Help & FAQ
Answers about the ICF credentialing process, plus plans, pricing, and how CredentialPrep works. Each ICF answer links to the ICF page it comes from. Questions we have not covered? Email credentialprepicf@gmail.com and Danny will write back.
Getting startedICF: Applying for a credentialICF: The examICF: Performance evaluationICF: Mentor coachingICF: Fees and timelinesICF: Renewal and CCEICF: 2027 changesExam Prep planComplete PlanTranscript EvaluationCompetency Course and CCEMentor Coach and the directoryPass GuaranteeBilling and refundsTechnicalAccount
Getting started
What does CredentialPrep do?+
CredentialPrep helps you prepare for ICF credentialing. Exam prep gives you scenario-based practice questions for the ICF credentialing exam (ACC and PCC/MCC formats), with a debrief for every answer. Transcript evaluation prep lets you paste a coaching transcript and get your results on the ICF Core Competencies, and the Evaluation Tutor and Roleplay give you practice conversations. There is also a Competency Course that ICF approved for 10 CCE hours. This page also answers common questions about how ICF credentialing works.
Where do the ICF answers on this page come from?+
Each ICF answer ends with a link to the ICF page it comes from. ICF can change its rules, so check the linked page before you act on a date or a fee. If something here looks out of date, email credentialprepicf@gmail.com.
Do I need an account to try CredentialPrep?+
No account is needed for 10 free practice questions. Create one to save progress, buy a plan, or run a transcript evaluation.
What is included in the free version?+
Free gets you 10 practice questions, one free transcript evaluation, 60 minutes of audio transcription (once) for turning a recording into a transcript on its own, 10 Evaluation Tutor interactions to try it, and 10 Roleplay drills. Evaluation Tutor and Roleplay are two different features with their own separate counts. The coaching session log is free for everyone regardless of plan.
Which credential level should I choose?+
Choose the level of the credential you are applying for: ACC, PCC, or MCC. The ACC exam has its own format, and PCC and MCC share one exam format. You can switch levels from your account page at any time, and your practice progress is tracked per level. For what each ICF credential requires, see the ICF sections on this page.
What is Coaching Exchange?+
A free directory where ICF candidates trade coaching hours instead of hunting in Facebook groups. Free with any CredentialPrep account, no card needed. Choose to coach others, be coached, or both, and arrange sessions directly with whoever you connect with. It is for candidates working toward a credential, not mentor coaches: mentor coaching and peer coaching are different skills, so mentor accounts do not use this. Find it at the Coaching Exchange page.
ICF: Applying for a credential
What are the ICF credential levels?+
ICF has three coaching credentials. ACC (Associate Certified Coach) is the entry level. PCC (Professional Certified Coach) is the middle level. MCC (Master Certified Coach) is the highest level ICF offers. Source: ICF: Compare credentials
Do I need an ACC before I can apply for a PCC?+
No. ICF's PCC requirements are coach education, coaching experience, mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and the ICF exam. Having an ACC is not on that list. Source: ICF: PCC
What do I need to apply for the MCC?+
You need to have a PCC now or have had one before. You also need 200 hours of coaching education, 2,500 hours of coaching experience (at least 2,250 of them paid), 10 hours of mentor coaching, a performance evaluation, and a passing score on the ICF exam. Source: ICF: MCC
What are the application paths?+
Each credential has two paths, and your coaching education decides which one you take. ACC: the Level 1/Level 2 path if you finished an ICF-accredited program, or the Portfolio path if your education includes CCE courses or non-ICF-accredited education. PCC: the Level 2 path if you finished an entire ICF-accredited Level 2 program, or the Portfolio path. MCC: the Level 3 path if you finished an ICF-accredited Level 3 program, or the Portfolio path. ICF's Credential Path Survey tells you which one fits. Source: ICF: Apply for a credential
How many hours of coach training do I need?+
ACC: 60 hours. PCC: 125 hours. MCC: 200 hours. At least half of those hours must be live (synchronous) instruction. At least 48 hours for the ACC, 100 for the PCC, and 160 for the MCC must be directly aligned with the ICF Core Competencies. Finish all of your education hours before you submit your application. Sources: ICF ACC Candidate Guide, PCC Candidate Guide, MCC Candidate Guide.
