ICF Core Competencies · Minimum Skills Requirements

How coaching skill rises from ACC to PCC to MCC

The same eight competencies are assessed at every credential level. What changes is the depth of demonstration expected — from doing the foundational behaviors, to partnering and tailoring to the individual client, to seamless, in-the-moment mastery. Each column pairs the behaviors an evaluator wants to see with the inconsistent behaviors treated as red flags at that level.

Prepared by Katie Drescher, MCC, ESIA·v1.0·June 2026

Tip: use the Focus buttons below to study one level at a time; print to landscape for the full three-column view.

The arc of mastery

One framework, three depths

A

ACC

Foundational

The core question: Does the coach reliably demonstrate the behavior?

  • explores
  • acknowledges
  • asks
  • is present
  • stays silent
P

PCC

Proficient

The core question: Is the coach partnering and tailoring to this specific client?

  • partners
  • customizes
  • invites
  • explores beyond
  • the who & the what
  • uses the client's words
M

MCC

Mastery

The core question: Is coaching a seamless, client-led partnership that responds in the moment?

  • responds holistically
  • in the moment
  • multiple dimensions
  • consistently curious
  • full partnership
  • integrated

The constant thread: partnership and client autonomy deepen at every level. The coach moves from guiding the process  →  co-creating it with the client  →  following the client so fully the partnership becomes invisible.

How to read this chart

  • Each column has two halves. The numbered list is the behaviors to demonstrate (consistent with ICF standards); the tinted box below it is the inconsistent behaviors an evaluator treats as red flags at that level. Notice how many red flags echo across levels but get more demanding higher up.
  • Higher isn't just "more." Progression is about increasing sophistication, not the number of statements. PCC often has the most line items because it uses a granular "marker" system; MCC consolidates into fewer, more holistic statements — because mastery looks like integration, not addition.
  • Key Skills are the same at every level (the gold band in each competency). What changes is how those skills are demonstrated, which is what the three columns capture; the "What levels up" line names the shift in one sentence.
  • Competency 1 (Ethics) is identical across ACC, PCC, and MCC — the non-negotiable floor for every credential. Competency 2 (Coaching Mindset) is assessed by written exam, not the recorded session, so it lists no session-based behaviors (though at PCC it surfaces through markers).
Consistent — demonstrate this ✕ Inconsistent — red flag at this level

If you're preparing for a credential

Tap the Focus buttons to show only your target level. Read the gold Key Skills first (expected at every level), then your "demonstrate" list, then use the "watch for" box as a self-check. This is a study and self-assessment aid — not the official scoring rubric.

If you're mentoring or evaluating

One coaching moment can be evidence for more than one competency — a single question might show both Listening and Evoking Awareness. Judge each behavior through the lens of the competency you're assessing, and use the current official ICF documents and rating tools for any formal decision.

01

Demonstrates Ethical Practice

Understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards of coaching.

≡

The constant: ethics doesn't "level up." The same standard applies at ACC, PCC, and MCC — it is simply expected, every time.

Identical at ACC · PCC · MCC — the ethical floor for every credential
  1. Demonstrates a strong understanding of, and alignment with, the ICF Code of Ethics.
  2. Consistently stays in the role of the coach — structuring a coaching conversation and staying focused on present and future issues.
  3. Uses key coaching skills (trust, presence, active listening, evoking awareness) to facilitate the client's own insights, rather than advising, consulting, or working primarily with the emotional past.
Inconsistent — at every level
  1. The coach is in clear violation of the ICF Code of Ethics.
  2. The coach's focus is primarily on telling the client what to do or how to do it (consulting mode), or the conversation is based primarily on the past, particularly the emotional past (therapeutic mode).
  3. The coach primarily gives advice or tells the client what to do throughout the session.
02

Embodies a Coaching Mindset

Develops and maintains a mindset that is open, curious, flexible, and client-centered — through ongoing personal and professional development that unfolds over a coach's whole journey.

✎

Assessed by exam, not from the recording. At PCC it also surfaces in the session through the markers below.

