ACC vs PCC: Requirements, Assessment and What Changes in 2027
The Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) are ICF's first two credential levels. They share the same 8 Core Competencies and the same 10 hours of mentor coaching, but differ sharply in education, coaching hours, how your coaching is assessed and which exam you sit. This guide puts them side by side, explains what the higher bar means in practice, and covers the two ICF rule changes arriving in 2027 — using ICF's own pages as sources.
ACC vs PCC at a glance
- Education: 60+ hours (ACC) vs 125+ hours (PCC).
- Coaching hours: 100 with 8 clients vs 500 with 25 clients.
- Mentor coaching: 10 hours for both; MCS mentor from 1 Jan 2027.
- Assessment: ACC behavioral statements vs PCC Markers.
- Exam: ACC Exam vs ICF Credentialing Exam.
- Portfolio recording: replaced by observed mentor sessions from 1 Apr 2027.
ACC vs PCC requirements, side by side
| Requirement | ACC | PCC |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for (ICF) | Coaches early in their career, and professionals coaching part time or as part of a leadership role | Experienced coaches evidencing proficiency in coaching skills, knowledge and competence |
| Coach-specific education | 60+ hours | 125+ hours |
| Coaching experience | 100 hours, at least 75 paid, with at least 8 clients | 500 hours, at least 450 paid, with at least 25 clients |
| Recency | 25 hours within the 18 months before you apply | 50 hours within the 18 months before you apply |
| Mentor coaching | 10 hours over at least 3 months, at least 3 hours one-to-one | 10 hours over at least 3 months, at least 3 hours one-to-one |
| Performance evaluation (Portfolio, until 31 Mar 2027) | 1 recording, assessed against the ACC behavioral statements (ACC BARS) | 2 recordings, assessed against the PCC Markers |
| Exam | ACC Exam: 60 knowledge-based questions, 90 minutes | ICF Credentialing Exam: from 10 Nov 2026, 80 items (44 situational judgment, 36 knowledge), 150 minutes |
| Application paths | Level 1 / Level 2 path or Portfolio path | Level 2 path or Portfolio path |
| Application fee (member / non-member) | Level path $175 / $325; Portfolio $475 / $625 | Level 2 path $375 / $525; Portfolio $750 / $900 |
| Renewal | Every 3 years: 40 CCE, incl. 24 Core Competencies (3 ethics, 10 hours mentor coaching) | Every 3 years: 40 CCE, incl. 24 Core Competencies (3 ethics) |
Coaching hours count once you have started your coach education. Paid hours include internal coaching in your workplace and coaching paid by a third party; group or team sessions count only for groups of 15 or fewer unless a co-coach is present. For level-by-level detail, see our ICF ACC certification guide and ICF PCC certification guide.
What "the bar" means in practice
Both levels are assessed against the same 8 Core Competencies. What changes is the depth an assessor listens for. ICF describes the ACC performance evaluation as confirming "the foundational skills and mindset" for professional coaching, and the PCC Markers as reflecting advanced coaching skills.
ACC: clearly coaching, not consulting
ICF's ACC criteria centre on the coach supporting the client's agenda and staying out of "telling" or consulting mode, using questions, observations and silence to help the client gain insight.
PCC: consistent partnership and depth
The PCC Markers repeatedly describe the coach partnering with the client and evoking awareness tailored to the individual client — behaviours assessors expect to hear throughout a session, not occasionally.
ICF notes the markers are not a simple checklist but a holistic picture of effective coaching. If you want to see how each marker sounds in a real conversation, read PCC Markers explained or run a PCC marker review of one of your own sessions.
Two different exams
ACC applicants take the ACC Exam: 60 multiple-choice questions with four options and one correct answer, 90 minutes including an optional break, testing knowledge of the Core Competencies, the Code of Ethics and the definition of coaching. PCC (and MCC) applicants take the ICF Credentialing Exam. ICF's updated version, launching 10 November 2026, has 80 items — 44 situational judgment questions, where you read a realistic coaching scenario and judge the best and worst responses, and 36 knowledge questions — with 150 minutes to complete. Scenario judgment is the main step up. Our ICF exam prep guide covers how to prepare for both.