What counts as coach training?+
Education from ICF-accredited Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 programs counts. On the Portfolio path, ICF also accepts CCE courses, ICF conferences, communities of practice, chapter events, and non-ICF programs that teach coaching skills in line with the ICF definition of coaching, Core Competencies, and Code of Ethics. Source: ICF: Education and training requirements
What happened to ACTP and ACSTH?+
Both are retired education types, and ICF no longer offers them to new students. If you finished one earlier, you can still use it to apply for the ACC, PCC, or MCC. Source: ICF: Education and training requirements
How many coaching hours and clients do I need?+
ACC: 100 hours with at least 8 clients. At least 75 hours must be paid, and 25 hours (paid or unpaid) must fall within the 18 months before you apply. PCC: 500 hours with at least 25 clients. At least 450 must be paid, and 50 must fall within the last 18 months. MCC: 2,500 hours with at least 35 clients, at least 2,250 of them paid. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
When do my coaching hours start counting?+
ICF counts the client coaching hours you complete after you start coach-specific education. ICF defines the start as any course of at least 30 hours, with at least 24 of those hours focused on the ICF Core Competencies. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
What counts as one coaching hour?+
A full 60-minute live session with a client who hired you as their coach. A shorter session counts as a partial hour, so 30 minutes is 0.5 hours. Mentor coaching, coaching supervision, and reviewing assessments with clients do not count. In a group, only groups of 15 or fewer count unless a co-coach is present, and the time is not multiplied by the number of people in the group. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
What counts as a paid hour?+
Coaching you are paid for, including barter such as peer-to-peer coaching or coaching in exchange for goods or services. Internal coaching that is part of your job. Coaching you provide through an arrangement with an organization. Coaching you donate is pro bono. Pro bono hours count toward your total, but not toward the paid minimum. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
How should I track my coaching hours?+
ICF suggests a simple spreadsheet. For each individual client, log their name, how to reach them, the start and end dates, and your paid and pro bono hours. Get each client's consent before you list them. For confidential internal or third-party coaching, a reference letter from the organization works instead. CredentialPrep's free coaching log, open on every plan, exports to CSV. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
Does ICF check my hours?+
ICF can audit any application. If yours is selected, you need to be able to give ICF your clients' contact information or, for confidential internal or third-party coaching, a person at the organization who can verify your hours. You do not send your client logs to ICF directly. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
Do I need to be an ICF member to apply?+
No. Members pay a lower application fee, but you do not have to belong to ICF or any other association to apply. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
How does the application work, step by step?+
ICF lays it out in six steps. 1) Review your education and track your coaching hours. 2) Take the Credential Path Survey to find your credential and path. 3) Gather your program certificates, your hours, your mentor coaching details, and your recordings if you need them. 4) Create and submit your application and pay. 5) Track it in your application dashboard and answer any ICF request quickly. 6) After ICF approves your application, take the ICF exam. Source: ICF: Apply for a credential
ICF: The exam
Who has to take the ICF exam?+
Everyone who applies for an ICF credential. ACC candidates take the ACC exam. PCC and MCC candidates take the ICF Credentialing Exam, which a new PCC-MCC exam starts replacing on November 10, 2026. You take the exam after ICF approves your application. Sources: ICF: Apply for a credential, ICF: The updated credentialing exam.
When do I take the exam, and how long do I have?+
Once ICF accepts your application, you get an email invitation with instructions for scheduling. You then have 60 days from the day you receive it to schedule and complete the exam. Source: ICF: How to schedule your exam
What is the ACC exam like?+
It has 60 multiple-choice knowledge questions in 90 minutes, including an optional 10-minute break. Each question has four answers and one correct response, and wrong answers carry no penalty. ICF breaks the content into Coaching Ethics (30%), Definition and Boundaries of Coaching (30%), and Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques (40%), and says the exam is based on the 2020 version of the ICF Code of Ethics. Source: ICF: ACC exam
What is the current PCC and MCC exam like?+
It has 78 situational judgment items. Each one describes a coaching scenario, and you pick the best and the worst response. You get 180 minutes, including an optional 10-minute break. Wrong answers carry no penalty. Source: ICF: PCC and MCC exam
What is the new PCC-MCC exam like?+
From November 10, 2026, PCC and MCC candidates can take the new PCC-MCC exam. It has 80 items: 44 situational judgment questions, where you choose the most and least effective response, and 36 multiple-choice knowledge questions. You get 150 minutes, with one optional 10-minute break. ICF says the passing standard stays consistent with the current exam. Source: ICF: The updated credentialing exam
Which PCC or MCC exam should I take during the switch?+
Between November 10, 2026 and March 31, 2027 you may take either one. March 31, 2027 is the last day to sit the current exam. If you test or retest on or after April 1, 2027, you take the new PCC-MCC exam. You earn the same PCC or MCC credential either way. If you would rather wait for the new exam, ICF says to contact its support team and they will send you a sign-up form. Source: ICF: The updated credentialing exam
What does the PCC and MCC exam cover?+
ICF says the exam tests how you apply the ICF definition of coaching, the Core Competencies, and the Code of Ethics. It covers four competency domains: Foundation, Co-Creating the Relationship, Communicating Effectively, and Cultivating Learning and Growth. Source: ICF: PCC and MCC exam
What is the passing score?+
A scaled score of 460. ICF reports scores on a scale: 200 to 600 on the ACC exam and the current PCC/MCC exam, and 110 to 600 on the new PCC-MCC exam. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Sources: ICF PCC Candidate Guide, ICF ACC exam.
