How Do I BECOME A PROFESSIONAL
ICF Accredited Coach?
COACH TRAINING: An Introduction
Becoming a coach is an increasingly popular career choice. Some people are changing direction entirely, others want to integrate coaching into leadership, HR, L&D, or wellbeing roles, and many are drawn to coaching as a more meaningful way of working with people.
While anyone can technically call themselves a coach, becoming a professional coach involves structured training, reflective practice, ethical grounding, and assessment against recognised standards. This guide sets out the practical steps involved, drawing on internationally recognised frameworks from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Association for Coaching (AC), and EMCC.
If you are wondering how to become a coach in a way that is credible, ethical, and sustainable, this is where to start.
What does a Professional Coach actually do?
Professional coaching is not advice giving, consulting, or mentoring. It is a structured, ethical, and client centred process that supports people to think more clearly, develop self awareness, and make meaningful and sustainable change in their work or lives.
Rather than telling clients what to do, professional coaches are trained to create the conditions in which clients can reflect, challenge assumptions, and arrive at their own insights. This approach respects the client’s autonomy and recognises that lasting change comes from awareness and choice, not instruction.
Professional coaches are trained to:
Work non directively and in partnership with clients, placing the client’s agenda at the centre of the conversation
Hold clear ethical and professional boundaries, including confidentiality, contracting, and appropriate scope of practice
Listen deeply and attentively, working with what is said, what is implied, and what remains unspoken
Notice patterns in thinking, emotion, and behaviour and bring these into awareness with care and permission
Support insight, learning, and action without leading the client or offering solutions
This level of practice is what we cover on Become’s Level 1 Diploma in Integrative Coaching and Level 2 Advanced Diploma. It requires far more than asking good questions. It involves presence, self awareness, emotional literacy, and ethical judgement. Coaches must also understand when coaching is appropriate and when a client may need a different form of support.
This is why recognised training, mentoring, and assessment matter. Professional coaching is a skilled discipline grounded in reflective practice and ethical responsibility, not a toolkit or a script.
We understand that exploring different pathways to certify as a professional coach can be confusing. So let us de-mystify it for you. Book a call to discuss any questions you have and find out more about what makes our programmes unique.
On the call we can explore the various ways you can develop your coaching abilities, gain practical experience, and navigate the ICF certification process with confidence.
What we don’t do is try to sell you things. We don’t like it and expect you don’t either. So this is just a friendly conversation to help you explore if coaching could be for you.
Let’s connect and embark on this transformative journey together. Schedule your call now and unlock the possibilities of becoming an ICF Coach!
Joseph Grech MCC
ICF Course Leader & Psychologist
Step by Step How do I Become an Accredited Coach?
In this section you can find a step by step guide to professional coach training and ways how you can certify as a Professional Coach.
Step 1: Complete Recognised Coach Training
Most professional coaching journeys begin with a minimum of 60 hours of coach specific training, often referred to as Level 1 training within the ICF framework.
At this stage, training should:
Be accredited by a recognised awarding body such as ICF, AC or EMCC
Include live skills practice, not just theory
Teach the core coaching competencies and ethics
Support the development of self awareness and reflective capacity
At Become, this is covered through our Diploma in Integrative Coaching, which blends evidence based psychology, coaching skills, and live practice within a strong learning community.
This level of training allows you to practise coaching competently and ethically while beginning to build confidence and experience.
Step 2: Engage in Mentoring and Supervision
Professional coaching is not learned in isolation. Coach Mentoring and supervision are central to developing judgement, presence, and ethical maturity.
For ICF credentials, this includes:
A minimum of 10 hours of mentoring
At least 3 hours in a one to one format
Mentoring delivered by a qualified ICF Coach, recognised to provide coach mentoring to trainees
Mentoring focuses specifically on your coaching practice and how you are working with the ICF competencies in real sessions. It supports you to move beyond technique and into professional depth.
Mentoring is embedded within both our Level 1 ACC Diploma and on Become’s Level 2 PCC Advanced Diploma in Integrative Coaching, so Become Coaches are supported as they develop rather than left to navigate this stage alone.
Step 3: Pass a Performance Evaluation
Before applying for professional credentials, coaches must demonstrate their coaching skills against formal competency frameworks. Here at Become we train you towards this to make sure that you have the best chance in passing your Performance Evaluation. We’re with you all along the way and our pass rates demonstrate this. Our first attempt pass rate on our Level 1 Diploma is 100% and on our Level 2 is 90%.
