Understanding the PCC and MCC Credentials
Ready to take your coaching to the next level? For both PCC and MCC candidates, the ICF Credentialing Exam is a key requirement, alongside meeting specific criteria for experience, education, training, and professional development. Before you can take the exam, you’ll need to submit your credential application for review. Once approved, you’ll be notified of your eligibility to take the exam.
By taking this next step, you’re not only advancing your coaching journey — you’re proving your mastery of the ICF Core Competencies and challenging yourself to reach new heights.
PCC
The ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential is ideal if you want to elevate your career, expand your client base, or demonstrate your commitment to high standards of professional coaching. It is perfect if you have gained significant experience and are looking to deepen your expertise and recognition within the global coaching community.
There are several different paths you can take to reach the PCC credential. Find the one that’s right for you by downloading the PCC Candidate Guide.
MCC
The ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential is the summit of the ICF credentials. It is designed for highly experienced coaches who have demonstrated exceptional coaching skills, advanced knowledge, and mastery of the coaching profession. The MCC credential signifies your ability to consistently apply the ICF Core Competencies at the highest level, ensuring deep impact and transformation for your clients.
In addition to meeting the education and experience requirements specific to the MCC credential, you must also currently hold or have previously held a PCC credential as a prerequisite.
Development of the ICF Credentialing Exam
The ICF Credentialing Exam was developed through a rigorous, research-driven process to ensure it accurately measures the core competencies essential for professional coaching.
As a coaching practitioner, making effective, real-time decisions is a core part of your role as you respond to and support your clients' needs during sessions. Unlike the ACC Exam, which focuses primarily on testing knowledge, the ICF Credentialing Exam is a situational judgment test. This exam not only assesses your coaching knowledge but, more importantly, evaluates how you make judgments and decisions in real-world coaching scenarios — reflecting the critical decision-making skills that are key to being an experienced and effective coach.
Following globally recognized best practices for certification exam development, the exam is designed to maintain fairness, accuracy, and validity at every step.
Experienced ICF coaches played a pivotal role as subject matter experts throughout the process, bringing invaluable insights to:
- Conducting a comprehensive job analysis to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of coaches.
- Creating, validating, and reviewing exam items to reflect the nuances of real-world coaching practice.
- Establishing the passing standard based on what a proficient practitioner should know.
Designed by coaches for coaches, the exam is a testament to the expertise and collaboration within the coaching community. It not only upholds excellence but also ensures relevance to the profession's everyday realities.
In 2023, of the 9,795 candidates who took the exam, 75% passed on their first attempt, while 87% passed overall, including 12% who succeeded on a subsequent attempt. These results highlight the rigor of the exam and the readiness of candidates to meet the high standards set by ICF.
Structure and Format of the ICF Credential Exam: PCC and MCC
Developed with input from experienced coaches around the world, the ICF Credentialing Exam empowers you to demonstrate your mastery of coaching competencies and meet the high professional standards of the coaching community.
The exam consists of 78 situational judgment items, each presenting a realistic coaching scenario. These scenarios are crafted to evaluate your ability to apply the ICF definition of coaching, the ICF Core Competencies, and the ICF Code of Ethics. This is your chance to show how you make thoughtful, impactful decisions in real-world situations.
How does it work? For each scenario, you'll select both the best and worst actions from four options. The key is not to choose what you might personally do, but to determine which response is the most effective — aligned with the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics — and which is the least effective. While several answers may seem reasonable, there is only one “best” and one “worst” action for each situation, as determined by seasoned coach practitioners.
Your score will be based on your ability to correctly identify the best and worst actions in each scenario. You’ll earn points for each correct response, with no penalties for incorrect answers — so be sure to answer all questions. Similar to other standardized testing, scores are reported as scaled scores ranging from 200 to 600. A score of 460 is required to pass.
Exam Format
The ICF Credentialing Exam is a proctored, computer-based exam available in person at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through Pearson’s OnVUE remote testing platform. The exam is divided into two sections, with an optional 10-minute break midway through the exam.
- Total Exam Time: 180 minutes, including an optional 10-minute break.
- Exam Format: 78 situational judgment items.
- Exam Breakdown
- Exam Instructions: 4 minutes.
- Section 1 (39 questions): 83 minutes.
- Optional Break: 10 minutes.
- Section 2 (39 questions): 83 minutes.
Exam Content
Exam Language Information
Preparing for the ICF Credentialing Exam
The ICF Credentialing Exam is an exciting step in your coaching journey, and taking the time to prepare thoroughly will set you up for success. To help you feel confident and ready on exam day, we've compiled some key ways to guide your preparation.
- Study the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics: These are the foundation of the exam and guide the decision-making process in each scenario. Review the competencies regularly to internalize them and understand how they apply in coaching situations.
- Engage in Peer Coaching and Reflection: Spend time coaching peers or receiving feedback from others in the coaching community. Reflect on your coaching sessions and decisions to understand how they align with the ICF standards.
- Review Your Coaching Education Materials: Your coaching education has already provided you with a strong foundation in the ICF Core Competencies, ICF Code of Ethics, and ICF's definition of coaching. To reinforce this knowledge, revisiting materials like the PCC Markers or MCC Minimum Skills Requirements can further sharpen your understanding and prepare you for the exam.
- Complete the ICF Credentialing Exam Tutorial: This free, interactive tutorial simulates the Pearson VUE testing platform. It allows you to explore the exam’s features, practice navigating the platform, and review sample questions in a testing environment — all at your own pace.
Sample Exam Questions and Tutorial
Situational judgment might sound a bit intimidating at first, but don’t worry — it’s easier than it seems. You've got the knowledge and experience, now it's just about getting comfortable with the question format.
To help you prepare, we've put together some sample questions and an online tutorial that mirror what you'll find on the ICF Credentialing Exam. Remember, it’s not just about what you would do in each situation, but about choosing the response that aligns most closely with the ICF's competencies and ethical standards. This will guide you in identifying the best and worst actions in each scenario.
With a little practice in this format, you'll be ready to tackle the exam with confidence and ace it!
Next Steps After the Exam
Once you complete your ICF Credentialing Exam, you’ll get instant preliminary results, giving you immediate insight into your performance. Within one week, ICF will update your individual record with official results. At that point, you’ll receive an email either celebrating your credential or guiding you through the steps to retake the exam if needed.
Related Resources
Seeking additional support on your path to becoming a credentialed coach? Explore these helpful resources designed to keep you focused and enhance your exam readiness.
ICF Candidate Guides
ICF Candidate Guides are a handy resource that walks you through each phase of the credentialing process, including sections about the exam, how to schedule, and what to expect on exam day.
Credentialing Webinar Series
The Credentialing Webinar Series is an excellent resource for understanding the value of ICF credentials and navigating the credentialing process with confidence. This series is updated annually.
Credentialing Exam Blog Series
Our blog series offers expert tips, insights, and practical advice to help you navigate the process and achieve success. Dive in and learn more.