Assessed by exam — not by the recorded session

ACC

Evaluated through the ICF ACC Exam.

PCC

Primarily evaluated through the ICF Credentialing Exam, but certain elements surface in the session through the markers below.

MCC

Evaluated through the ICF Credentialing Exam.

Because this competency is assessed by exam rather than from a recording, the Minimum Skills Requirements list no session-based inconsistent behaviors for it at the ACC and MCC levels. A thoughtful approach is to use the PCC behaviors below as a guide as they reflect a coaching mindset.

How a coaching mindset shows up in session (PCC markers)

  1. Acknowledges and respects the client's unique talents, insights, and work.
  2. Acknowledges and supports the client's expression of feelings, perceptions, concerns, beliefs, or suggestions.
  3. Invites the client to respond in any way to the coach's contributions, and accepts the response.
  4. Acts in response to the whole person of the client (the who).
  5. Acts in response to what the client wants to accomplish this session (the what).
  6. Supports the client to choose what happens in the session.
  7. Demonstrates curiosity to learn more about the client.
  8. Customizes questions and observations using what the coach has learned about the client.
  9. Inquires about how the client currently perceives themself or their world.
  10. Asks about the client's current thinking, feeling, values, needs, wants, beliefs, or behavior.
  11. Shares observations, intuitions, or thoughts with no attachment, and invites exploration.
03

Establishes and Maintains Agreements

Partners with the client to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans, and goals — for the engagement and for each session.

↑

What levels up: ACC names the topic and stays on it → PCC partners on success measures and what's meaningful → MCC supports full client autonomy and tracks shifts as they emerge.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Co-creates an agreement for the session.
  • Partners with the client to define the components of the agreement.
  • Continues in the direction of the client's desired outcome, unless the client indicates otherwise.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Explores the client's topic with the client.
  2. Reaches agreement with the client on what they want to accomplish as a session outcome.
  3. Explores the significance of the outcome to the client.
  4. Attends to the agreed-upon agenda throughout the session.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • No conversation between coach and client to agree on a topic.
  • The coach chooses the topic.
  • The coach does not verbally confirm what the client wants to accomplish.
  • The coach does not coach around the topic the client chose.
  • If the conversation drifts from the agenda, the coach does not notice or explore the new direction with the client.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what they want to accomplish.
  2. Partners to define or reconfirm measure(s) of success for what they want to accomplish.
  3. Inquires about what is important or meaningful to the client about the outcome.
  4. Partners to define what the client believes they need to address to get there.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach chooses the topic.
  • The coach does not verbally confirm the session outcome.
  • The coach does not explicitly partner to clarify the agreement's components — success measures, meaning, or what to explore.
  • The coach does not coach around the topic the client chose.
  • If the conversation drifts, the coach does not notice or explore the new direction with the client.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Partners with the client to identify the focus of the session.
  2. Explores and clarifies several aspects of the topic.
  3. Confirms the mutual understanding of the client's desired outcome.
  4. Notices possible shifts emerging and clarifies the desired direction with the client.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not partner to support the client's full autonomy in creating the agreement.
  • The coach does not explore the outcome enough to achieve clarity about the client's intent or direction.
  • Responses are general and do not reflect the client's specific words and concepts.
  • The coach is unresponsive to emerging shifts and does not partner to clarify whether to continue or change direction.
  • The coach subtly or overtly influences how the client uses their session.
04

Cultivates Trust and Safety

Partners with the client to create a safe, supportive environment that allows them to share freely, and maintains a relationship of mutual respect and trust.