Where and how do I take the exam?+
Pearson VUE delivers the exam. You can sit it at a Pearson VUE test center or online with a live remote proctor (OnVUE). Decide which you want before you schedule. If you need exam accommodations or language support, request them before you schedule your appointment. Source: ICF: How to schedule your exam
When do I get my results?+
You see preliminary results right after you finish. Within one week, ICF updates your record with the official results, and you get an email either way. If you need to retake, the email walks you through the steps. Source: ICF: ACC exam
What if I do not pass the exam?+
You can retake it. Wait 14 days after your first attempt and 30 days after any later attempt. Each retake costs $105. You can take the exam up to six times within 12 months of your first attempt, and up to six times in each 12-month period after that. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
What if I miss my exam appointment?+
A no-show or a late cancellation means you forfeit your exam fees, and you pay the $105 retake fee to reschedule. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
Do I need a specific study program to pass the exam?+
No. ICF says it does not require or endorse any specific education, training, study guides, or other materials. It also says that using any of them, including ICF's own, does not guarantee a passing score. Source: ICF: PCC and MCC exam
Does ICF publish sample exam questions?+
Yes. ICF publishes ten sample questions for the ACC exam, and a set of sample scenarios for the ICF Credentialing Exam where you pick the best and the worst response. ICF also offers a free tutorial that shows how the testing platform works. Sources: ICF: ACC sample questions, ICF: Credentialing Exam sample questions.
ICF: Performance evaluation
What is the performance evaluation?+
A review of your recorded coaching sessions by trained ICF assessors. You submit one on the ACC Portfolio path, the PCC Portfolio path, and the MCC Level 3 and Portfolio paths. On the ACC Level 1/Level 2 path and the PCC Level 2 path, your education program covers it. ICF is retiring it for ACC and PCC Portfolio applications on April 1, 2027. See the 2027 changes section. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
How many recordings do I submit?+
ACC Portfolio: 1 recording with a transcript. PCC Portfolio: 2 recordings with transcripts. MCC, on either the Level 3 or the Portfolio path: 2 recordings with transcripts. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
What does the recording have to be like?+
A full, unedited session of 20 to 60 minutes with a regular client. Time past 60 minutes is not scored. ICF accepts audio only (MP3, WMA, MP4, or M4A), in one file of 95 MB or less. Scripted sessions are not allowed. You need your client's written permission before you record. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
Which clients can I use for a recording?+
The session must be a real one with a paid or pro bono client, not a scripted session or one from your coach training. The client must be a regular client who hired you for coaching, and another coach counts if they are a regular client. For example, someone you coach in ICF's Reciprocal Peer Coaching program counts. You need the client's written permission before you record. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
What does the transcript need?+
A word-for-word record of the session, as a Word file (.doc or .docx), with a timestamp every time the speaker changes between you and your client. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
Who scores my recordings, and what do they look for?+
Trained ICF assessors who have a PCC or MCC. They listen for your use of the ICF Core Competencies and collect evidence against the criteria for your level: the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements, the PCC Markers, or the MCC Minimum Skills Requirements. At the ACC level the assessor decides. At the PCC and MCC levels a majority of assessors must find that you used the Core Competencies effectively at that level and in line with the Code of Ethics. ICF reports the result as Pass or Below Passing Standard. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
How long does scoring take?+
ICF's Candidate Guides say to allow 4 to 6 weeks for the assessment. Its Performance Evaluations page says it generally takes 6 to 8 weeks. The count starts once your recording is assigned to an assessor. Sources: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide, ICF: Performance evaluations.
What do I get back?+
ICF emails you instructions for opening your results report, which includes the assessor's feedback. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
What if I do not pass?+
You have two options, and neither needs a new application. Retake: send in a new recording and transcript within six months of your results notice. It costs $150 per recording, and retake fees are not refunded. Rescore: a different assessor evaluates the same recording. You request it within six months of your results letter, you can do it once per recording, and it costs $150 per recording. If the rescore passes, you get the fee back. Source: ICF: Performance evaluations
Can I appeal a performance evaluation result?+
ICF's appeals process does not cover disputes about performance evaluation results or feedback. A rescore or retake is the route for that. Appeals about how ICF handled the process go through ICF's Credential Appeal Submission Form within 30 calendar days of the decision. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
What is the difference between the exam and the performance evaluation?+
