HomearticleThinking about becoming an ICF Credentialed coach? Here's what no one tells you.

Thinking about becoming an ICF Credentialed coach? Here's what no one tells you.

Author:

IECL

Published:

25/02/2025

If you’re considering becoming an ICF credentialed coach, you’re likely weighing the time, cost, and effort involved. Is it worth it? What will the journey look like?

As someone who has gone through the process, I can tell you it’s not just about a certificate. Earning an ICF credential through the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL) was a transformative experience that pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. Here’s what I wish I had known before I started.

The Big Questions: Is It Worth It?

If you’re considering becoming an ICF credentialed coach, you’re probably asking:

Do I need the ICF credential?
How long does it take?
Is it worth the investment?

I spent two and a half years earning my ICF credential through the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (IECL), which is considered a fast track. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I started.

1. It’s About More Than Just a Certificate

We have all seen self-proclaimed “life coaches” on social media offering generic advice without real training. That was my biggest fear - I didn’t want to be perceived as one of them.

"So, I committed to professional excellence and quickly realized that a quality coaching credential is not something you can complete over a weekend. It requires structured training, practice, and a commitment to developing the skills necessary to coach at a professional standard."

Here is what it took to earn my ACC through IECL:

IECL Level 1 Organisational Coaching Certification – 44 training hours over seven weeks, including a three full-day workshop
IECL Level 1 Organisational Coaching Accreditation – 17 training hours over 12 weeks, including three half-day workshops
Mentoring & Performance Evaluation – 13 weeks, including two individual mentor coaching sessions and one performance evaluation
100+ independently logged and verified coaching hours (75 of which are "paid" in some capacity; IECL’s peer coaching program hours - through IECL membership - count towards this requirement as there is a direct swap).

The workshops, mentoring, and assessments challenged me in ways that self-study, reading books, or watching online videos never could.

2. You Will Coach A Lot (And That’s a Good Thing)

ICF requires at least 100 hours of real coaching experience to qualify for an ACC credential, the majority of which must be paid.

Fortunately, I had already started group coaching through my Career Change Kickstarter program. When I transitioned to one-on-one coaching, I was able to build my hours more quickly.

Every session was a learning experience. Whenever I encountered ethical dilemmas or challenging client situations, the IECL membership and supervision community supported me. This practice and mentorship helped refine my coaching style and develop professional confidence.

3. Mentor Coaching is Uncomfortable.... But Transformational

One of the most challenging but valuable parts of the journey was recording my coaching sessions, watching them back, and receiving direct feedback from a mentor. It was confronting to see my coaching style reflected back at me.

"I had to unlearn certain habits, especially the tendency to feel responsible for having the answers. True coaching is not about offering advice but creating space for clients to find their own insights."

One of the most important lessons I learned from my mentor coach, Charity Becker , was to help clients reinforce their insights rather than move past them too quickly. For example, simply asking, “What was that? Do you want to write that down?” can help solidify learning and create a lasting impact for your client.

Through this process, I learned to trust that my clients already have the answers, they need the right questions, structure, and space to access them.

4. The Exam is No Joke

When I took my ACC exam with ICF, it was still a behaviour-based assessment. It was far more challenging than I anticipated.

I sat for the exam in a professional testing centre in downtown Wellington. I had to lock up all my belongings, remove my jewellery, and spend three hours in a monitored testing room. At one point, I remember thinking, “They know I’m just trying to be a coach, right? Not join the FBI?”

Since then, ICF has updated the exam. New ACC applicants will now take an exam focusing on ICF core competencies rather than complex behavioural scenarios. While still rigorous, the new format is more aligned with what is needed at this stage of credentialing.

Was It Worth It?

Without hesitation, yes.

From my experience working in executive coaching, I know that clients and organizations value credibility. An ICF credential demonstrates professionalism and ensures coaches meet a high ethical and practice standard.

Going through this process has given me the following:

Trust – Clients can see that I have undergone rigorous training and evaluation.
Structure – A clear framework to support ethical and effective coaching.
Confidence – The assurance that I deliver coaching at the highest professional level.

"This process was challenging, but it made me a better, more ethical, and more impactful coach. Please take the step if you are considering this path. It is not easy, but neither is building a meaningful and fulfilling career. The effort is worth it."