What is ICF?

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Clik here to view.The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals.

As the world’s largest organization of professionally trained coaches, ICF confers instant credibility upon its members. ICF is also committed to connecting member coaches with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their careers.

ICF Credentials are awarded to professional coaches who have met stringent education and experience requirements and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the coaching competencies that set the standard in the profession. Achieving credentials through ICF signifies a coach’s commitment to integrity, understanding and mastery of coaching skills, and dedication to clients.

ICF offers three credentials:

ICF also accredits programs that deliver coach-specific training. ICF-approved and –accredited training programs must complete a rigorous review process and demonstrate that their curriculum aligns with the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics.

Today, ICF is specifically recognized among coaching professionals worldwide for:

CCE – Developing coaching core competencies
Establishing a professional code of ethics and standards
Creating an internationally recognized credentialing program
Setting guidelines through accreditation for coach-specific training programs
Providing continuous education through world-class events, Communities of Practice (CPs) and archived learning.

Consistent with ICF’s ethical standards and one of our core values, excellence, we support ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Our philosophy of ongoing learning and reflective practice enhances our capacity to deliver professional coaching. The creation of a personalized CPD plan designed around your specific learning is a vital foundation toward coaching mastery. Mastery is developed through participation in various levels of advanced coach training as well as through very personalized learning based on skillful reflection about who we are and how we work.

Although coaching is a self-regulated profession, ICF and other special interest groups and professional associations, such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), the Association for Coaching (AC) and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), are all aligning to a more uniform industry standard of which ongoing professional development is an integral facet.

As part of a self-regulating industry, ICF is committed to coaches providing consistent value to their clients. In order to maintain these professional standards, ICF has redefined its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) position to keep pace with industry expectations and emerging standards. Each distinct element of CPD is outlined below in greater detail.

Training and Skills Enhancement focuses on the development of the coach’s competence through offering a wide range of rich opportunities for the support and development of a coach’s skillset. ICF is committed to provide opportunities for coaches to consistently develop and grow professionally through training and skills enhancement.

Purpose of the ICF:

Create an environment for the coach to be in the role of student and gain exposure from a variety of fields, whether it be specific to coaching or ancillary content that would improve one’s overall ability to serve their clientele in a successful manner.

Various components of this element can be categorized below:

Additional coach-specific training (CCE)
Professional development events (CCE)
Coaching tools training (CCE)

The following eleven core coaching competencies were developed to support greater understanding about the skills and approaches used within today’s coaching profession as defined by the International Coach Federation. They will also support you in calibrating the level of alignment between the coach-specific training expected and the training you have experienced.

Finally, these competencies and the ICF definition were used as the foundation for the ICF Credentialing process examination. The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The Core Competencies are grouped into four clusters according to those that fit together logically based on common ways of looking at the competencies in each group. The groupings and individual competencies are not weighted—they do not represent any kind of priority in that they are all core or critical for any competent coach to demonstrate.

Setting the Foundation
1. Meeting Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards
2. Establishing the Coaching Agreement
Co-creating the Relationship
3. Establishing Trust and Intimacy with the Client
4. Coaching Presence
Communicating Effectively
5. Active Listening
6. Powerful Questioning
7. Direct Communication
Facilitating Learning and Results
8. Creating Awareness
9. Designing Actions
10. Planning and Goal Setting
11. Managing Progress and Accountability

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