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Tandem Coaching Academy · ICF-Accredited Coach Education
Compare ICF-Accredited Coach Training and Certification Programs
What to check before you enroll, published hours and prices from eight providers side by side (Tandem included), and where Tandem’s live online Level 1, Level 2 and team coaching programs fit.
Find Your Starting Point
Which ICF Coach Certification Path Fits You?
Your starting point decides the program. Pick the situation that describes you.
You finished Level 1, here or at another school
Finish ICF Level 2 with the bridge, in either track, or get only the mentor coaching ICF asks for.
You are an ACC, PCC or MCC
Add team coaching, or get mentor coaching and supervision on their own.
Tandem’s Programs
How Tandem’s ICF-Accredited Programs Fit Together
ICF accredits coach education at Level 1, toward the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, and at Level 2, toward the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential. Tandem teaches Level 2 in two tracks at the same price, each from scratch or after Level 1, and sells team coaching training on its own. All of it is taught live online by faculty led by Master Certified Coaches. Prices are for the full program; core modules can also be bought one at a time at $399.
ICF Level 1
ACC Coach Training
Education toward the ACC credential
- 89 approved ICF education hours
- Full program includes mentoring with formative evaluation, supervision & exam prep
- Free course on the ICF Core Competencies to start
Best for: Aspiring coaches, HR professionals, and leaders adding coaching skills to their toolkit.
$3,999
Full program, or $399 per core module
Learn More
ICF Level 2
ICF Level 2 Coach Training
Education toward the PCC credential, in two tracks, from scratch or after Level 1
| Individual coaching track One client at a time. No team coaching accreditation. | Systems and team coaching track Includes 75 hours accredited for team coaching. | |
|---|---|---|
| From scratch Level 1 included, about 12 months | $7,499 Full program See the individual coaching track | $7,499 Full program: Professional Coach Program Learn More |
| After Level 1 The bridge, about 6 months. Requires 60+ hours of accredited Level 1 education. | $3,999 Full bridge, or $399 per core module See the individual coaching track | $3,999 Full bridge, or $399 per core module: ICF PCC Coach Training Learn More |
Both tracks are part of Tandem’s ICF Level 2 accredited program, listed by ICF as Elevate Coaching (162 approved hours), and include the same mentor coaching, group supervision and exam preparation. From scratch costs $499 less than Level 1 and the bridge bought separately.
Team Coaching
ACTC Team Coaching
AATC-accredited education toward the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching
- 75 approved ICF education hours
- Full program includes group supervision, recording review & exam prep
- For coaches who hold an ACC, PCC or MCC
Best for: Credentialed coaches who want to coach teams.
$2,499
Full program, or $399 per core module
Learn More
How to Choose
How to Choose an ICF-Accredited Coach Training Program
Six checks that separate one accredited coach certification program from another, whichever school you pick.
- Level. ICF accredits programs and awards credentials to coaches. Level 1 covers the education for ACC; Level 2 covers ACC or PCC; a program with ICF’s Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching prepares credentialed coaches for the ACTC. Match the level to the credential you want.
- Hours. ICF sets minimum education hours for each credential: 60 for ACC, 125 for PCC and 200 for MCC. A program’s published training hours tell you whether one enrollment covers your target credential or whether you will need a second program later.
- Format. Live online cohorts, self-paced study with scheduled classes, in-person intensives or hybrids. A steady group with live feedback suits some learners; an unpredictable calendar may need more flexibility.
- Mentoring. An ACC or PCC application needs 10 hours of mentor coaching and an evaluation of your coaching. Portfolio applicants submit a recorded performance evaluation until April 1, 2027 and document enhanced mentor coaching from that date. Some programs include both in the price and others sell them separately, so compare what each price covers.
- Price. Full-program prices in the table below run from about $1,300 for a Level 1 track to about $12,500 for a Level 2 path. Check whether a payment plan exists, and budget separately for ICF’s own credential application fee.
- Verify. Before you pay, look the program up in ICF’s Education Search Service. Each record shows the accredited program name, its level and its approved hours.
For a fuller cost breakdown, see what ICF certification costs. For the application steps, see the ACC credential requirements and the PCC credential requirements.
