Choosing between ACC vs. PCC ICF credentials involves more than prestige. We’ll help you refine your evaluation criteria around your career goals, target client level, and training commitment.
Select the path that matches your priorities: the client, the scope, and the commitment.
Still uncertain? Cohorts are planned around your initial selection. You can switch pathways up to week 6 with full tuition credit.
See the decision windowComplete your program with Claristrat to earn your training certificate. The ICF then independently verifies your application against the requirements below and administers the exam for your ACC or PCC credential.
ACC directionProfessional Certificate ACC | PCC directionAdvanced Certificate PCC | |
|---|---|---|
| Coach-specific education | 60+ hoursYou will exceed this requirement | 125+ hoursYou will exceed this requirement |
| Coaching experience | 100+ hoursAfter program begins | 500+ hoursAfter program begins |
| Paid coaching hours | 75+ hoursIncludes coaching on the job | 450+ hoursIncludes coaching on the job |
| Individual clients | 8+ | 25+ |
| Experience recency | 25 coaching hourswithin the 18 months before applying | 50 coaching hourswithin the 18 months before applying |
| Certified mentoring | 10 hours over at least 3 monthsincluding at least three one-to-one hours | |
| Performance evaluation | ICF-certified mentor sign-off | |
| ICF exam type | ACC Exam | Credentialing Exam |
| ICF application fee | $175 USD member$325 USD non-member | $375 USD member$525 USD non-member |
| Estimated ICF review | About 4 weeks | |
Note on Credentialing: Claristrat provides the required accredited education and mentoring hours. You submit your client hours directly to the ICF to claim your official ACC or PCC designation.
ICF requirements, fees, and estimated review times may change. Reviewed August 22, 2026. Sources:ICF application pathsICF experience requirements
Compare exact live curriculum hours, schedules, class structures, and faculty mentoring included with each Claristrat track.
ACC directionProfessional Certificate ACC | PCC directionAdvanced Certificate PCC | |
|---|---|---|
| Shared foundation | Weeks 1–12The complete Professional live core | |
| Live curriculum length | 12 weeksMentor coaching follows the live core | 24 weeksOne continuous 12 + 12 pathway |
| Total program hours | 11060 live + 40 self-paced + 10 mentoring | 175100 live + 65 self-paced + 10 mentoring |
| Live hours | 60Two 2.5-hour live sessions weekly during weeks 1–12 | 100Adds two 2-hour live sessions weekly during weeks 13–24 |
| Curriculum | Arcs I–IIIModules 1–6See the Professional Certificate Curriculum | Arcs I–VIModules 1–12See the Advanced Certificate Curriculum |
| Format | Fully onlineLive cohort learning with guided work between sessions | Fully onlineThe same cohort continues through the advanced half |
| Cohort size | 6–8Global leaders per cohort | |
| Mentor coaching | 10 hours7 group and 3 individual sessions, aligned to respective ICF level | |
| Tuition | $8,000 USDOr 5 installments of $1,600 | $16,000 USDOr 8 installments of $2,000 |
| Upgrade option | Through week 12May elect to continue into Advanced, subject to current terms | From the outset, or by week 12Enroll directly, or upgrade from Professional, subject to current terms |
Important: Claristrat tuition covers program education and mentoring, but does not include separate ICF application fees. Completing a Claristrat program does not automatically confer an ICF credential. Claristrat program hours fulfill your required ICF education time. ICF coaching experience hours are accumulated separately through real-world client coaching.
Start from the coaching you plan to do. If your clients will be individual leaders, begin with Professional and confirm by week 6 whether to continue into Advanced. If your work already involves teams, sponsors, or organizational systems, enroll in Advanced from the start. Faculty can talk this through with you before you commit.
Professional may be sufficient if you will coach individual leaders one-to-one. Advanced is the stronger fit when your work includes sponsors, HR, teams, governance, or broader organizational systems. Your role title matters less than the actual unit of coaching.
ACC and PCC are different ICF credential levels. ACC requires at least 60 hours of coach-specific education and 100 hours of coaching experience. PCC requires at least 125 hours of coach-specific education and 500 hours of coaching experience. Within Claristrat, Professional supports the ACC direction, while Advanced adds 12 more weeks of team and organizational work toward PCC.
No. The ICF does not list ACC as a prerequisite for PCC. You must meet the PCC education, experience, mentor coaching, performance evaluation, and exam requirements.
Both pathways share the same 12-week Professional live core, including 60 live hours across modules 1–6. Advanced participants then continue into modules 7–12 during weeks 13–24. Full certificate completion also includes required mentoring and evaluation.
Yes. Claristrat allows Professional participants to elect the Advanced continuation through week 12, subject to the published upgrade terms for their cohort.
No. PCC is the ICF’s advanced professional coaching credential. Claristrat’s Advanced curriculum teaches work with teams and organizational systems, while the ICF’s separate team-coaching certification is the ACTC.
Advanced curriculum includes work with teams and organizational systems and is aligned with the PCC. The ICF maintains separate requirements for the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching. Coaches usually achieve their ICF ACTC after they have their PCC credential.
Yes. Both are delivered fully online in cohorts of six to eight leaders. Professional includes 60 live hours across the 12-week core. Advanced includes 100 live hours across the full 24-week pathway.
No. Claristrat awards its own Professional or Advanced Certificate. You separately apply to the ICF, meet its applicable experience requirements, complete ICF review, and pass the required exam before the ICF awards ACC or PCC.
Qualifying ICF coaching-experience hours may begin after your coach-specific education starts. Training exercises, mentor coaching, supervision, and assessment debriefs do not automatically count as client coaching experience.
Both pathways include 10 mentor-coaching hours: seven group sessions and three individual sessions. For ACC and PCC alike, the ICF requires 10 hours of mentor coaching over at least three months, including at least three one-to-one hours.
The Professional Certificate is $8,000 USD, or five installments of $1,600. The Advanced Certificate is $16,000 USD, or eight installments of $2,000. Tuition does not include ICF application fees.
Yes. Corporate sponsorship is supported for both pathways. Speak with faculty if you need program documentation, payment-plan information, or an internal business case.
Both begin October 6, 2026. Applications close September 25, 2026.