What changes in 2027
- •1 January 2027 — MCS mentors. New mentor coaching hours for ACC, PCC and MCC applications count only if the mentor holds the Mentor Coach Specialization at the matching level (MCS-ACC, MCS-PCC, MCS-MCC). Hours completed under the current rules before then still count.
- •1 April 2027 — no Portfolio recording. ACC and PCC Portfolio applications submitted on or after this date no longer include a performance evaluation. Instead, at least three of your coaching sessions are observed by your MCS mentor, who submits a Competency Review Form; you keep the Session Observation Forms for audit.
- •Level 1 / Level 2 paths unchanged. Program certificates earned before 1 April 2027 are still accepted for later applications. MCC keeps its performance evaluation.
The practical effect: for Portfolio candidates, your mentor becomes the person who documents your competence against the ACC or PCC standard. Full timeline in ICF mentor coaching changes in 2027.
Should you go straight for PCC?
ICF's published PCC requirements do not list an ACC as a prerequisite, so some coaches apply for PCC directly. Whether that fits you is a judgement call; these are the considerations, not a recommendation.
It can make sense if
You already have, or will soon have, 125+ education hours (for example a Level 2 program) and 500 hours with 25 clients, including 50 in the last 18 months. One application, one fee and one exam instead of two.
The trade-offs
Reaching 500 hours takes time, so you coach without a credential for longer. The assessment bar and the scenario-based exam are higher, and a PCC Portfolio application costs more ($750 / $900) than an ACC Portfolio application ($475 / $625).
ACC vs PCC FAQ
What is the main difference between ACC and PCC?+
Volume and depth. PCC requires 125+ hours of education versus 60+, and 500 coaching hours with 25 clients versus 100 hours with 8 clients. ICF describes ACC as confirming foundational skills and PCC as evidencing advanced coaching skills, assessed against the PCC Markers rather than the ACC behavioral statements.
Do I need an ACC before applying for PCC?+
ICF's published PCC requirements do not list holding an ACC as a prerequisite. You need to meet the PCC education, experience, mentor coaching, performance evaluation and exam requirements on their own.
Is the exam the same for ACC and PCC?+
No. ACC applicants take the ACC Exam (60 knowledge-based questions, 90 minutes). PCC and MCC applicants take the ICF Credentialing Exam, which from 10 November 2026 has 80 items, 44 of them situational judgment questions, with 150 minutes to complete.
How many recordings do ACC and PCC Portfolio applicants submit?+
Until 31 March 2027, ICF lists one recording for ACC and two for PCC. For Portfolio applications submitted on or after 1 April 2027, the performance evaluation is replaced by enhanced mentor coaching with at least three observed sessions.
Do mentor coaching hours differ between ACC and PCC?+
The amount is the same: 10 hours over at least three months, at least three of them one-to-one. The difference from 1 January 2027 is who can deliver them: new hours must come from a mentor holding the Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) at the matching level.
How much does each application cost?+
ICF lists ACC at $175 (member) / $325 (non-member) on the Level 1/Level 2 path and $475 / $625 on the Portfolio path; PCC at $375 / $525 on the Level 2 path and $750 / $900 on the Portfolio path. Check ICF before applying, as fees can change.
Does AI practice count toward ICF hours?+
No. AI practice sessions are not coaching experience hours and not mentor coaching. AI evaluation is preparation, never a substitute for mentor coaching: it helps you review your sessions against the competencies before you spend paid mentor hours.
Sources (ICF)
- ICF — Compare ICF coaching credentials
- ICF — Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
- ICF — Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- ICF — Credentialing experience requirements
- ICF — Criteria for assessing ACC
- ICF — Criteria for assessing PCC
- ICF — ACC Exam
- ICF — A candidate's guide to the updated Credentialing Exam
- ICF — Renew your credential
- ICF — Introducing the Mentor Coach Specialization
- ICF — Mentor coaching requirement replacing ACC & PCC performance evaluations
Verified 6 October 2026. ICF may change requirements and fees; check the ICF pages above before you apply. Related: ICF certification guide · ACC · PCC
See where your coaching sits between ACC and PCC
Coach an AI client for a few exchanges right now — no signup needed. Use practice like this between mentor sessions, not instead of them.