation is paramount at ICF. ICF maintains high standards for professional coaches around the world and requires that you renew your ICF Accreditation on or before the renewal date received upon your accreditation’s most recent approval.
CCE (Continuing Coach Education) accreditations require annual renewal, while levelled and specialty accreditations (including Level 1, 2, 3, and Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC)) renew every three years. To streamline this process, we conduct annual incremental surveys, serving as mini-compliance checks throughout the three-year accreditation cycle. These surveys contribute to a simplified final renewal assessment at the end of the cycle.
We value transparency and understand the importance of ample preparation time. Hence, all accredited providers will receive at least 60 days (about 2 months) notice to renew their ICF accreditation. If you have additional questions regarding the ICF accreditation renewal process, please reach out to us at support@coachingfederation.org.
All accreditation renewal fees align with the corresponding application fees listed on the specific accreditation type webpage. Ensuring fairness and consistency, this practice reflects our commitment to transparent processes. If you have questions about renewal fees, please refer to the relevant accreditation webpage or contact our team for help at support@coachingfederation.org.
ICF accreditation renewal applications must be paid in full before they are considered submitted and scheduled for reviewed.
Refund Policy: ICF Accreditation applications and Accreditation Renewal applications are non-refundable once submitted and include not only the review of all submitted materials but also any benefits included in the ICF accreditation cycle if accreditation is awarded.
Sample Incremental Survey One | Download PDF
Sample Incremental Survey Two | Download PDF
Level 1 Renewal Survey | Download PDF
Level 2 Renewal Survey | Download PDF
If you have questions or need support regarding ICF accreditation applications or any of the requirements, please visit the ICF Support page.
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