They are two separate requirements. The performance evaluation is a review of your recorded sessions, submitted with a Portfolio or MCC application. The exam is a computer-based test you take after ICF approves your application. Source: ICF: Apply for a credential
What is the difference between what a client wants to accomplish and what they need to address?+
They are two separate parts of ICF's Core Competency 3, Establishes and Maintains Agreements. Competency 3.06 is partnering with the client to identify or reconfirm what they want to accomplish in the session. Competency 3.07 is partnering with the client to define what the client believes they need to address or resolve to achieve it. Competency 3.08 adds defining or reconfirming measures of success for what the client wants to accomplish in the coaching engagement or individual session. Source: 2025 ICF Core Competencies
What does the ICF Code of Ethics say about confidentiality limits, boundaries, and risk to a client?+
Standard 2.3 says to have a clear agreement with the client about what confidential information may need to be disclosed to the appropriate authorities, for example illegal activity, what the law requires, a valid court order, or imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others. Standard 3.4 says the coach is responsible for being aware of and setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern professional interactions. Core Competency 1.06 is maintaining the distinctions between coaching, consulting, psychotherapy and other support professions, and 1.07 is referring clients to other support professionals, as appropriate. Source: ICF Code of Ethics
What does the ICF Code of Ethics say about relationships with clients?+
Standard 3.6 says you are mindful of the level of intimacy in the coaching relationship and do not take part in a sexual or romantic relationship with a client or sponsor. If you notice the relationship changing, you address it or end the engagement. It sits in Section 3 of the Standards, Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest. Source: ICF Code of Ethics
ICF: Mentor coaching
How much mentor coaching do I need?+
10 hours over at least three months, with at least three of those hours one-on-one. The other seven can be one-on-one or in a group of no more than 10 people. You need it on the Portfolio path for the ACC, PCC, and MCC. On the Level paths, your education program covers it. For the MCC, it must be a new 10-hour cycle that has not been used for an earlier credential. ACC renewal also needs 10 hours each time you renew. Source: ICF: Mentor coaching
Who can be my mentor coach?+
Through December 31, 2026, your mentor coach must have a valid ICF credential: for the ACC, an ACC, PCC, or MCC (an ACC mentor must have renewed at least once); for the PCC, a PCC or MCC; for the MCC, an MCC. From January 1, 2027, mentor coaching must be with a Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) holder at the right level. See the 2027 changes section. Source: ICF: Mentor coaching
What do I report about my mentor coaching?+
In the online application you enter your mentor coach's name, email address, and credential level, the start and end dates of your mentoring, and the number of hours. You do not send documents from your mentor, but your mentor should be able to confirm the mentoring took place. Source: ICF: Mentor coaching
Do mentor coaching hours count as coaching experience hours?+
No. ICF says mentor coaching, coaching supervision, and reviewing assessments with clients are not client coaching hours. Source: ICF: Experience requirements
Where do I find a mentor coach?+
ICF runs a Mentor Coach Registry that you can search by level. You do not have to use it. From January 1, 2027, it lists mentor coaches who have the MCS and have not opted out of the registry. Source: ICF: Mentor Coach Registry
Is CredentialPrep a replacement for mentor coaching?+
No. Mentor coaching is a separate ICF requirement, and CredentialPrep does not provide it.
ICF: Fees and timelines
What does the ACC cost?+
Application: $175 for ICF members and $325 for non-members on the Level 1/Level 2 path. $475 for members and $625 for non-members on the Portfolio path. ICF lists this fee as covering application review and exams, so the exam is included. If you need them: a performance evaluation retake is $150 per recording, and an exam retake is $105. Source: ICF: ACC Candidate Guide
What does the PCC cost?+
Application: $375 for ICF members and $525 for non-members on the Level 2 path. $750 for members and $900 for non-members on the Portfolio path. ICF lists this fee as covering application review and exams, so the exam is included. If you need them: a performance evaluation retake is $150 per recording, and an exam retake is $105. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
What does the MCC cost?+
Application: $675 for ICF members and $825 for non-members, on both the Level 3 and Portfolio paths. ICF lists this fee as covering application review and exams, so the exam is included. If you need them: a performance evaluation retake is $150 per recording, and an exam retake is $105. Source: ICF: MCC Candidate Guide
Can I get a refund on my application fee?+
ICF application fees are not refundable once you submit. In a medical or personal emergency, ICF will consider a refund minus a $50 administrative fee within 15 business days of the submission date. Requests need supporting documentation, and ICF reviews them case by case. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
How long does ICF take to review my application?+
ICF's estimates: ACC Level 1/Level 2 path, 4 weeks. ACC Portfolio, 14 weeks. PCC Level 2 path, 4 weeks. PCC Portfolio, 18 weeks. MCC, 18 weeks on both paths. Review does not begin until you have paid in full, so if you pay in installments it starts after the final payment. Sources: ICF: ACC, PCC, MCC, Prepare your application.
ICF: Renewal and CCE
How long does an ICF credential last?+
Three years. It expires on the last day of the month, three years after the month it was issued. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What do I need to renew?+
40 CCE credits earned in the three years since you were awarded or last renewed. At least 24 must be Core Competencies, with at least three of those in coaching ethics (ICF offers a free ethics course). The other 16 can be Core Competencies or Resource Development. The fee is $175 for ICF members and $275 for non-members, for the ACC, PCC, and MCC. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What do I need to renew my ACC?+
40 CCE credits in all, earned in the three years since you were awarded or last renewed. 24 must be Core Competencies: 3 in coaching ethics (ICF offers a free ethics course), 10 hours of mentor coaching, and 11 from any other qualifying learning. The other 16 can be Core Competencies or Resource Development. The 10 mentor coaching hours are part of the 40, not extra. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What do I need to renew my PCC or MCC?+
40 CCE credits in all, earned in the three years since you were awarded or last renewed. 24 must be Core Competencies, and 3 of those must be in coaching ethics (ICF offers a free ethics course). The other 16 can be Core Competencies or Resource Development. ICF lists no required mentor coaching hours for PCC or MCC renewal. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What does renewal cost?+
$175 for ICF members and $275 for non-members, for the ACC, PCC, and MCC. If you renew late, after the two-month grace period, add a $100 late fee. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What counts as Core Competencies and Resource Development credits?+
Core Competencies credits deepen your use of the ICF Core Competencies through real-time interactive instruction or activities. Resource Development credits cover learning beyond the Core Competencies, such as personal growth, tools or assessments, and business building. For renewal, at least 24 credits must be Core Competencies, including 3 in coaching ethics, and up to 16 can be Resource Development. Source: ICF: Continuing coach education
Can mentor coaching or supervision count toward my renewal?+
For PCC and MCC renewal, up to 10 hours of mentor coaching (giving or receiving) and up to 10 hours of coaching supervision can count toward your 40 CCE credits, as Core Competency credits. For ACC renewal, 10 hours of mentor coaching are required, and they are part of the 40 credits, not extra. Source: ICF: Credential Renewal Guide
What is a CCE?+
CCE stands for Continuing Coach Education. It is learning that ICF recognizes toward renewing your credential. CCE credits come in two types: Core Competencies and Resource Development. Source: ICF: Continuing Coach Education
Where do I find CCE programs?+
Search ICF's Education Search Service, a free directory of coaching education programs accredited by ICF, including CCE programs. A course that is not ICF-accredited can still count toward Core Competency credit if you submit documentation showing it aligns with the Core Competencies, Code of Ethics, and definition of coaching. Source: ICF: Find coaching education
How do I log my CCE credits?+
In the Continuing Coach Education tab of your renewal application in your ICF profile. Only completed CCE activities count. You no longer upload CCE documents when you renew, but ICF audits some renewals, so keep your records for at least six months after you submit. Source: ICF: Credential renewal update
How early can I renew, and how long does review take?+
You can submit your renewal up to 10 months before your credential expires. ICF typically reviews renewal applications within 6 to 8 weeks. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
What if I miss my renewal date?+
You get a two-month grace period after the expiration date to renew without penalty. After that your credential lapses, but you have 10 more months to renew by paying a $100 late fee on top of the renewal fee. After 12 months it is fully expired, and you would need to submit a new credential application. Source: ICF: Renew your credential
ICF: 2027 changes
What is changing in 2027?+
The key dates. November 10, 2026: the new PCC-MCC exam opens. January 1, 2027: mentor coaching you complete on or after this date must be with a mentor coach who has the Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS). April 1, 2027: the performance evaluation is no longer required for ACC and PCC Portfolio applications. Enhanced mentor coaching with a Competency Review Form replaces it. MCC keeps the performance evaluation. Sources: ICF: Performance evaluation changes, ICF: The updated credentialing exam.
What is the Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS)?+
A specialization ICF created for mentor coaches, at three levels: MCS-ACC, MCS-PCC, and MCS-MCC. From January 1, 2027, all ICF credential candidates must do their mentor coaching with a mentor coach who has the MCS. ACC candidates can use an MCS-ACC or an MCS-PCC. PCC candidates need an MCS-PCC. MCC candidates need an MCS-MCC. Sources: ICF: Mentor Coach Specialization, ACC Candidate Guide.
Does the 2027 mentor coaching rule apply if I use a Level path?+
No. ICF says that if you apply through the ACC Level 1/Level 2 path or the PCC Level 2 path, you won't need to do anything differently, because your coaching education program will build in the new mentor coaching requirements. Source: ICF: Performance evaluation changes
What is the Competency Review Form?+
The form your MCS mentor coach completes to confirm the coaching competencies they observed in you. For ACC and PCC Portfolio applications, it replaces the performance evaluation recordings and transcripts. The new Portfolio mentor coaching runs a minimum of three months, includes at least three hours of individual sessions, and has at least three of your coaching sessions observed and reviewed by your mentor coach. Keep the Session Observation Form for each session your mentor reviewed, in case ICF audits your application. Source: ICF: Performance evaluation changes
What can I submit between January 1 and April 1, 2027?+
ACC and PCC Portfolio candidates can choose: upload a performance evaluation, or upload a Competency Review Form completed by an MCS. Starting April 1, 2027, only the Competency Review Form is accepted. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
I already finished my mentor coaching. Do I have to repeat it?+
No. ICF says mentor coaching hours completed on or before December 31, 2026 are still accepted and do not need to be repeated. If you submit a Portfolio application on or after April 1, 2027, you will need to work with an MCS to complete the Competency Review Form. ICF says that could be as little as one additional session. Source: ICF: PCC Candidate Guide
How does 2027 affect the MCC?+
The performance evaluation stays for every MCC candidate. The change for you is mentor coaching: new hours completed on or after January 1, 2027 must be with a mentor coach who has the MCS, and hours completed before that date are accepted. Source: ICF: Performance evaluation changes
What changes for renewal in 2027?+
From January 1, 2027, ACC renewal candidates must do their mentor coaching with a mentor coach who has the MCS (MCS-ACC or MCS-PCC). PCC and MCC renewal candidates who use mentor coaching toward renewal must also use an MCS at the right level. Coaching supervision must be with a supervisor who holds ICF's Coaching Supervisor Specialization or an accreditation from another coaching or supervision body. Hours completed on or before December 31, 2026 follow the current rules. Source: ICF: Credential Renewal Guide
Will the application fee change?+
ICF says you can expect a more affordable credential application, with details forthcoming. Source: ICF: Performance evaluation changes
Where does ICF post updates?+
ICF keeps a Credential Updates page with its announcements and dates, and tells applicants to check it before they apply. Source: ICF: Credential updates
Exam Prep plan
What is included in the Exam Prep plan?+
A full practice question set at your credential level (ACC single-best or PCC/MCC best-and-worst, with both the current and the new PCC/MCC exam), a timed exam simulation, a detailed explanation for every question, the Competency Course and competency study guides, one transcript evaluation per month, and Evaluation Tutor access. 60-day access from purchase. The 10 CCE hours for the course come with the Complete Plan.
