For Coaches
For Coaches
Choose the coaching pathway that fits your next step.
Build your foundations, progress towards an ICF credential, expand into team coaching, or choose the independent IAC mastery pathway. Start with the outcome you want—not simply the next course.
Find your starting point
Where are you in your coaching journey?
The most useful route depends on the capability you want to build, the work you want to do and—where relevant—the professional credential you intend to pursue.
Build a professional coaching foundation
Learn the core mindsets and skills of individual coaching, with structured practice, feedback and mentor coaching.
Progress towards PCC
Develop greater depth, presence and judgement for increasingly complex coaching conversations and organisational contexts.
Move into team coaching
Learn to work systemically with intact teams, their stakeholders and the wider organisational context—not only with individuals in a group.
Choose the IAC Coaching Masteries® pathway
An independent alternative to the ICF route. Develop and demonstrate coaching mastery through the International Association of Coaching’s own standards and certification process.
From programme completion to ICF credential
What remains after Level 1 or Level 2?
Your Emerge programme completes important education and assessment components. The credential itself is awarded separately by ICF after you meet its experience requirements, apply and pass the relevant exam.
Associate Certified Coach
- 60+ hours of ICF-accredited coaching education
- 10 hours of mentor coaching over at least three months
- Performance evaluation at the required level
- 100 coaching hours with at least 8 clients
- At least 75 paid hours
- At least 25 hours within the 18 months before applying
- Your programme certificate and coaching-experience record
- A passing score on the ICF ACC Exam
Professional Certified Coach
- 125+ cumulative hours of ICF-accredited coaching education
- 10 hours of mentor coaching
- Performance evaluation at the required level
- 500 coaching hours with at least 25 clients
- At least 450 paid hours
- At least 50 hours within the 18 months before applying
- Your programme certificate and coaching-experience record
- A passing score on the ICF Credentialing Exam
For the Level 2 Bridging route: the 125 education hours are cumulative. Your completed Level 1 education and the Bridging programme work together to meet the Level 2 education requirement, subject to your individual education record and ICF’s current application rules.
ICF and IAC pathways
Two independent pathways. Different standards and awards.
ICF and IAC are separate professional bodies with their own standards, requirements and credentials. Neither pathway is a continuation of the other.
International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Education, experience and assessment
ICF uses a staged credential pathway. Accredited education completes key requirements, while the coach separately builds experience and applies to ICF.
Progression: ACC → PCC → MCC, with ACTC available as an additional team-coaching certification for eligible ICF credential-holders.
International Association of Coaching (IAC)
Understanding and demonstrating mastery
IAC does not prescribe fixed training or logged coaching-hour thresholds. Its certification focuses on knowledge and observed demonstration of The Coaching Masteries®.
Progression: IAC-Masteries Practitioner™ → IAC-Certified Coach™ → IAC-Master Coach™.
The Emerge coaching ecosystem
One learning journey. Multiple ways to grow.
You do not have to treat these as isolated courses. The pathways can connect as your practice, clients and professional goals evolve.
A simple decision guide
Which path is likely to fit?
Choose the ICF pathway if…
- You want a clearly staged ACC, PCC or MCC credential journey.
- You value accredited education with defined requirements.
- You want to add an ACTC team-coaching certification to an existing ICF credential.
Choose the IAC pathway if…
- You want development centred on observable coaching mastery.
- You value an assessment route that is not organised around fixed training-hour levels.
- You want to integrate The Coaching Masteries® into leadership, internal or external coaching practice.
Understand the distinction
- Completing an ICF credential does not advance or convert into an IAC credential.
- Completing an IAC designation does not automatically satisfy ICF credential requirements.
- A coach may choose to pursue both, but each requires its own learning, application and assessment process.
Frequently asked questions
Before you choose
Does Level 1 automatically give me the ACC credential?
No. The Performance Coach Level 1 provides ICF-accredited education that supports the ACC pathway. You still apply to ICF and satisfy its current coaching-experience, examination and other requirements.
Who is Level 2 Bridging for?
It is designed for coaches who have already completed suitable Level 1 education or hold an ACC and need the additional advanced education and development required for the PCC route. Coaches who are starting without Level 1 may be better suited to the full Level 2 pathway.
Is ACTC the same as AATC?
No. AATC is an accreditation held by an eligible team-coaching education programme. ACTC is the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching awarded by ICF to an individual who meets its requirements. The Team Coach provides AATC-accredited education; learners apply separately for ACTC.
Do I need an ICF credential before joining The Team Coach?
Programme suitability can be discussed with Emerge Performance. However, to apply to ICF for the ACTC, a coach must hold an active ACC, PCC or MCC in good standing and meet the other current ACTC requirements.
Is the IAC route a shortcut to certification?
No. It is a different model. IAC evaluates knowledge and demonstrated use of The Coaching Masteries®. Preparation may be flexible, but the certification standard still requires evidence of coaching mastery.
Credential requirements can change. We will keep this overview aligned with the professional bodies’ current published requirements and confirm individual eligibility during an advisory conversation.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us where you are—and what kind of coach you want to become.
We will help you compare the routes, understand the prerequisites and identify the most useful next step for your practice.