↑

What levels up: ACC acknowledges and respects → PCC adds empathy and invites the client to respond to the coach → MCC works with the client's emotions, strengths, and identity in the moment.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Creates a safe, supportive environment that encourages sharing freely.
  • Trusts and respects the client's unique ways of processing and creating.
  • Is open and transparent to foster mutual trust.
  • Acknowledges the client's unique contributions to the process.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Acknowledges the client's work in the session.
  2. Expresses respect, support, or concern for the client.
  3. Supports the client's expression of feelings, perceptions, concerns, or beliefs.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach is more interested in their own knowledge or view than the client's perspective.
  • The coach does not seek the client's thinking, feelings, perceptions, concerns, or beliefs — or is unresponsive when shared.
  • The coach is unsupportive, dismissive, judgmental, or disrespectful.
  • The coach misses opportunities to acknowledge the client's work.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Acknowledges and respects the client's unique talents, insights, and work.
  2. Shows support, empathy, or concern for the client.
  3. Acknowledges and supports expression of feelings, perceptions, concerns, beliefs, or suggestions.
  4. Invites the client to respond in any way to the coach's contributions, and accepts the response.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach imposes their own knowledge, point of view, or interpretation of the client's situation.
  • The coach communicates a lack of confidence in the client's capabilities.
  • The coach is unsupportive, dismissive, judgmental, or disrespectful.
  • The coach misses opportunities to acknowledge the client's work, talents, or insights in a timely way.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Acknowledges the client's learning or growth at any moment in the session.
  2. Recognizes the client's emotions, strengths, or other unique characteristics.
  3. Seeks to understand the client by inviting them to share more about themselves, their perspectives, or their identity.
  4. Demonstrates empathy for what the client has expressed.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach is more interested in their own knowledge or view than the client's perspective.
  • The coach does not seek the client's thinking, feelings, perceptions, concerns, identity, or beliefs — or is unresponsive when shared.
  • The coach is unsupportive, dismissive, judgmental, or disrespectful.
  • Responses are general, not customized to the client's specific words and ways of expressing themselves.
  • The coach misses opportunities to acknowledge progress, emerging insights, or unique contributions at any moment.
  • Behavior reflects a lack of curiosity, prioritizing the coach's own interpretation of the client.
05

Maintains Presence

Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded, and confident.

↑

What levels up: ACC is observant and makes space → PCC responds to the whole person and lets the client choose the direction → MCC partners as a true equal, fluid to whatever emerges.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Remains engaged and responsive throughout the session.
  • Remains curious and observant of the client.
  • Intentionally provides space for reflection.
  • Remains present through both conversation and silence.
  • Partners with the client throughout the session.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Is observant and responsive to the client.
  2. Demonstrates curiosity about the client, their agenda, or both.
  3. Provides space for the client to lead during the session.
  4. Is silent to allow time for the client to reflect.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach consistently misses chances to explore the client's verbal and non-verbal responses or insights.
  • The coach interferes by directing, interrupting, or filling silence.
  • The coach focuses on their own performance or knowledge rather than curiosity about the client's perspective and agenda.
  • The coach leads and directs instead of partnering on what to explore next, missing chances to co-create.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Acts in response to the whole person of the client (the who).
  2. Acts in response to what the client wants to accomplish this session (the what).
  3. Supports the client to choose what happens in the session.
  4. Demonstrates curiosity to learn more about the client.
  5. Allows for silence, pause, or reflection.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach imposes their own thinking and processing methods instead of using the client's.
  • The coach consistently does not respond to what the client shares about themselves — identity, culture, perceptions, feelings, specific words.
  • The coach focuses only on the "what" and does not also explore the client's "who" (context, beliefs, values, strengths).
  • The coach follows their own agenda, or changes the focus without explicit client choice.
  • The coach interferes by directing, interrupting, or filling silence.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Responds holistically in a manner that keeps the conversation flowing.
  2. Partners with the client in ways that support the client's needs.
  3. Consistently demonstrates curiosity.
  4. Creates space for silence, pause, or reflection.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not treat the client as an equal partner throughout.
  • The coach uses a predefined approach instead of working with what emerges in real time, including emotions.
  • The coach speaks with implied influence, judgment, or authority — including teaching the client.
  • Responses are general, not customized to the client's specific words and ways of expressing themselves.
  • The coach works only with the client's situation, not the client as a person.
  • The coach interrupts or interjects instead of giving the client the space they need.
06

Listens Actively

Focuses on what the client is and is not saying to fully understand what is being communicated in the context of the client's systems, and to support client self-expression.

