Updated Performance Evaluation Criteria - International Coaching Federation
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Updated Performance Evaluation Criteria

ICF Credentials and Standards is pleased to announce that as of August 1, 2022, any new Credential applications requiring a Performance Evaluation (ACC-ACSTH, ACC Portfolio, PCC-Level1/ACSTH, PCC-Portfolio and MCC Portfolio) will be assessed to the updated ICF Core Competencies, published in November 2019, which set the global standard for professional and ethical practice in coaching.   

The updated PCC Markers were released in October 2021. These markers will go into effect for the assessment of PCC performance evaluations for candidates who apply on or after August 2, 2022.  

The updated Minimum Skills Requirements for the ACC and MCC Credentials were published on June 2, 2022 and are aligned with the updated ICF Core Competencies. The updated Performance Evaluation criteria for the ACC and MCC credentials will go into effect for candidates who apply on or after August 2, 2022.  

Key Dates for Implementation

Candidates who submit an application for an ICF Credential on or after August 1, 2022 will be assessed to the updated Performance Evaluation criteria.

June 2, 2022 – Updated Performance Evaluation Criteria for ACC and MCC candidates published.

July 27, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (New York) – final deadline to submit ICF Credential applications under the current application paths and assessments (Coach Knowledge Assessment and Performance Evaluation standards for ACC, PCC and MCC Credentials).

August 2, 2022 – ICF Credentials and Standards will resume accepting applications for the ACC, PCC and MCC Credentials using the updated application paths. Candidates who submit a Credential application on or after this date will be required to successfully complete the new ICF Credentialing Exam. Candidates who are required to submit a performance evaluation will be assessed using the updated Performance Evaluation criteria.

May 31, 2023 – CKA and current Performance Evaluation criteria will be fully retired. After this date, any candidate who still needs to pass a Performance Evaluation will be assessed to the updated Performance Evaluation criteria. Any candidate who still needs to pass the written exam will be required to complete the new ICF Credentialing Exam, regardless of their application submission date.

FAQs – Updated Performance Evaluation Criteria


The ICF Core Competencies were updated in 2019. Why are the ICF Credentialing Exam and Performance Evaluation Criteria only now coming into alignment in 2022? 

Answer: In November 2019, the updated ICF Core Competencies were released. At that time, the intention was for education and training programs to begin teaching the updated competencies in early 2021, and for the updated competencies to be implemented into the credentialing process with the Performance Assessments and Credentialing Exam in 2021.  

Unfortunately, COVID-19 disrupted the timeline for the implementation of the updated Performance Assessments and Credentialing Exam.  However, it did not change ICF’s commitment to ensuring these aspects of the credentialing process are done to the highest standards; it just pushed back our timeline.  

ICF Credentials and Standards has been engaged in work with the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) since late 2019 to develop a new ICF Credentialing Exam that reflects and integrates the updated ICF Core Competencies. This new Credentialing Exam will replace the Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA).   

In January 2022, ICF Credentials and Standards and our partners at HumRRO completed a global pilot of the new ICF Credentialing Exam, through which ICF Credential holders and candidates around the world completed the ICF Credentialing Exam in Pearson VUE testing centers. This pilot has provided critical data to help ensure exam questions are performing to psychometric standards and to assist ICF in developing scoring standards for the exam.   

Additionally, in partnership with our Academic Research team, external research consultants and a number of subject matter expert (SME) volunteers, we have also been engaged in several efforts to update the ICF Credentialing Performance Evaluation process at all three levels of Credentialing — ACC, PCC, and MCC.  

If my coaching education was to the original 11 ICF Core Competencies, can I still pass the Performance Evaluation to the updated criteria?  

Answer: The updated ICF Core Competencies still very much reflect the content and spirit of the original ICF Core Competencies—they are simply streamlined in structure and the wording has been revised and updated to improve clarity.  The skills developed and the knowledge gained under the original model will apply under the updated ICF Core Competencies.  

At the bottom of the ICF Core Competencies page (https://coachingfederation.org/core-competencies) a video and webinars are available that discuss the differences between the two models, and a series of webinars about each of the updated ICF Core Competencies featuring expert coach practitioners is available on the ICF YouTube Channel. These are excellent resources to understand how the original competency framework translates to the updated competencies.  

Will my Performance Evaluation be evaluated in alignment with the updated ICF Core Competencies before the updated ICF Credentialing Exam is available?  

Answer: No. The transition to updated Performance Evaluation criteria and the ICF Credentialing Exam will be implemented simultaneously.  Applicants who submit a complete ICF Credential application before July 27 at 11:59 p.m. EDT (New York) will be assessed on the original ICF Core Competencies and tested with the existing Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA).  

Applicants who submit a complete ICF Credential application on or after the launch of the ICF Credentialing Exam (August 1, 2022) will be assessed on the updated ICF Core Competencies and tested with the new ICF Credentialing Exam 

If I submit my application prior to July 27, 2022, and I do not pass the Performance Evaluation, how will my retake be assessed?  

Answer: The current Performance Evaluation criteria will be discontinued on May 31, 2023.  Any candidate who submits a retake on or after June 1, 2023, the retake session will be assessed to the updated Performance Evaluation criteria. 

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