Coaching Supervision v’s
ICF Mentor Coaching
Before you invest in mentor coaching or coaching supervision, it's important you fully understand the difference to ensure you are investing in the right thing for your specific development need.
The Purpose of ICF Mentor Coaching
Extract from the ICF website (April 2025):
Mentor coaching is essential for developing and demonstrating the coaching competencies required for your desired credential. It fosters growth through constructive feedback and reflective practice over an extended period, typically a minimum of three months.
Mentor coaching is available to coaches across all credentialing levels, including Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Master Certified Coach (MCC) applicants, and is crucial for both initial credentialing and renewal. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for your next level, mentor coaching can help you continuously grow.
Mentor Coaching Requirements for an ICF credential
For credentialing requirements, the ICF allows up to 7 or your 10 hours of mentor coaching be undertaken in a group.
For ICF purposes, all sessions must be attended LIVE – it is not acceptable to listen to a recording later. Upon completion, your certificate will reflect the number of hours you attended.
If you are going for an –
ACC credential: you need a mentor coach who currently holds an ICF credential of ACC, PCC, or MCC.
PCC credential: you need a mentor coach who currently holds an ICF credential of PCC or MCC.
MCC credential: you need a mentor coach who currently holds an ICF credential of MCC.
Important note: a mentor coach cannot guarantee you will obtain the credential level you are seeking as a result of mentoring.
Counting Mentoring & Supervision Hours toward your ICF Credential Renewal
It is always best to check the ICF website for current and correct advice.
For coaches renewing their ACC credential –
The structured 7-hour Group Mentor Coaching Program (with a focus on understanding and application of the ICF Core Competencies), counts as 7 hours toward the 10 hours of Mentor Coaching required to for ACC renewal. The remaining 3 hours of Mentor Coaching must be completed 1:1.
The ICF allow you to count up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision as Core Competency CCE units for credential renewal.
For coaches renewing their PCC credential –
For PCC renewal, there is no requirement for mentor coaching hours. However, Mentor Coaching hours can be counted toward Resource Development CCEs.
As for ACC renewal, the ICF allow you to count up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision as Core Competency CCE units for credential renewal.
Coaching Supervision Requirements
Association for Coaching -
The Association for Coaching require that:
- new coaches participate in 1 hour of supervision for every 15 hours of coaching practice, and
- experienced coaches participate in 1 hours of supervision for every 30 hours of coaching practice.
ICF -
The ICF does not currently require credentialed coaches to participate in regular supervision.
The ICF does allow that up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision can be counted toward the 40 hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) required for credential renewal (see below).