Staying Sharp - and Why Credentialing Matters

Credentialing isn’t just about passing an exam — it’s about embedding high-quality, ethically sound, ICF-aligned coaching into the way we operate every day, with every client. In a landscape of coaches that is unregulated, it is even more important to look for a coach who values the International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential. The credential starts with ACC (Associate), PCC (Professional) and MCC (Master Certified Coach).

In February 2025, I passed my PCC credentialing exam, which includes the following preparation (below). Today, it was an honor to be an invited panelist on the ICF Virginia presentation "Demystifying the ICF Credentialing Exam." Preparing to share my experience preparing for the exam caused me to stop and articulate what I did to prepare - routines that have become part of my ongoing professional development - so that I could support those who are seeking credentialing as well.

Why is it so important to work with a credentialed coach?

Because in an ethical coaching alliance, the coach and client are peers - equals. There is no hierarchy. The client sets the agenda and the coach manages the process of exploration, holding space as an impartial, non-judgmental thinking partner. While there is no guarantee that your ICF-credentialed coach will be highly ethical and competent, you increase the odds substantially if you seek out a coach who is proud of their ICF credential. It means they have taken to heart the core competencies, have invested in mentor coaching, have been supervised and critiqued by an expert coach, and have met the standards.

Training

✅ Graduate from an ICF-accredited Level 2 program (125+ coach-specific training hours included).

• Coaching Experience

  ✅ Log 500+ hours of client coaching (450 paid)

  ✅ Serve 25+ clients

  ✅ Complete 50 hours within 18 months of applying

• Mentor Coaching

  ✅ 10 hours with a PCC- or MCC-credentialed coach over at least 3 months

• Performance Evaluation

  ✅ Submit one recorded session

• ICF Credentialing Exam

  ✅ Pass a rigorous 3-hour proctored exam with scenarios requiring the best and worst response for each of the 79 questions.

Here’s how I stay sharp and aligned between credentialing cycles:

1. Make Ethics an Everyday Practice

• I treat ethics not as a checkbox but as a daily operating principle.

• I intentionally enroll in ICF-accredited training, especially ethics courses, because they challenge my assumptions and refine my routines.

• These courses influence how I:

  • Structure intake

  • Set up pricing and programs

  • Write and revisit my coaching agreements

• Ethics reminds me: What’s best for the client must drive everything.

  
  

2. Work With Mentor Coaches – And Coach Them Too

• I hire the best mentor coach I can find and coach her on real-world issues. It keeps me humble and always improving.

• A good mentor coach — like Chiara Russo — can:

  • Track your strengths and growth areas while receiving powerful coaching

  • Offer real-time feedback that sharpens your edge

• I also hire mentor coaches with specialties I want to develop, like inner critic work with Paul Boehnke.

• I aim for 10 mentor sessions a year — it’s worth every penny.

  
  

3. Use AI as a Feedback Partner

• For clients who consent to recorded sessions, I use AI tools to:

  • Generate transcripts

  • Compare my coaching to the ICF markers for the next credential level

  • Identify 3 strengths and 3 growth opportunities

• For example, I often notice I can improve on brevity and embracing silence.

• Creative strategies help: Walking while coaching helps me stay silent and listen more deeply.

  
  

4. Use AI to track CCEUs

• You need to track your continuing coach education units (CCEUs) for credentialing.

• When you download the PDF, save it with this format: 1.5 [name of training].

  • The number at the beginning is how many credits you earned.

  • Organize your folders by year.

  • At the end of the year, grab all the PDFs and load them into your AI. Ask it to create a table by type of credit and number of hours.

• Post this on your website to show how invested you are in continuing education.

• Use it to create your credentialing portfolio.

Closing Thought

Credentialing isn't a destination — it's a reflection of how we practice every day. The more we integrate these habits into our rhythm, the more integrity and mastery we bring to our work.

Here's what I've been interested in lately: