International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited coaching certification programs led by Master Certified Coaches. Whether you want to become a certified coach or advance your career to PCC and ACTC – find the right program for where you are.
Four programs for every stage of your coaching journey. Each is independently accredited by the International Coaching Federation.
Associate Certified Coach
Best for: Aspiring coaches, HR professionals, and leaders adding coaching skills to their toolkit.
ACC + PCC + ACTC
Best for: Coaches who want the complete journey from foundations through professional certification.
PCC + ACTC
Best for: ACC-credentialed coaches ready to advance to PCC – the most requested credential in corporate coaching.
Advanced Certification in Team Coaching
Best for: Coaches with an existing ACC or PCC who want to specialize in team and group coaching.
Not all coaching programs are created equal. Here’s what makes Tandem different.
Our programs are led by Master Certified Coaches – the highest credential the ICF offers. You learn from coaches who have logged thousands of hours and demonstrate mastery-level competence.
Every program meets ICF’s rigorous accreditation standards. Your education hours count directly toward your credential – no guesswork about whether your training qualifies.
Our coaching philosophy centers on a simple belief: you’re whole, not broken. We teach coaches to work in partnership with their clients – drawing out strengths rather than fixing deficits.
From your first ACC credential through PCC and into team coaching with ACTC – Tandem covers every stage. Plus supervision and mentor coaching to keep you growing between programs.
Coaching development doesn’t stop at your credential. These services support your continued growth.
Reflective practice with an EMCC ESIA-credentialed supervisor. Coaching supervision helps you examine your practice, work through challenging client situations, and develop your professional identity as a coach.
Led by Cherie Silas, MCC – one of few coaches holding both ICF MCC and EMCC ESIA credentials.
The ICF requires mentor coaching hours for every credential level. A mentor coach observes your coaching sessions and provides targeted feedback to help you demonstrate the ICF core competencies at your target level.
Mentor coaching is included in our ACC and PCC programs. Standalone sessions also available for coaches pursuing credentials independently.
Learn about mentor coachingOur instructors are practicing coaches with MCC and PCC credentials – they teach from experience, not just theory.
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.
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.
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.
Karen is an ICF Professional 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.
Common questions about ICF coaching certification and choosing the right program.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the largest global organization for professional coaches. An ICF credential signals that you’ve completed rigorous, accredited training and demonstrated competence through observed coaching sessions.
For corporate clients, an ICF credential is often a requirement in coaching RFPs. For your career, it’s the most recognized standard of quality in the industry.
If you’re new to coaching or don’t yet hold an ICF credential, start with the ACC program (Level 1). It covers foundational coaching skills and qualifies you for the ACC credential.
If you already know you want PCC, the Professional Coach Program ($7,499) bundles ACC training + the Level 2 Bridge into one enrollment — three credentials (ACC + PCC + ACTC) at a $499 savings vs. enrolling separately.
If you already hold an ACC (or equivalent 60 hours of ICF-accredited training), the Level 2 Bridge ($3,999) bridges you to PCC + ACTC credentials.
If you hold an ACC or PCC and want to specialize in team coaching only, the standalone ACTC program is the right fit.
ACC (Associate Certified Coach) is the entry-level credential. It requires ICF Level 1 training (60+ hours) and 100 coaching hours.
PCC (Professional Certified Coach) is the mid-level credential. It requires ICF Level 2 training (125+ total hours) and 500 coaching hours. PCC is the most commonly requested credential in corporate coaching engagements.
MCC (Master Certified Coach) is the highest credential, requiring 200+ hours of advanced training and 2,500 coaching hours. Tandem’s programs are led by MCCs.
Not for the ACC program. It’s designed for people starting their coaching journey. You can even begin with our free Foundations module to see if coaching is right for you before committing to the full program.
The PCC program requires prior Level 1 training (ACC or equivalent). The ACTC program requires at least an ACC credential.
The ACC program runs approximately 6 months. After completing training, you’ll need 100 coaching hours (which you can accumulate during the program) to apply for the ACC credential with the ICF.
The PCC program runs approximately 12 months. You’ll need 500 total coaching hours to apply for the PCC credential.
The standalone ACTC program runs approximately 6 months.
Yes. All programs offer flexible payment options including installment plans. You can also enroll in individual modules if you prefer to pace your investment. See each program page for detailed pricing and payment options.
All Tandem programs are delivered live online via interactive sessions. This format allows participants to join from anywhere while still getting the real-time coaching practice, feedback, and peer interaction that coaching education requires.
Yes. Both mentor coaching and group supervision are included in the ACC and PCC programs at no additional cost. These are ICF requirements for credentialing, and we build them directly into the program so you don’t have to source them separately.
We also offer standalone supervision for coaches who need ongoing reflective practice outside of a program.
Whether you’re exploring coaching for the first time or advancing to your next credential, we’re here to help.
A practical guide to understanding ICF credentials, what they mean, and how to earn them.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s largest professional coaching organization, with over 60,000 credentialed members across 140+ countries. An ICF credential is the most widely recognized marker of professional coaching competence – whether you want to become a life coach, executive coach, or leadership development professional.
Unlike many certifications in the coaching industry, ICF credentials require more than completing a training program. Coaches must demonstrate competence through observed coaching sessions with real clients, accumulate documented coaching experience hours, and pass a knowledge assessment. This rigor is what makes ICF coaching certification programs valuable – for both coaches building their practice and the organizations that hire them.
The ICF offers three progressive credential levels, each building on the one before:
ICF-accredited training programs cover the ICF’s eight core competencies – from establishing coaching agreements and active listening to facilitating growth and managing progress. Training is delivered through a mix of live instruction, observed coaching practice, feedback sessions, and self-study.
Beyond the core competencies, programs include mentor coaching (where a credentialed coach observes and provides feedback on your coaching) and coaching supervision (reflective practice that helps you examine your approach and professional development).
For individual coaches, an ICF credential opens doors to professional opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible. Whether you want to become a certified executive coach, launch a life coaching practice, or build a leadership development business – ICF credentialing is the industry standard. Many organizations include ICF certification requirements in their coaching vendor selection criteria. Internal coaching programs at Fortune 500 companies increasingly require or prefer ICF-credentialed coaches.
For organizations hiring coaches, ICF credentials provide a reliable quality signal. They indicate that a coach has invested in rigorous education, accumulated substantial client coaching experience, and demonstrated competence to independent evaluators. An ICF coaching certification can accelerate your career and justify premium coaching fees.
The total investment for ICF coaching certification varies by credential level and program. At Tandem, the ACC program (Level 1) costs $3,999. The Systems Coach bridge to PCC + ACTC costs $3,999. The Professional Coach Program (ACC through PCC + ACTC) costs $7,499 – a $499 savings vs. enrolling separately. All programs include mentoring, supervision, and exam prep at no additional cost. Beyond tuition, budget for the ICF credentialing exam fee (~$275) and ICF membership/application fees (~$300).
The right program depends on where you are in your coaching journey. New coaches who want to become certified should start with a Level 1 (ACC) program that provides comprehensive foundational education. If you know you want PCC from the start, the Professional Coach Program bundles ACC + PCC + ACTC into one enrollment – the best value for coaches committed to building a full coaching practice. Experienced coaches with an ACC ready to advance should look at the Systems Coach bridge program that builds on your existing skills and experience.
When evaluating programs, look for ICF accreditation (not just “aligned” programs), instructor credentials (what level of coaches are teaching?), and whether the program includes the mentor coaching and supervision hours you’ll need for credentialing. The best programs help you develop coaching skills you can use with real clients from day one.
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