Side by Side
ICF-Accredited Coach Training Programs Compared
Hours, prices and formats as each provider publishes them, checked November 11, 2026. Programs are grouped by ICF level. Tandem’s programs come first in each group; the others follow alphabetically.
| Provider and program | ICF accreditation (as published) | Hours | Price | Format and pace | Verify with ICF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICF Level 1 – education for the ACC credential | |||||
| Tandem Coaching AcademyACC Coach Training | Level 1 (Accelerate Coaching) | 89 | $3,999, or $399 per core module | Live online cohorts; about 6–9 months | Level 1 record |
| Co-Active Training InstituteFoundations + Practitioner with ACC Package | Level 2 provider; ACC path | 62+ | $5,280 to $5,770 (the provider’s pages differ) | Virtual or in person; several start dates a year | Search ICF’s directory |
| Coach UCore Essentials | Level 1 | 78 | $6,395; $5,995 if bought at least 28 days before the start | Live on Zoom: a 6-day intensive or two 3-day intensives, then monthly follow-up courses | Search ICF’s directory |
| Erickson Coaching InternationalThe Art & Science of Coaching, Level 1 | Level 1 | 64 + 10 mentor coaching | $4,300 (online) | Online, onsite or hybrid | Search ICF’s directory |
| International Coach AcademyVocational Premium | Level 1 | 76 | $5,096 paid in full; monthly plan listed | Online classes plus self-paced study; 6–12 months | Search ICF’s directory |
| ICF Level 2 – education for the ACC or PCC credential | |||||
| Tandem Coaching AcademyProfessional Coach Program | Level 2 + Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (Elevate Coaching) | 162, including 75 team coaching | $7,499 | Live online cohorts; about 12 months | Level 2 record |
| Tandem Coaching AcademyICF PCC Coach Training (Level 2 bridge) | Completes Level 2 + Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching | Completes the 162; you bring 60+ Level 1 hours | $3,999, or $399 per core module | Live online; about 6 months | Level 2 record |
| Tandem Coaching AcademyICF Level 2 individual coaching track: full program | Level 2 (Elevate Coaching); no team coaching accreditation | Part of the 162-hour Level 2 program | $7,499 | Live online cohorts; about 12 months | Level 2 record |
| Tandem Coaching AcademyICF Level 2 individual coaching track: bridge | Completes Level 2 (Elevate Coaching); no team coaching accreditation | Completes Level 2; you bring 60+ Level 1 hours | $3,999, or $399 per core module | Live online; about 6 months | Level 2 record |
| Co-Active Training InstituteFoundations + Practitioner + Professional Certification | Level 2 provider; PCC path | 146.5+ | $10,470 to $12,470 (the provider’s pages differ) | Virtual or in person | Search ICF’s directory |
| Erickson Coaching InternationalThe Art & Science of Coaching, Level 2 | Level 2 | 140, including 10 mentoring | $8,300 (online) | Online, onsite or hybrid | Search ICF’s directory |
| International Coach AcademyProfessional Premium | Level 2 | 125 | $7,752 paid in full; monthly plan listed | Online classes plus self-paced study; 6–18 months | Search ICF’s directory |
| iPECCoach Training Program | Level 2 organization | 160 | $9,995; payment plans listed | Modules in person or virtual; 7–9 months part-time | Search ICF’s directory |
| Rutgers University with Heidrick & StrugglesLeadership Coaching for Organizational Performance | Level 2 | 132 | $11,990 if paid by December 18; $12,490 after | Hybrid or virtual cohort; 12 class days over 4 months | Search ICF’s directory |
| Team coaching – education toward the ACTC credential | |||||
| Tandem Coaching AcademyACTC Team Coaching Training | Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (Elevate Coaching – Teams and Enterprises) | 75 | $2,499, or $399 per core module | Live online; about 4–6 months | Team coaching record |
| Center for Executive CoachingICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching program | Provider says it meets ICF’s ACTC application requirements | 60 + 5 supervision | $4,990; 3-payment plan listed | Online, self-paced with weekly live webinars; 4–5 months | Search ICF’s directory |
| Erickson Coaching InternationalTeam Coaching Certification Package | Provider says it meets Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching requirements | See provider | $4,499 (online) | Online or onsite; price shown is online | Search ICF’s directory |
| International Coach AcademyTeam Coaching | Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching | 60 to 64 (the provider’s page gives both) | $3,456 paid in full ($4,320 regular); monthly plan listed | Online: guided study plus Zoom sessions; 12–18 months | Search ICF’s directory |
How these programs were chosen. They appear most often in US search results and third-party lists for ICF-accredited coach training; one university option is added. The list is not complete, and inclusion is not an endorsement. “See provider” means the provider does not publish the figure.
Prices and hours change. Confirm them with each provider, and the accreditation in ICF’s Education Search Service, before you enroll. If a figure here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Where Tandem Fits
Where Tandem Fits, and Where Another School May Suit You Better
A plain reading of the table above.
Tandem may suit you if
- You want live classes in a steady online cohort, with dated start times, rather than self-paced study.
- You want a faculty led by Master Certified Coaches, including Cherie Silas and Alex Kudinov.
