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.
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:
As of December 31, 2023, there were 347 active ICF-ACTC holders worldwide.
You are eligible to apply for the ACTC if you:
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.
ACTC Application Price:
Estimated Time for Review: 4 – 6 weeks
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:
Estimated Time for Review: 2 – 4 weeks
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
ACTC CPL Application Price:
Estimated Time for Review: 4 – 6 weeks
Not an ICF Member? Learn more about the benefits of individual and organizational memberships.
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:
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:
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:
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.
Use the links below to access the most appropriate application option for you, based on your team coaching education and experience. To prevent any delays with application review, please carefully select the application based on the type of education completed.
If you are not sure which application to use, please send your program certificate to support@coachingfederation.org with a request for guidance in which application to complete.
Option 1: Apply using at least 60 hours of team coaching education along with 5 hours of coaching supervision and 5 engagements | Create Application
Option 2: Apply using your completion of an ICF Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC) program (which included 5 hours coaching supervision) along with 5 engagements). | Create Application
Option 3: Apply using 30 hours of team coaching education, along with 10 hours of coaching supervision and 10 engagements. | Create Application
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.
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.
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.
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
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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