Exploring ICF Continuing Coach Education
Gaining an ICF credential is a big milestone in a Coaching career, but it is only the beginning of the journey.
Once you’ve attained a credential, we are required to renew them – whether it is ACC, PCC or MCC, every 3 years. To do this we need to do 40 hours of Continuing Coach Education(CCE) in the 3 years running up to renewal. This can feel daunting! So how can we effectively complete these hours?
There are many different ways to gain your CCEs and it doesn’t have to be daunting! In this blog,we share how you can complete your renewal process with ease.
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Introduction to Continuing Coach Education
My first recommendation is to start thinking about this as soon as you receive your credential. I know – it feels such an achievement to receive your ACC or PCC or MCC. However, it will be difficult to complete all 40 hours if you leave it until 6 months prior to renewal. One way is to think about it being 15 hours of continuing education each year.
Continuing Coach Education is in 2 categories. When you look at any possible education programmes it is good to check which which categories they cover:
Core Competency CCE – You’ll need to clock in a minimum of 24 hours. This usually involves coach education provided by an accredited provider, and mentor coaching and supervision also count.
Resource Development – You’ll need to clock in a maximum of 16 hours. This may include training, reading, or attending conferences.
We have highlighted below which category each type of training likely falls into. You should verify with the training provider or check the ICF website to confirm.
There are ideas for how to achieve this on the ICF website, and I have also added more suggestions in this blog.
To help you think about how you can achieve this, here are many ways to do so:
Idea 1 – Attend Mentor Coaching – 10 hours Core Competency CCE
The ICF requires ACC coaches who are renewing to complete 10 hours of mentor coaching, including 3 hours of one-on-one mentor coaching each time they renew. Once you achieve PCC, you are no longer required to do this, but you can continue if you find it valuable.
Mentor coaching is run by an ICF-accredited coach who has been an ACC for at least three years, a PCC, or an MCC. More information on mentor coaching can be found here.
If you provide mentor coaching to another coach, you can also count this towards your CCEs. Bailey Balfour alumni can attend our free monthly mentor coaching calls, and each session counts as one hour towards your group mentor coaching.
Idea 2 – Coaching Supervision – Up to 10 hours of Core Competency CCE
As professional coaches, we should all have regular supervision. This allows us to bring our coaching experiences, confidentially discuss clients we are working with, and explore ways to deepen our coaching practice. You can count all supervision as Core Competency CCEs, with up to 10 hours included in your renewal. Your supervisor should hold a recognised coach supervision qualification.
In our faculty, we have two of our faculty members, Chris and Mylene with this qualification and hold supervision sessions. To contact them, reach out to them via our contact us form and we’ll connect you with them.
If you provide supervision to another coach, you can also count this towards your CCEs.
Idea 3 – ICF Chapters
When you are a member of the ICF, you are automatically added to the nearest ICF Chapter. ICF Chapters run free or very low-cost events, many of which offer CCEs. You are not limited to your local chapter and can attend events run by other chapters globally. Many of these events are free.
Idea 4 – Reading and Research – Resource Development CCEs
All coaches read and apply their reading to deepen their coaching competence. You can apply for CCEs for reading. To gain the credits, you will need to provide information about the reading, timeframe, and your learning.
More information is available on the professional development webpage on the ICF website.
Idea 5 – Further Coach Training – Either CCE, Level 1, or Level 2
Coach training recognised by the ICF will also count towards your CCEs. For example, if you have completed a Level 1 course and move on to a Level 2 course, the training hours will count towards your CCEs. Many great providers run courses that offer CCE credits. You can find these via the ICF Education Search Service.
Here are a couple of providers whose courses we recommend:
Idea 6 – Coaching Conferences and Online Programmes
There are a growing number of annual conferences and training events held online globally. For example, Coaching.com offers many events and courses, many of which are free.
The ICF Annual Conference is another opportunity to obtain your CCE hours.
Idea 7 – ICF Ethics Course – 3 Hours Core Competency
All coaches are required to complete three hours of Coaching Ethics training available on the ICF website. This can be accessed via your personal Learning Portal on the ICF website. To access this, log into your ICF account and find the Catalog.
To access the Learning Portal, look to the right of your page after logging in.
There are several other free courses available.
Your CCE credits can be recorded in the ‘transcripts’ section of your personal profile.
You can add these and upload the evidence as you go along—you don’t have to wait until you are due for renewal.
How to document CCE hours?
You can upload your training record into the The ICF Learning Portal as you complete it directly to the ICF, which keeps a running tally of your training hours and helps you stay on track.
The hours remain logged to help you when you are due for renewal.
You register your CCEs at the Transcript section of your personal profile.
To sum up…
Renewing your ICF credential is important part of maintaining your growth as a coach, to ensure you’re keeping your credential instate and ensuring that you continue to deliver high-quality coaching to your clients.
By planning ahead and utilsing the various resources and opportunities available, you can easily meet the CCE requirements without feeling overwhelmed!
Remember, continuing education is not just a requirement but an opportunity to enhance your skills, expand your knowledge, and connect with the broader coaching community.
Take advantage of mentor coaching, supervision, ICF chapter events, and other training programs to enrich your coaching practice. Stay proactive, track your progress, and seek out new learning experiences regularly.
Stay committed to your professional development, and you’ll find that the journey to renewing your ICF credential is both manageable and rewarding.
More resources:
If you’ve not upgraded to Level 2, join us an earn your CCE’s while you upgrade your credential. Join our Level 2 ICF Coach Training Programme. Register today!
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About the Author
Jean Balfour is Managing Director of Bailey Balfour and Programme Director of our ICF Accredited Coach Training Programmes. Jean is passionate about helping people to have good conversations both at work and at home. She believes that coaching is a life skill and that you never regret learning to coach.