Become an ICF ACC Certified Coach – Led by Master Certified Coaches

With Tandem, the full ACC Level 1 program costs $3,999 and includes all four core modules, coaching foundations, mentoring, and exam prep. On top of that, you'll pay ICF's credential application fee – $175 if you're an ICF member or $325 if you're not. Optional ICF membership is $245 per year. All in, most graduates invest approximately $4,200 – $4,400 from enrollment to credential. You can also start with individual modules at $399 each if you prefer to spread the cost out.

The ICF ACC is the most widely recognized coaching credential globally, accepted by corporations, government agencies, and coaching firms in over 140 countries. Other certifications – such as those from EMCC or the Center for Credentialing & Education (BCC) – are respected in their own right, but the ICF credential is the one most frequently required in job postings, RFPs, and corporate coaching panels. If you're building a coaching career or adding coaching to a leadership role, the ACC is the most universally understood starting point.

Most coaches complete the full process in 6 to 12 months. The training modules themselves can be completed faster – Tandem's modular structure lets you move at your own pace and start with any upcoming cohort. The main variable is accumulating your 100 coaching experience hours, which happen in parallel with your training. After submitting your Level 1 application, ICF typically reviews it within about 4 weeks.

The ICF Credentialing Exam is a computer-based, knowledge assessment with 155 scored questions (plus 20 unscored pre-test items). It uses situational judgment format – you'll be given coaching scenarios and asked to select the best response based on ICF core competencies and ethics. The exam uses scaled scoring with a passing score of 460 out of 600. You have 3 hours to complete it. Tandem's Exam Prep Course ($29) specifically prepares you for this format so there are no surprises.

No prior coaching experience is required. Our program is designed to take you from zero to ACC-ready. The free Coaching Foundations module starts with the basics – ICF competencies, ethics, and what coaching is (and isn't). Many of our graduates come from HR, consulting, therapy, management, and other professional backgrounds with no formal coaching training. That said, if you do have coaching experience, the program will deepen and refine what you already know.

Absolutely – you can buy modules individually at $399 each. Many students start with the free Coaching Foundations module, then move through the paid modules one at a time as their schedule and budget allow. If you know you're committed to the full ACC credential, the full program at $3,999 saves you over $600 compared to buying everything separately. Either way, you'll receive the same quality training and MCC-level instruction.

Life happens – we get it. Because our program is modular, you can pause between modules and pick up again with a future cohort at no additional cost. You don't need to complete all four modules back to back. Many students take a break between modules to practice what they've learned, accumulate coaching hours, or simply manage other commitments. Your progress and completed modules never expire.

It's a blend of both. The core modules include live, instructor-led sessions with Cherie and Alex (delivered via Zoom) combined with asynchronous materials you can work through on your own time. The live sessions are where the real coaching practice, feedback, and interaction happen. The self-paced components cover foundational knowledge and preparation work. This hybrid approach gives you the flexibility of online learning with the depth of real-time coaching practice.

Mentor coaching is an ICF requirement where a credentialed coach observes and provides feedback on your actual coaching. Think of it as coaching about your coaching – it's where you get specific, personalized guidance on how to improve. ICF requires 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of three months, including both group and individual sessions. At Tandem, your mentor coaches are MCC-level – so you're getting feedback from coaches at the very top of the profession.

ICF requires 100 hours of coaching experience for the ACC credential, of which at least 75 must be paid. The remaining 25 hours can be pro bono. These hours are accumulated alongside your training – you don't need to have them before you start. Many students begin coaching pro bono during their first modules to build skills and confidence, then transition to paid coaching as they progress. We provide guidance on how to find practice clients and structure your coaching sessions to count toward your hours.

The Level 1 pathway (Tandem's approach) means you complete an ICF-accredited program that packages everything together – education, mentoring, and performance evaluation. Your completion certificate is the main document you submit to ICF. It's the simplest, fastest route with a typical review time of about 4 weeks. The Portfolio pathway lets you piece together education from non-accredited or CCE-approved sources, but you must arrange mentoring and evaluation separately, document everything individually, and the ICF review can take up to 14 weeks. For most people, Level 1 is the recommended path.

Yes. The core training modules are built around ICF's core competencies and ethics – the exact framework the exam tests. On top of that, we offer a dedicated ICF Exam Prep Course for just $29 (included in the full program) that covers the situational judgment format, common pitfalls, and practice scenarios. Our goal is that you walk into the exam feeling confident, not anxious. The vast majority of Tandem graduates pass the exam on their first attempt.

Yes – your ACC training hours with Tandem count toward the education requirements for the PCC (Professional Certified Coach) credential. To upgrade from ACC to PCC, you'll need additional education hours (an ICF Level 2 program), 500 total coaching hours, and additional mentor coaching. Tandem also offers an ICF PCC Level 2 program, so you can continue your entire credentialing journey with us if you choose.

We want you to feel confident in your investment. If you're not satisfied after attending the first session of a module, you can request a full refund for that module. Once you've attended more than one session, we're unable to offer a refund for that module, but you're always welcome to complete it with a future cohort. The free Coaching Foundations module lets you experience our teaching style with zero financial risk before committing to anything paid. If you have specific concerns, reach out to us – we're happy to discuss your situation.