Advanced Certification in Team Coaching - International Coaching Federation
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Advanced Certification in Team Coaching

In today’s complex workplace, organizations increasingly recognize the power of teams to innovate and drive their business or mission forward. Now more than ever, private companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations are turning to team coaches to harness a team’s collective expertise, energy and wisdom to advance their efforts and achieve greater results.  

As the global leader in the certification of professional coaches, ICF Credentials and Standards is pleased to offer the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), designed to recognize the knowledge, skill and competence of advanced team coach practitioners.

Why Earn the ACTC?

By earning the ACTC, candidates demonstrate that they have met the rigorous standards of ICF – the most globally recognized certification body for coach practitioners. They also demonstrate the value they offer to teams and organizations through their independently verified advanced skills, expertise and experience.

With the ACTC, team coaches prove they are competent and capable of providing the complex skills required for effective team coaching, including: 

  • Distinguishing team coaching from other team development modalities 
  • Managing the complex dynamics and patterns unique to teams 
  • Partnering with a variety of stakeholders to establish team coaching agreements 
  • Supporting teams in the development of effective communication and collaboration skills 
  • Partnering with teams to develop a sense of common identity and purpose 
  • Collaborating with teams to support conflict resolution  
  • Promoting a team’s autonomy and long-term sustainability 

As of December 31, 2023, there were 347 active ICF-ACTC holders worldwide. 

Team Coaching Certification Requirements

  • Overview

    Eligibility

    You are eligible to apply for the ACTC if you:

    • Hold an active ICF Credential at the Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) or Master Certified Coach (MCC) level 
    • Complete 60+ hours of team coaching education (ICF accredited or non accredited)
    • Complete at least five team (5) team coaching engagements within the last five (5) years
    • Complete at least give (5) hours of coaching supervisions

    Requirements

    • Achieve a passing score on the ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam
  • Education

    Option 1: Completion of an Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC) Program

    Applicants submitting ICF Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC) education, will have received the required 60 hours of Team Coaching education and the 5 hours of Coaching Supervision.

    View Sample Application (coming soon)

    ACTC AATC Application Price:  

    • ICF Member: $200 USD
    • Non-Member: $300 USD

    Estimated Time for Review: 2 – 4 weeks

    Option 2: 60 hours of Team Coaching Education

    To be eligible for the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), applicants must document completion of at least 60 hours of team coaching education aligned with the ICF Team Coaching Competencies, ICF Core Competencies and ICF Code of Ethics. At least 48 of the education hours must be aligned with the Team Coaching Competencies or the ICF Core Competencies applied in team coaching contexts. Team coaching education may be completed through one or more ICF-accredited or non-accredited providers.

    Applicants submitting non-ICF accredited education will be required to provide a program syllabus or course outline with their application. Educational curricula may be reviewed to ensure alignment with ICF standards.

    View Sample Application

    ACTC Application Price:  

    • ICF Member: $250 USD
    • Non-Member: $350 USD

    Estimated Time for Review: 4 – 6 weeks

    Option 3: Credit for Prior Learning

    Long-term team coach practitioners may receive credit for 30 hours of team coaching education with additional team coaching experience and development through the ACTC Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) application. To be eligible for this application, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

    Completion of 10 team coaching engagements, with at least three (3) engagements completed five years or more prior to the date of application

    Completion of at least 10 hours of coaching supervision with an eligible supervisor

    Completion of at least 30 hours of team coaching education

    View Sample Application

    ACTC CPL Application Price:  

    • ICF Member: $250 USD
    • Non-Member: $350 USD

    Estimated Time for Review: 4 – 6 weeks

    Not an ICF Member? Learn more about the benefits of individual and organizational memberships.

  • Experience

    Experience Requirements

    Applicants for the ACTC must complete at least five (5) team coaching engagements within the last five years. A team coaching engagement includes all activities and sessions completed as part of a team coaching agreement. Engagements may include other team development activities (team training, consulting, facilitation, team building, etc.), but must include team coaching sessions to be eligible.  

    NOTE: Applications for the ACTC should not be created until AFTER all engagements to be used towards the requirement have been completed.

    Those applying for the ACTC through the Credit for Prior Learning application receive credit for 30 hours education by completing a total of 10 engagements (along with additional hours in coaching supervision). The engagements must include:

    • at least five (5) team coaching engagements within the last five years prior to the date of application creation
    • at least three (3) engagements completed five years or more prior to the date of application creation
    • the remaining two (2) engagements may be completed at any time prior to the date of the application creation

    Team coaching delivered with teams of more than 15 members must include a co-coach.  