- You want accredited team coaching built into Level 2: the systems and team coaching track includes it, from scratch (the Professional Coach Program) or as the Level 2 bridge.
- You coach one client at a time and want Level 2 without the team coaching hours: the ICF Level 2 individual coaching track is built for that.
- You want to pay as you go: core modules are $399 each, and you can pause between them.
- You want to see the teaching first: the course Master the 2025 ICF Core Coaching Competencies is free.
Another program may suit you better if
- You want to train in person. Tandem teaches online only; several providers in the table offer in-person or hybrid options.
- You need fully self-paced study with no fixed class times.
- You want the lowest possible Level 1 price. This table is not exhaustive, and some accredited Level 1 programs outside it cost less than Tandem’s $3,999.
- You want a monthly payment plan on the full program. Tandem does not offer one; you pay in full or module by module.
- You want a program offered with a university.
Advance Your Practice
Advanced ICF Specializations for Credentialed Coaches
ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) and Coaching Supervisor Specialization (CSS) are earned by individual coaches. The Advanced Accreditation in Mentor Coaching (AAMC) and Advanced Accreditation in Coaching Supervision (AACS) are awarded to education programs. Choose your professional destination first, then the education route that fits your experience.
ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS)
Build the skills to mentor coaches against ICF performance standards and pursue the MCS designation.
Explore MCS requirementsICF Coaching Supervisor Specialization (CSS)
Develop a reflective supervision practice and pursue the CSS designation for individual coaches.
Explore CSS requirementsOur Instructors
Meet the Coaches Behind Every Program
Our instructors are practicing coaches with MCC and PCC credentials – they teach from experience, not just theory.
Cherie Silas and Alex Kudinov both hold ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) at all three levels: MCS-ACC, MCS-PCC, and MCS-MCC. Every mentor coach on our team holds the MCS at the level they mentor.
ICF MCCICF MCSICF CSSSA CECCPCCEMCC ESIA
Cherie Silas, MCC
CEO & Managing Partner, Tandem Coaching
Cherie is a co-founder and CEO of Tandem Coaching with over 20 years of experience as a corporate leader turned professional coach. She ranks in the top 3.7% of over 56,000 credentialed coaches worldwide and was named the #16 most influential coach by Global Gurus. Her background in executive, leadership, and agile coaching – combined with deep organizational design expertise – gives students a rare blend of real-world leadership and coaching mastery. Cherie is also a co-author of the Enterprise Agile Coaching book and one of only 215 Accredited Coaching Supervisors worldwide with EMCC. She also holds ICF’s Coaching Supervisor Specialization (CSS).
ICF MCCICF MCS
Alex Kudinov, MCC
Enterprise Coach & Managing Director, Tandem Coaching
Alex is a technology leader turned professional coach with over 20 years of experience spanning software development, product leadership, and consulting across industries including Oil & Gas, Investment Banking, and Commodities Trading. He brings a unique perspective that bridges human, business, and technology dimensions, making him especially effective for coaches working in corporate and tech environments. Alex holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, is a co-author of the Enterprise Agile Coaching book, and is a Scrum Alliance Certified Enterprise Coach and Professional Scrum Trainer.
ICF MCC
Karen Bruns, MCC
Coach & Instructor, Tandem Coaching
Karen is an ICF Master Certified Coach and experienced facilitator, with extensive experience in leadership development and executive coaching. She brings warmth, rigor, and real-world insight to the classroom, helping students develop their authentic coaching voice.
ICF PCC
Kalina Terzieva, PCC
Coach & Instructor, Tandem Coaching
Kalina is a senior trainer and facilitator with 15+ years of experience delivering practical, business-focused leadership and organizational effectiveness training in large corporate environments. An ICF PCC, she integrates NLP, Positive Psychology, and neuroscience into human-centered learning experiences that translate into real-world application.
ICF PCCICF MCS
Barbara Ormsby, PCC
Mentor Coach, Tandem Coaching
Barbara mentors coaches who are working toward their ICF credentials. An ICF Professional Certified Coach, she holds ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization at the ACC and PCC levels and its Advanced Certification in Team Coaching. She has spent more than 25 years supporting leaders and teams and 20 years teaching at universities.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ICF-accredited coach training and choosing a program.
What does ICF accreditation mean for a coach training program?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredits education programs at Level 1, at Level 2 and for team coaching. Completing an accredited program gives you the education part of an ICF credential application.
The credential itself – ACC, PCC, MCC or ACTC – is awarded by ICF to the individual coach once its other requirements, such as coaching experience hours and an exam, are met. A school issues a certificate of completion; it does not award the ICF credential.
How can I verify a program’s ICF accreditation?
