International Coach Federation

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Founded in 1995, the International Coach Federation (ICF) is the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the art, science and practice of the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of professional credentialed coaches, in order to ensure the good reputation of the craft. Today, the ICF has over 15,000 members in nearly 90 countries and 160 chapters in 49 countries.^[1]

Coaching, as defined by the ICF, is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

The ICF strives to be a strong and unified voice for the growing coaching profession and its members. ICF supports its membership through ongoing global marketing and public relations efforts, providing professional development and networking opportunities, setting universal standards, offering a globally recognized credentialing program and by conducting important research on coaching.

When searching for a coach, it is very important to ensure the coach you choose is credentialed.

As coaching is an unregulated profession, the International Coach Federation established a credentialing program to aid consumers in selecting a coach. This independent, globally recognized program is in its second decade of existence.

The ICF offers coaches three levels of its credential: ACC, Associate Certified Coach; PCC, Professional Certified Coach; and MCC, Master Certified Coach. ICF certifies coaches according to a list of "Coaching Core Competencies” and certain ethical guidelines. Today, nearly 4,000 coaches worldwide hold an ICF Credential.

According to the 2006 ICF Global Coaching Study, 52 percent of all coaching clients expect the coach they hire to be credentialed. Working with an ICF Credentialed coach ensures consumers that they aren’t in a partnership with someone just calling themselves a coach.

Many who call themselves coaches have not been formally trained in specific coaching skills and are transferring skill sets from other professions into their coaching. Often this results in an inadequate or ineffective coaching experience for clients.

The ICF Credential signifies: • a coach’s commitment to integrity and credibility; • an understanding of coaching skills; • a coach’s dependability to consumers; • a strong code of ethics; and • a coach’s serious stance for ongoing professional development.

When you hire an ICF Credentialed coach, you are hiring a coach with highly recognizable, global coaching qualifications.

ICF certifies coaches according to a list of "Coaching Core Competencies"^[2] and certain ethical guidelines^[3].

Potential coaching clients can search for ICF Credentialed coaches on Coachfederation.org through the ICF’s free Coach Referral Service. The Coach Referral Service is a searchable directory of ICF Credentialed coaches and will match coaches with clients, based on various criteria that potential clients can enter.

The ICF's 17-member board includes members from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States.