    Applicants are required to submit a letter of verification for two (2) of the five required team coaching engagements. The letter of verification may be provided by a team member, team leader, authorized representative of the sponsor organization, or a third-party coaching body. 

    Letters should be signed, submitted on company letterhead (unless prohibited by a confidentiality agreement) and include the following elements:  

    • Name and contact information of the authorized representative 
    • The representative’s role within the organization or team 
    • Name of the ACTC applicant 
    • Total hours of the team engagement 
    • Start and end dates of the engagement, and the number of team members
  • Coaching Supervision

    Coaching Supervision Requirements

    Given the complex dynamics of team coaching, it is important that practitioners engage in guided reflective practice for development and support. Applicants must document at least five (5) hours of supervision with an eligible Coaching Supervisor or ICF Mentor Coach with supervision training and experience. 

    Those applying for the ACTC through the Credit for Prior Learning application must receive credit for 30 hours education by completing a total of 10 hours of  coaching supervision (along with additional experience engagements) with an eligible coaching supervisor or ICF mentor coach with supervision training and experience (for a total of 10 hours).

    NOTE: Applicants who apply for the ACTC with education completed in an ICF AATC program, will have completed the Coaching Supervision requirements through their education program and will not have to document it separately. 

    Coaching supervision hours may be completed either one-to-one with a coaching supervisor or in a group supervision setting of up to 10 participants.  

    Coaching supervision hours submitted to meet this requirement must focus on the applicant’s team coaching practice but may also include some focus on other aspects of the applicant’s professional practice (individual coaching, group coaching, etc.).  

    An applicant’s coaching supervisor must meet at least one of the following criteria:  

    • Hold an active coaching supervision certification, credential or accreditation by a coaching or coaching supervision professional body 
    • Have completed a coaching supervision education program of at least 60 hours and have at least 120 hours of coaching supervision experience 
    • Be an eligible ICF Mentor Coach with 60 hours of coaching supervision education and at least 120 hours of coaching supervision experience 
  • Exam

    ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam

    All ACTC candidates are required to pass a computer-based written exam. The ICF Team Coaching Certification exam consists of 62 questions developed and reviewed by team coaching experts and is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge and ability to apply the ICF Team Coaching and Core Competencies in team coaching contexts.  

    ICF Credentials and Standards has partnered with Pearson VUE to deliver the ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam. Candidates may complete the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through Pearson OnVUE, a remote-proctored testing service that allows candidates to test from their home or office while being monitored by an online proctor. 

    Please visit the Team Coaching Certification Exam page to learn more about the exam, access links to important resources and review sample questions. 

Create Application

Use the links below to access the most appropriate application option for you, based on your team coaching education and experience. 

Option 1: Apply using your completion of an ICF Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC) program.  | Create Application

Option 2: Apply using at least 60 hours of team coaching education | Create Application

Option 3: Apply using your prior team coaching experience (10 engagements with three completed five years prior to submitting application) along with and at least 10 hours of coaching supervision and 30 hours of team coaching education | Create Application

More ACTC Information

  • ACTC Candidate Guide

    This handbook contains helpful information for those applying for the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC). Applicants should use this resource as a source of guidance and direction in navigating the ICF Credentialing process.

  • Submission Details

    ICF Credentials and Standards will only accept documentation that has been included with your online application. Do not send documentation by mail or email.

    Application must be paid in full before it is considered submitted and placed in line to be reviewed.

  • Payment Information

    Credential and certificate applications must be paid in full before they are considered submitted and placed in line to be 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. 

    Installment Payments
    Applicants have the option to break up the payment into two monthly payments. PLEASE NOTE that your application will not be considered submitted or placed in line for review until the application fee has been paid
    in full.

    If you wish to pay for your application in full, you may skip this question during the payment process for your application. 

  • ACTC Renewal

    To maintain your ACTC, you must maintain an active ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) and complete 20 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units in team coaching practice every three years. A minimum of 16 CCEs must be directly applicable to the ICF Team Coaching Competencies. The total required 20 CCE units may also be submitted toward the renewal of the prerequisite ICF Credential, allowing the candidate to count the 20 CCE credits toward both renewals. 

    Up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision may be used to fulfill CCE requirements for renewal of the ACTC.  

    ACTC Renewal Fees:

    ICF Members: $100

    USD Non-Members: $150 USD

  • Support

    If you need support regarding the application process or requirements for the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), please visit the ICF Support Page where you can find helpful FAQs and, if necessary, can reach out to the ICF Support Team.

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