What happens when my 60 days are up?+
Your access to the practice questions, timed simulation, and debriefs ends 60 days after purchase. We email you a reminder a few days before it ends. Your account stays put, and so does everything in your history, including any evaluations you've already run. If you're not done, you can buy another 60-day window or move up to the Complete Plan.
How many practice questions are there?+
261 practice questions at the ACC level and 202 at the PCC/MCC level. The ACC questions use the single-best-answer format. The PCC and MCC questions use the best-and-worst-answer format. You pick your level from your account page.
Do I get new questions, or the same ones every time?+
Yes. AI Practice generates brand-new scenario questions on demand, tagged to whichever competency you pick, so you are never stuck re-running the same questions. The Exam Prep plan includes 10 AI-generated questions a day, the Complete Plan includes 40 a day.
What is Roleplay?+
A live practice conversation: you coach, the AI plays the client, and you get feedback tied to ICF markers afterward on which competencies showed up and where you could have gone deeper. It is separate from Evaluation Tutor, with its own count. Free and Exam accounts get 10 Roleplay drills in total. Complete gets unlimited Roleplay.
How is this different from using generic AI on my own?+
Generic AI knows a lot about coaching but does not know the ICF exam's situational judgment structure, the specific competency framework the exam is built on, or what separates a best answer from a plausible-but-wrong one at each credential level. CredentialPrep questions are built specifically for this exam and debriefed with the ICF framework in mind.
Can I try before I buy?+
Yes. Ten free practice questions need no account at all. The one free transcript evaluation needs a free account (just an email, no card) so we can track that you have used it.
Complete Plan
What does the Complete Plan add over the Exam Prep plan?+
Everything in the Exam Prep plan, plus 10 transcript evaluations per week, 40 Evaluation Tutor interactions per day, and the Competency Course in the CCE version, which earns 10 CCE hours. If you are preparing session recordings for a PCC or MCC performance evaluation, the Complete Plan gives you the evaluation volume to work through multiple sessions.
How many transcript evaluations do I get each month on the Exam Prep plan?+
One per month. If you need more, the Complete Plan gives you 10 per week.
How can I see how many evaluations I have left?+
The evaluation page shows how many you have left. Free includes one evaluation in total, Exam Prep includes one a month, and Complete includes 10 a week. If the number looks wrong, refresh the page. If it still looks wrong, email credentialprepicf@gmail.com and Danny will check your account.
How many Evaluation Tutor interactions do I get?+
Free: 10 interactions total, to try it. Exam Prep: three after each evaluation you run. Complete Plan: 40 a day. Roleplay is a separate feature with its own count, not part of this one.
Can I upgrade from Exam to the Complete Plan?+
Yes, from your account page at any time. The $60 Exam purchase is not applied as a credit toward Complete, since they are separate products.
How do I switch from Exam to the Complete Plan?+
Go to your account page, click Upgrade to Complete Plan, and check out through Stripe. The Complete Plan starts right away on its own monthly (or annual, 25% off) billing cycle, separate from whatever's left on your Exam window. You keep every bit of progress and history you've already built.
Transcript Evaluation
What is a transcript evaluation?+
You paste a coaching session transcript, and CredentialPrep reads it against the ICF Core Competency framework. You get an overall impression and risks, the markers met in each competency, evidence pulled from your transcript, and areas to develop. It is designed to help you close the gap between how you coach and what ICF assessors look for in the performance evaluation pathway.
Does the evaluation tell me whether I would pass?+
No. It shows what your transcript shows, with the lines it quotes as evidence, and where you can develop. It does not predict how ICF would score you.
How does the report rate PCC markers?+
At the PCC level, each marker is either seen or not seen in your transcript. There is no partial rating. Open Show markers on a report to see every marker with the evidence from your session.
What do I need to submit?+
A plain-text transcript of a coaching session. Remove your client's identifying information before pasting. There is no minimum length, but shorter transcripts produce a thinner report.
What format should my transcript be in?+
Plain text works best. Standard speaker-turn format (Coach: / Client:) is ideal. You can also upload a file directly: .txt, .md, .vtt, .srt, .rtf, .doc, .docx, or .pdf. Or upload an audio recording (M4A, MP3, MP4, WAV, or WEBM) on the Exam Prep plan or the Complete Plan and CredentialPrep will transcribe it before the evaluation. The transcript is included with the evaluation and uses no transcription minutes.