This usually involves:
-
Submitting a recorded coaching session
-
Providing a transcript
-
Being assessed against the ICF Core Competencies
A performance evaluation ensures that your coaching is not only well intentioned, but demonstrably skilful, ethical, and client led.
Our Advanced Diploma is designed to prepare coaches specifically for this stage, with structured observation, feedback, and assessment preparation.
Step 4: Log your Coaching Hours
To apply for an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, you must log:
A minimum of 100 hours of coaching experience with clients
With at least 8 clients
Up to 25 coaching hours may be pro bono. The remaining 75 hours must be paid or involve a clearly defined reciprocal arrangement, in line with ICF guidance on coaching experience requirements.
A question that we get a lot is in relation to how you actually log these hours. Do you record each session? Is a spreadsheet enough? The answer is that there are different ways how you can do this. You don’t need to record the actual session however you need to have a record of it. At the start of your coaching agreement you would provide your client with different types of information including a consent form. This consent form would ay that you would be keeping certain data for your ICF log. Typically the data that you would keep includes the name of the client, the dates of the sessions, if they were paid or unpaid and the client’s email address for auditing purposes. We provide you with templates for these on Become’s Level 1 Diploma.
This stage of becoming an ICF Coach is often the phase where coaches begin to refine their niche, build confidence, and develop professional identity. Coaching hours can include paid work, pro bono coaching, or workplace coaching, as long as it meets professional criteria.
Step 5: Apply for the Professional Credential (ACC or PCC) and Pass a Multiple Choice Test
The final step is applying for professional credentials through a recognised awarding body such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF). As part of the application you would need to complete a Multiple Choice Test. This test is different if you are applying for ACC or PCC. It usually involves a number of coaching scenarios and you would choose the best, or the best and worst responses. Here at Become we have a fantastic pass-rate on both the Diploma and the ACC and PCC Multiple Choice Test.
For the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, this process of application typically includes:
Submitting verified evidence of accredited coach training and mentoring completed with a qualified ICF coach, like Become’s Level 1 Diploma
Logging a minimum of 100 hours of coaching experience, in line with ICF requirements
Completing and passing the Coach Knowledge Assessment, which tests understanding of coaching ethics, core competencies, and professional standards
The application process is completed directly with the ICF and requires careful preparation and accurate documentation.
Achieving professional credentials provides independent validation of your coaching skills and ethical practice. It signals credibility to clients, organisations, and employers, and demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional development and accountability within the coaching profession.
Do I need accreditation to become a Professional Coach?
There is currently no legal requirement to be accredited to call yourself a coach in the UK and many other countries. However, accreditation is increasingly expected by organisations, corporate clients, and practitioners who take their professional and ethical responsibilities seriously.
Accreditation provides a shared standard in a profession that is otherwise unregulated. It offers clarity about what a client can reasonably expect from a coach, and it helps distinguish professional coaching from informal or untrained practice.
Accreditation:
Demonstrates that you have completed recognised ICF or AC training and been assessed against clear professional standards
Signals ethical accountability, including adherence to a formal code of ethics and ongoing professional development
Provides reassurance to clients that you are working within appropriate boundaries and scope of practice
Supports long term credibility and employability, particularly within organisations, public sector roles, and corporate coaching
For these reasons, professional coaches choose to train with programmes aligned to recognised bodies such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Association for Coaching (AC), or EMCC. These frameworks provide structure, accountability, and professional legitimacy.
What should I look for in a Coach Training Programme?
Not all coaching programmes are the same. The quality, depth, and philosophy of training vary widely, and this directly affects how confident, ethical, and competent you feel as a coach once you qualify.
If you are asking how to become a coach in a way that is credible and sustainable, the training you choose matters.
When selecting a coach training programme, look for one that:
Is accredited by a recognised awarding body such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Association for Coaching (AC), or EMCC
Is delivered by experienced practitioners who actively coach, supervise, and work with real clients, not just facilitators teaching theory
Develops self awareness, reflective capacity, and presence alongside practical coaching skills
Takes ethics, boundaries, and scope of practice seriously, including recognising when coaching is not the appropriate intervention
Offers structured mentoring, performance evaluation preparation, and detailed feedback on real coaching sessions
Provides an ongoing learning community and continued professional support beyond the initial qualification
Do all Coach Training Providers offer the same programme?
Different providers will have different curriculums, coaching approaches and styles. At Become, our programmes are designed around these principles. The Diploma in Integrative Coaching provides accredited Level 1 coach training, live skills practice, and mentoring to support coaches at the start of their professional journey.