↑

What levels up: ACC recognizes and paraphrases → PCC customizes to the client's exact words, emotions, and cues → MCC hears nuance across multiple dimensions of the person, in the moment.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Hears what the client is and is not communicating in relation to their agenda.
  • Integrates the client's unique use of words into questions and observations.
  • Notices and inquires about non-verbal cues and body language.
  • Offers what they see, hear, feel, or sense — and accepts the client's response.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Listens by recognizing feelings, perceptions, challenges, or beliefs.
  2. Inquires about, explores, or includes the client's use of language.
  3. Summarizes or paraphrases what the client communicates to confirm understanding.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • Listening is not focused on or responsive to what or how the client communicates.
  • Responses are not related to what the client is seeking to achieve.
  • The coach listens for a place to show their knowledge or tell the client what to do.
  • Summaries or paraphrasing are overly wordy or complex.
  • The coach does not ask the client to respond to summaries to confirm shared understanding.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Customizes questions and observations using what the coach has learned about the client.
  2. Inquires about or explores the words the client uses.
  3. Inquires about or explores the client's emotions.
  4. Explores the client's energy shifts, nonverbal cues, or other behaviors.
  5. Inquires about how the client currently perceives themself or their world.
  6. Allows the client to complete speaking without interrupting (unless there's a stated purpose).
  7. Succinctly reflects or summarizes to ensure the client's clarity and understanding.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not use what the client presents (verbal or non-verbal) to shape questions and observations.
  • The coach mainly uses general questions rather than the client's specific words and concepts.
  • The coach assumes the meaning of the client's words without inquiring into their definition.
  • The coach dismisses, verbally or non-verbally, how the client is feeling.
  • The coach does not invite the client to respond to summaries to confirm accuracy.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Recognizes the nuances of language, emotions, energy, or behaviors in relation to the client and their agenda.
  2. Responses demonstrate understanding of the client's thinking, feeling, or insight in the moment.
  3. Explores what the client communicates across multiple dimensions of the client.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • Listening is not focused on or responsive to the client's verbal and non-verbal communication, including body language and emotional cues.
  • Most responses, questions, and observations are general rather than customized to how or what the client expresses.
  • Responses focus on solving the situation, ignoring what the client shares about themselves.
  • The coach listens for a chance to show their knowledge or tell the client what to do.
07

Evokes Awareness

Facilitates client insight and learning by using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor, or analogy.

↑

What levels up: ACC asks clear open questions and offers perspectives → PCC explores beyond current thinking about the who, the what, and the outcome → MCC partners to expand perspective and sparks insight succinctly.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Uses questions, observations, silence, and other techniques to support client insight.
  • Shares personal responses — comments, intuition — without attachment or direction.
  • Explores the client's emotions, needs, beliefs, and ways of thinking, creating, and learning.
  • Invites the client to identify influences on current and future thinking, behavior, or emotions.
  • Adapts approach to the client's needs and style.
  • Intentionally allows space for the client to respond fully.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Supports the client in viewing the situation from different perspectives.
  2. Inquires about the client's feelings, perceptions, behaviors, or beliefs.
  3. Asks clear, open-ended questions, one at a time.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not partner to explore the client's knowledge, perspectives, ideas, beliefs, or agenda.
  • Most questions and observations are leading, closed, or contain predetermined answers.
  • Questions and observations reflect the coach's agenda rather than the client's.
  • The coach does not allow space to consider and respond before asking another question.
  • The coach's way of speaking is complex or confusing.
  • Questions focus mainly on reaching the outcome, without also exploring feelings, perceptions, behaviors, or beliefs.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Asks about the client's current thinking, feeling, values, needs, wants, beliefs, or behavior.
  2. Asks questions that explore beyond current thinking to new ways of thinking about themself (the who).
  3. Asks questions that explore beyond current thinking to new ways of thinking about their situation (the what).
  4. Asks questions that explore beyond current thinking toward the outcome the client desires.
  5. Shares observations, intuitions, or thoughts with no attachment, inviting exploration.
  6. Asks clear, direct, primarily open questions, one at a time, at a pace that allows reflection.
  7. Uses language that is generally clear and concise.
  8. Allows the client to do most of the talking.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not ask open questions that let the client explore or reconfirm their own thinking, values, needs, wants, beliefs, or behaviors.
  • Questions lead the client toward the coach's perspective rather than the client's own.
  • The coach seems focused on showing knowledge and gives definitive observations without checking in.
  • The coach shares perceptions without letting the client respond freely — including disagreeing.
  • The coach's way of speaking is overly wordy, complex, or confusing.
  • The coach does not allow sufficient space to respond to questions or observations.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Partners with the client to explore and expand the client's perspective.
  2. Shares insights, sensations, or observations that support new or expanded awareness.
  3. Stimulates new insights with succinct, open-ended questions, one at a time.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not consistently include or use the client's specific words, concepts, and creating styles.
  • The coach does not provide sufficient reflective space for the client's full participation in emerging awareness.
  • The coach drives toward solutions without hearing whether the client still needs to think, feel, or sense more deeply.
  • The coach's way of speaking is complex or confusing.
  • The coach does not use questions, observations, silence, or other techniques that deepen the client's thinking about self and agenda.
  • The coach does not use self to share personal responses, comments, or intuitions without attachment.
08