Is my coaching data private?+
Your transcript is sent to Anthropic's API to generate your report. The report is saved to your account under Past evaluations, with the lines it quotes from your session as evidence. We keep the transcript itself for 30 days, then delete it. We don't sell your data or share it beyond the vendors needed to run the service. Please remove client names and any identifying information before pasting. See our privacy policy and who touches your data for the full picture.
Can I keep my transcripts longer than 30 days?+
Yes. Under Account, then Privacy, you can switch on Keep my transcripts. It is off by default, so transcripts are deleted after 30 days. If you switch it on, we keep the full transcript of each evaluation you run after that until you delete it yourself, which you can do any time from that evaluation. Your client's permission for the evaluation does not cover this longer storage, so keeping transcripts is your own choice. Your report and scores are not affected either way.
Does the AI train on my data?+
No. Your transcript goes to Anthropic's API to generate your report, and under Anthropic's commercial terms, they don't train their models on customer inputs or outputs. We keep your transcript for 30 days so you can come back to it with the Evaluation Tutor, then we delete the full transcript. Your report stays in your account, with the lines it quotes from your session as evidence, so you can revisit past evaluations. See who touches your data on our subprocessors page for the full vendor list.
Which company turns my recording into text, and when is the audio deleted?+
AssemblyAI, a speech-to-text company. When you upload a recording, we send it a temporary link to the audio so it can write the transcript. Our own copy of the audio is deleted after 30 days. AssemblyAI says it deletes the audio it receives 24 to 48 hours after upload, and the finished transcript after 30 days. Source: AssemblyAI: data retention.
Is my transcript data private? Who can see it?+
By default, only you. Your report lives in your account (and the transcript for 30 days), and nobody else sees them. Remove your client's name and any identifying details before you paste a transcript, just to be safe on your end too.
Competency Course and CCE
What is the Competency Course?+
A self-paced course with 69 lessons in nine modules: one for each of the eight ICF Core Competencies and one on the ICF Code of Ethics. ICF approved it as a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) program worth 10 CCE hours, all in the Core Competencies category.
How do I earn the 10 CCE hours?+
Choose the CCE version when you start, finish every lesson, and pass all nine module quizzes. The CCE version is included with the Complete Plan at no extra charge. The study version earns no hours and no certificate. You choose once, at the start, and you cannot switch partway. There is no partial credit, and you can earn the certificate once. After you clear a chapter in the CCE version, you can replay it without the timer.
What does the CCE certificate show?+
Your name, the program (the CredentialPrep Continuing Coach Education program), 10 hours in Core Competencies and 0 in Resource Development, the date you finished, the ICF Provider ID CCE-5481, and the provider, DG Development LLC. It also points to ICF's Education Search Service so anyone can look up the program. You can download it again from the Course page.
Is CredentialPrep approved by ICF?+
Only our Competency Course. ICF approved it as a Continuing Coach Education program on September 25, 2026: 10 CCE hours, all in the Core Competency category, included with the Complete Plan. Finish the course in the CCE version to earn them.
How can I check the ICF approval myself?+
ICF lists the program in its public directory, the Education Search Service. The provider is DG Development LLC, the company that runs CredentialPrep. The directory lists providers by company name, so look under DG Development LLC, not CredentialPrep. The program is CredentialPrep, type CCE, ID CCE-5481. The same details are on your course certificate.
What is Coach Quest?+
A practice game for coaches, with fictional clients. It is not open yet. It does not earn CCE hours.
Mentor Coach and the directory
What is Mentor Coach?+
A separate product for mentor coaches, not for exam or evaluation candidates. It is live in a free beta, and mentors are already using it. It is built for the mentor side of the credentialing process: reviewing a candidate's sessions, tracking their progress, and generating the ICF documentation mentors need. This is different from Evaluation Tutor and Roleplay, which are candidate-facing practice features. Want in? Visit the Mentor Coach page.
Is Mentor Coach free?+
It is free while the beta runs. Each beta mentor gets 10 evaluations in total. Turning a recording into a transcript for an evaluation is included. Each beta mentor also gets 250 minutes for transcription on its own. The evaluations do not refill.
What does a Mentor Coach report show?+
A first-pass assessment, written by AI, of the competencies and markers in a session, with the evidence from the session. The mentor reviews and edits it. It does not show a total percent, a level label, or color ratings, and it does not predict whether a candidate will earn a credential. At the PCC level each marker is observed or not observed.
How do I find a mentor coach?+
The mentor directory is a free list of independent ICF mentor coaches you can hire. Browse by ICF credential level, rate, and MCS status, then reach out to a mentor directly. It is free with a CredentialPrep account. Find it at the mentor directory.
How do mentor coaches get listed in the directory?+
Mentor coaches can add a free listing so candidates can find them. Sign up at the mentor listing page.
Pass Guarantee
What is the pass guarantee?+
Exam Prep plan only. Complete the full CredentialPrep course (100%), attempt 75% or more of the practice questions, and take the ICF Credentialing Exam. If you fail, submit your official ICF result through the Pass Guarantee claim form and we'll check your course and question progress on our end, no extra proof needed from you for those two. We refund your $60 purchase. The Complete Plan is not eligible. Full terms and claim form
How do I submit a guarantee claim?+
Fill out the claim form on the Pass Guarantee page and attach your official ICF exam result (a screenshot of the result email works fine). We check your course completion and practice-question progress ourselves in the background, so you don't need to send those separately. Prefer email? Send everything to credentialprepicf@gmail.com instead.