For those progressing towards the PCC professional credential, the Level 2 Advanced Diploma in Integrative Coaching supports deeper skill development, performance evaluation, and preparation for ICF accreditation. It also includes training in niche areas such as Leadership Coaching, Somatic Coaching, Career Coaching or Stress & Wellbeing Coaching.
Become’s training is psychology informed, evidence based, and grounded in reflective practice. Learning happens not only through content, but through relationship, feedback, supervision, and being part of a thoughtful professional community.
This approach supports coaches to develop confidence, ethical clarity, and professional depth, not just a set of techniques.
How long does it take to become a Coach?
Most people complete their initial coach training within 6 to 12 months, depending on the structure of the programme, their pace of learning, and other commitments.
Credentialing usually takes longer, as it includes:
Completing mentoring hours
Building and logging coaching experience
Preparing for assessment and credential applications
For many coaches, this happens alongside paid work or other professional roles. This is why flexible, well structured programmes that support part time study are so important.
Becoming a coach is less about speed and more about integration. The most effective coaches allow time for learning, reflection, and practice to come together.
FAQs about ways to become an ICF Coach
Yes. Many professional coach training programmes are designed to be completed alongside work, family, or other commitments. Part time training allows space to practise, reflect, and integrate learning into real world contexts.
Life coaching is one application of coaching. Professional coach training focuses on transferable skills that can be used across personal development, leadership, career, wellbeing, and organisational settings. Our programmes at Become set you up to work as a life coach, career coach, leadership coach or a more holistic coach.
These are International Coaching Federation credentials that reflect increasing levels of training, experience, and assessment. ACC is typically the first professional credential, followed by PCC and MCC as coaches gain depth and mastery.
Yes. High quality coach training can be completed fully online, provided it is designed for interaction, practice, and reflection rather than passive learning.
Effective online coach training should include:
Live teaching sessions rather than pre recorded content alone
Small group skills practice with real time feedback
Opportunities for observation, reflection, and discussion
Clear structure and continuity to support learning over time
Online delivery allows trainees to learn alongside people from different backgrounds and locations, which often enriches discussion and perspective. What matters most is not whether training is online or in person, but whether it creates enough depth, safety, and engagement for meaningful learning to take place.
At Become, our programmes are delivered live online and designed to be relational, reflective, and highly interactive. This allows trainees to train alongside work or other commitments without compromising on quality or connection.
Successful trainees are typically:
Curious about people, patterns, and themselves
Open to feedback and reflective practice
Willing to sit with uncertainty rather than rush to fix
Interested in ethics, boundaries, and professional responsibility
Able to commit time and attention to practice and development
You do not need to be coaching to begin training. You do need a willingness to reflect, to learn from others, and to take your impact on clients seriously.
Coach training works best when trainees see it as a developmental journey, not just a qualification.
Many people are drawn to coaching because they enjoy supporting others, asking thoughtful questions, or helping people think things through. While these can be good starting points, professional coaching requires more than being helpful or insightful.
Coach training may be right for you if:
You are curious about how people think, feel, and make decisions
You are willing to explore your own patterns and assumptions
You are comfortable not giving advice or solutions
You want to work ethically and within clear professional boundaries
You value learning through practice, feedback, and reflection
If you are unsure, introductory workshops such as our Coaching Fundamentals, open days, or conversations with training providers can help you sense whether coaching feels like a good fit. Many people discover through training that coaching is as much about how they are with others as what they do.
At Become, we support prospective trainees to explore this question thoughtfully, rather than rushing into a decision.
No. Coaches come from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds, including leadership, education, healthcare, HR, business, and creative industries.
What matters most is not your previous role, but your capacity for reflection, learning, and ethical practice. Coach training provides the structure, language, and framework needed to practise coaching professionally, regardless of your starting point.
Coach training often brings increased self awareness and clarity, which can sometimes lead people to realise that coaching is not the path they want to pursue professionally.
Even when this happens, trainees often describe gaining:
Stronger listening and communication skills
Greater self awareness
Improved leadership and relational capacity
Good coach training has value beyond qualification. It supports personal and professional development whether or not you continue as a practising coach.
This article is by Joseph Grech, a BPS Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Psychotherapist in Training and a MCC Accredited Coach. Joseph is the Founder of Become Coaching & Training Ltd., a leading ICF Coach Training provider delivering Diplomas in Integrative Coaching at ICF Levels 1 & 2.