Search the program in ICF’s Education Search Service. Each record shows the accredited program name, its level and its approved hours.
Tandem’s records are Accelerate Coaching (Level 1), Elevate Coaching (Level 2) and Elevate Coaching – Teams and Enterprises (Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching).
What is the difference between ACC and PCC?
They are two levels of ICF credential. For the Associate Certified Coach (ACC), ICF asks for at least 60 hours of coach-specific education, at least 100 hours of client coaching experience and 10 hours of mentor coaching. For the Professional Certified Coach (PCC), it asks for at least 125 hours of education, at least 500 hours of coaching experience and 10 hours of mentor coaching. Both end with an ICF exam.
A Level 1 program is the education for the ACC, and a Level 2 program is the education for the PCC. For how the two differ in practice, read ACC vs PCC coaching.
What is the difference between Tandem’s two ICF Level 2 tracks?
Both are tracks of the same ICF Level 2 accredited program, listed by ICF as Elevate Coaching (162 approved hours). They cost the same and include the same mentor coaching, group supervision and exam preparation.
The ICF Level 2 individual coaching track stays with coaching one client at a time and carries no team coaching accreditation. The systems and team coaching track (the Professional Coach Program from scratch, or ICF PCC Coach Training after Level 1) adds work with teams and organizations, and includes 75 hours accredited under ICF’s Advanced Accreditation in Team Coaching (AATC).
If you coach teams, or plan to, choose the systems and team coaching track. If your clients are individuals, choose the individual coaching track.
Should I take the Level 2 bridge or the full program?
Take the bridge if you have completed Level 1 education: Tandem’s ACC Coach Training, or 60+ validated hours from another ICF-accredited provider. It costs $3,999, or $399 per core module, and takes about 6 months.
Take the full program if you are starting from scratch. It includes Level 1, costs $7,499 and takes about 12 months; that is $499 less than Level 1 and the bridge bought separately. Both routes end with the same Level 2 certificate for the track you choose.
Do I need coaching experience to enroll?
Not for ACC Coach Training or for Level 2 taken from scratch, in either track: the Professional Coach Program or the full program of the ICF Level 2 individual coaching track. All three start from the foundations, and you can try the free course Master the 2025 ICF Core Coaching Competencies first.
The Level 2 bridge, in either track, requires completed Level 1 education: Tandem’s, or 60+ validated hours from another ICF-accredited provider. The team coaching program is for coaches who hold at least an ACC.
How long do the programs take?
Level 1 usually takes about 6 to 9 months, and the Level 2 bridge about 6 months more in either track. Level 2 from scratch takes about 12 months in either track: the Professional Coach Program or the ICF Level 2 individual coaching track. The team coaching program takes 4 to 6 months. Your ICF credential also depends on logging the required coaching experience hours.
How long does ICF certification take?
It depends on the credential and on how quickly you log coaching hours. The education comes first: at Tandem, about 6 to 9 months for Level 1 and about 12 months for Level 2 from scratch.
ICF also asks for coaching experience, at least 100 hours for the ACC and at least 500 for the PCC, plus 10 hours of mentor coaching and an exam. Experience hours count from the start of your coach-specific education, so many coaches begin logging them during training. ICF’s application review and exam scheduling add their own time.
How much does ICF training cost?
In the comparison table above, full-program tuition runs from $3,999 to $6,395 for Level 1, from $7,499 to $12,490 for Level 2 and from $2,499 to $4,990 for team coaching. The table is not complete, and programs outside it cost less and more.
At Tandem, Level 1 is $3,999, Level 2 from scratch is $7,499 and the Level 2 bridge is $3,999; core modules can be bought one at a time at $399. ICF charges its own application and exam fees on top of tuition. For the full picture, read what ICF certification costs.
Can I pay in installments?
There is no fixed installment plan on Tandem’s full programs. You can pay the full-program price in one payment, or buy the core modules one at a time at $399 each as you are ready, pausing between them. When you buy module by module, mentoring and supervision are priced separately.
Are mentor coaching and supervision included?
Yes, in the full-program enrollments. ACC Coach Training, the Level 2 bridge and the Professional Coach Program include mentoring, supervision and exam preparation, and so does the ICF Level 2 individual coaching track, as a bridge or from scratch; the team coaching program includes group supervision, recording review and exam preparation.
Already trained elsewhere? Book mentor coaching for your ICF application or ongoing coaching supervision on their own, and read what coaching supervision involves.
Are your mentor coaches ICF Mentor Coach Specialization holders?
Yes. Cherie Silas and Alex Kudinov, both MCC, hold ICF’s Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) at all three levels: MCS-ACC, MCS-PCC, and MCS-MCC. Every mentor coach on our team holds the MCS at the level they mentor.
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