How does the Pass Guarantee refund work, step by step?+
Submit the claim form on the Pass Guarantee page with your official ICF result. Danny checks your course completion and practice-question progress directly in our system, no extra proof needed from you for those two. If everything checks out, he refunds your $60 Exam purchase to your original payment method through Stripe, usually within a few business days, and your paid access is removed once the refund goes through. One thing to flag: claims need to come in within 30 days of getting your official result, so don't let it sit.
Does the guarantee cover the Complete Plan?+
No. The pass guarantee is attached to the Exam plan only. This is not a case-by-case decision. If the guarantee matters to you, Exam is the path.
Billing and refunds
What does the Exam plan cost?+
$60 one-time for 60-day access. No subscription, no recurring charges.
What does the Complete Plan cost?+
$59 a month (about $2 a day), or $531 a year if you pay annually, which is 25% off and saves you $177. Cancel any time from your account page. No partial-month refunds; access continues through the end of the period you paid for.
What is the refund policy for Exam?+
Within the first 3 days, if you have not meaningfully used the product (fewer than 20 questions attempted, no evaluations, no mentor sessions), email Danny and he will review. After 3 days, the only refund path is the pass guarantee. If you purchased before 2026-07-29, you're still covered by the 7-day window that was in place when you bought.
What is the refund policy for the Complete Plan?+
The Complete Plan is not eligible for the pass guarantee. Within 3 days of any charge (including a renewal), if you have not meaningfully used the product that billing period, email Danny and he will review. After 3 days, you can still cancel any time, you just keep access through the end of the period you already paid for rather than getting a refund.
What if I was charged in error?+
Email credentialprepicf@gmail.com with your Stripe receipt. Danny refunds duplicate charges immediately.
How do I cancel my subscription?+
Exam is a one-time purchase, so there's no subscription to cancel; it just runs out after 60 days on its own. Complete is a monthly (or annual) subscription: go to your account page and click Cancel subscription. Either way, you keep access through the end of whatever period you already paid for, no partial refunds for time you don't use.
Technical
What browsers does CredentialPrep support?+
Any modern browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. No installation required.
Can I use CredentialPrep on my phone?+
Yes. There's no app to install, CredentialPrep runs right in your phone's browser. Sign in the same way you would on a computer, and everything, questions, evaluations, the coaching log, works the same.
My audio upload is not working. What should I do?+
Supported audio formats are M4A, MP3, MP4, WAV, and WEBM. That covers most exports from Zoom, Otter, Rev, Fireflies, Descript, Loom, and Riverside. Zoom VTT transcript files paste directly into the paste-transcript tab. If your upload is failing on a format we should support, email credentialprepicf@gmail.com with the file and we will look at it.
I am getting an error message. What should I do?+
Try refreshing the page first. If the error persists, email credentialprepicf@gmail.com with a brief description of what happened and, if possible, the URL you were on when it happened.
How do I contact support?+
Email credentialprepicf@gmail.com. Danny reads and answers every one himself, so tell him what's going on and he'll get back to you.
Account
How do I sign in?+
CredentialPrep uses a 6-digit verification code instead of a password. Enter your email on the sign-in page, then type in the code that lands in your inbox, usually within a minute or two. There's no link to click, just the code. Check your spam folder if it's taking a while.
How do I cancel my Complete subscription?+
Go to your account page and click "Cancel subscription." Your access continues through the end of the period you already paid for.
Can I switch credential levels?+
Yes. Go to your account page and select a different level at any time. Practice question progress is tracked per credential level.
How do I export my data?+
Your coaching hours log exports as a CSV any time from the log page, handy for your ICF application paperwork. Evaluation reports and practice history live in your account but aren't a one-click export yet. Email credentialprepicf@gmail.com if you'd like a copy pulled together for you.
What is a Demo account?+
A Demo account is a 30-day Complete account with set limits, for coaching school faculty and other educators who are deciding whether to use CredentialPrep with their students. It includes 3 transcript evaluations, 25 Evaluation Tutor messages, 40 Roleplay messages, 30 AI Practice questions, 100 practice questions, and 2 timed exam simulations. The limits cover the whole demo and do not refill. A Demo account can browse the Competency Course but does not earn CCE hours or a certificate. After 30 days the account returns to the free plan. Danny sets these up for educators he invites, so a Demo account has no billing screen.
How do I delete my account?+
Go to Account settings and use "Delete my account." You'll type a confirmation phrase, and we cancel any active subscription, remove your login right away so you can't sign back in, and delete your practice history and evaluations. If a mentor coach was linked to you in Mentor Coach, that link is removed automatically, and the mentor's own evaluations stay with the mentor.
CredentialPrep is not a coach training program and does not grant credentials. Our Competency Course is approved by ICF as a Continuing Coach Education program for 10 CCE hours, included with the Complete Plan.