Updated November 2026
ICF Level 1 and Level 2 are two levels of accredited coach training. Level 1 programs include at least 60 hours of training and prepare you for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Level 2 programs include at least 125 hours and prepare you for the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential. Level 2 graduates can apply for either one, which makes Level 2 the stronger choice for anyone serious about coaching.
| ICF Level 1 | ICF Level 2 | iPEC® Coach Training Program (Level 2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICF-accredited training hours | At least 60 | At least 125 | 160 |
| Prepares you for | ACC | ACC or PCC | ACC or PCC |
| Dedicated ICF route to the PCC | None | Level 2 Path | Level 2 Path |
| Mentor coaching | 10 hours required | 10 hours required | 10 hours, included in tuition |
| Coaching hours to apply | ACC: 100 (75 paid) | PCC: 500 (450 paid) | 24 hours of peer client coaching included, which count toward ICF as pro bono hours |
| Performance evaluation | Required | Required | Your certification serves as proof on the Level 2 Path |
| Length | Varies by school | Varies by school | 7–9 months, part-time |
| Format | Varies by school | Varies by school | Three live 3-day modules, in person or virtual, plus weekly webinars, peer coaching and one-on-one mentor coaching |
| Certifications you earn | Set by each school | Set by each school | CPC and ELI-MP, plus an optional COR.E® Dynamics specialist credential |
| Who teaches you | Varies by school | Varies by school | 17 lead trainers, all ICF MCC or PCC credentialed. Classes of 10 to 30 |
| Tuition | Varies by school | Varies by school | $9,995, including Coaching Fundamentals, with 0% monthly payments |
| Start smaller | Varies by school | Varies by school | Coaching Fundamentals: 3 days, 30 ICF-accredited hours, $1,995, which counts toward tuition if you continue |
| Best for | Adding coaching skills to your current role | Coaching as a profession or inside organizations | Anyone who wants to coach professionally and go through their own transformation along the way |
ICF requirements as listed on ICF's site in November 2026. See the ACC and PCC pages for current details.
Level 1 can work if you only want coaching skills for your current role. If coaching will be your profession, or you plan to work with organizations, Level 2 is the better investment, and it isn't close.
iPEC®'s Coach Training Program is ICF Level 2 accredited, and you can confirm it in ICF's Education Search. iPEC® produces the most powerful coaches in the world, with 27+ years of coach training, 25,000+ graduates, and one of the first programs accredited by the ICF.
Coaching Fundamentals is a live 3-day intensive and Module I of iPEC®'s Level 2 program. It carries 30 ICF-accredited hours and a certificate of completion, which builds into the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) certification. It costs $1,995, and that counts toward the $9,995 if you continue.
No. Accreditation belongs to the program. You earn an ICF credential yourself by completing your training and mentor coaching, logging your coaching hours, and passing ICF’s exam. If you apply through the Level 2 Path after iPEC®’s program, your certification serves as proof for the performance evaluation, so you don’t take a separate one with ICF. iPEC® graduates earn the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) certifications from iPEC® when they finish the program.
Yes, but you'll need more training before you can apply for the PCC, which requires 125 hours. Check with ICF on how your earlier training counts. Starting with a Level 2 program means you only train once.
It varies by school. iPEC®'s Coach Training Program takes 7–9 months, part-time.
See how the Coach Training Program works, review tuition, or talk with an admissions coach.