Facilitates Client Growth

Partners with the client to transform learning and insight into action, and promotes client autonomy in the coaching process.

↑

What levels up: ACC asks about learning and next steps → PCC partners on accountability and resources and celebrates progress → MCC turns self-insight into action and completes in full partnership.

Key skills — constant across all levels

  • Partners with the client to explore session progress and learning.
  • Supports integrating new awareness into worldview and behaviors.
  • Partners to design actions that reflect new learning.
  • Supports identifying what's needed to follow through.
  • Partners with the client to close the session.
ACCFoundational

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Asks questions about what the client has learned during the session.
  2. Supports the client to use their learning to plan next steps.
  3. Supports the client to close the session.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not invite the client to identify or explore session progress or how learning applies to future action.
  • The coach does not partner to create clarity for what the client will do after the session.
  • The coach directs the client to carry out the coach's prescribed actions rather than letting the client design their own.
  • The coach chooses the timing or method of closing the session.
PCCProficient

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Invites or allows the client to explore progress toward what they wanted to accomplish.
  2. Invites the client to state or explore their learning about themself (the who).
  3. Invites the client to state or explore their learning about their situation (the what).
  4. Invites the client to consider how they will use new learning.
  5. Partners to design post-session thinking, reflection, or action.
  6. Partners to consider how to move forward — resources, support, or barriers.
  7. Partners to design the best methods of accountability for themself.
  8. Celebrates the client's progress and learning.
  9. Partners on how the client wants to complete the session.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not support the client in identifying progress, learning, or how to apply new insights after the session.
  • The coach states the progress the client made without asking or inviting the client's input.
  • The coach directs the client to carry out prescribed actions rather than letting them design their own.
  • The coach does not ask follow-up questions that support designing actions to follow through.
  • The coach asks the client to name the growth to acknowledge, instead of directly acknowledging it based on what was observed.
  • The coach chooses the timing or method of closing the session.
MCCMastery

✓Consistent — demonstrate

  1. Invites the client to reflect on what they have learned about themselves from the conversation.
  2. Partners with the client to translate insights or learning into actions.
  3. Partners with the client to complete the session.

✕Inconsistent — watch for

  • The coach does not support the client in identifying progress, learning, or how to apply new insights after the session.
  • The coach misses chances to acknowledge progress and learning as it emerges.
  • The coach does not partner to ensure designed actions contain enough to make them implementable.
  • The coach suggests or provides specific actions rather than partnering to create the client's own.
  • The coach does not inquire about the relevance of the client's insights to other parts of their work or life.
  • The coach chooses the timing or method of closing the session.