The journey toward your ACC credential is one of growth. Each step builds upon the last, and as you prepare for your Performance Evaluation, you can double check the progress you’ve made on your journey. So far, you’ve:<\/p>\n\u2714 Packed your toolkit with 60+ hours of coaching education.
\n\u2714 Logged 100+ hours of coaching experience.
\n\u2714 Completed 10+ hours of mentor coaching to sharpen your skills.\n
Now, only two steps remain: the ACC Performance Evaluation and the ICF ACC Exam. The Performance Evaluation not only showcases your coaching ability but also sets you up for success in the ACC Exam by helping you understand what it truly takes to coach at the ACC level.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeed a Deeper Dive Into Eligibility Requirements?\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The value of a coaching session lies in the coach’s focus on the client’s needs and goals, along with the coach’s complete support of the client’s agenda. One of the best ways to ensure you’re effectively doing this is through the Performance Evaluation.<\/p>\n The ACC Performance Evaluation confirms that you have the foundational skills and mindset needed to deliver professional, impactful coaching. It serves as a validation of your readiness to practice at the ACC level, helping strengthen your credibility and trust – both for you and your clients.<\/p>\n You might be wondering: How does it work? Trained assessors evaluate your coaching skills based on the ICF Core Competencies, which are globally recognized standards for professional coaching, and the ACC Behavioral Statements, which can be found in the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n To ensure fair and consistent evaluations for all ACC candidates, assessors use the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements to measure the specific skills and criteria expected of coaches at the ACC level.<\/p>\n By understanding these Minimum Skills Requirements, you can gain valuable insight into what assessors look for in relation to each ICF Core Competency. This knowledge not only helps you prepare for the Performance Evaluation but also enhances your overall coaching practice.<\/p>\n The ACC Minimum Skills Requirements are a valuable resource for anyone focused on developing or assessing coaching excellence. They are designed to support:<\/p>\n There’s more than one way to navigate the road to your ACC credential, and the application path you’ve chosen determines how you’ll complete the Performance Evaluation.<\/p>\n Did you complete an ACTP or ACSTH program? If so, learn more about the requirements relevant to you<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More About Submitting Your Performance Evaluation\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t For your ACC Performance Evaluation, your recorded coaching session may be submitted in one of the following languages:<\/p>\n Your transcript should be provided in the same language used in your recording. If ICF does not support a Performance Evaluation in your language, please submit a transcript with the language used in your recording along with an English translation of the transcript. Use of an interpreter is not permitted.<\/p>\n The ACC Minimum Skills Requirements outline the essential skills needed to demonstrate ACC-level competency. They also highlight non-coaching behaviors that could lead to an unsuccessful ACC Performance Evaluation. Most importantly, they provide insight into areas where you can further develop as a coach.<\/p>\n These items can help you answer the following questions:<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> For a deeper understanding, compare the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements alongside the ICF Core Competencies – seeing them side by side will give you valuable insights into how they align and elevate your coaching practice.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload the ICF Core Competencies\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t Note:<\/strong> The ACC Minimum Skills Requirements have been updated to improve clarity in the evaluation criteria. These updates will apply to performance evaluations submitted on or after January 1, 2026<\/strong>. The sections below outline the requirements based on your intended application date. Please review the version that applies to you, and reach out to support@coachingfederation.org<\/a> with any questions.<\/p>\n You’ll be assessed against the following 2021 minimum skills requirements:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1. Demonstrates Ethical Practice<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Familiarity with the ICF Code of Ethics and its application is required for all levels of coaching. You must demonstrate a strong ethical understanding to earn any level of ICF credential.<\/p>\n To receive a passing score for this first core competency, you must:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for this competency if you:<\/p>\n This foundational competency is focused primarily on the “being” of the coach, rather than specific behaviors in individual sessions. It reflects how a coach shows up consistently across their practice.<\/p>\n As a result, there are no specific behavioral criteria for this competency in the Performance Evaluation. Instead, your understanding and application of this core competency are evaluated in the ICF ACC Exam.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t3. Establishes and Maintains Agreements<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t For “Competency 3: Establishes and Maintains Agreements,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n At an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to achieve a passing score for this competency is that the coach invites the client to identify what the client wants to accomplish in the session and the coach attends to that agenda throughout the coaching, unless the client indicates otherwise.<\/p>\n Specifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within “Competency 3: Establishes and Maintains Agreements” as part of the Performance Evaluation process:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for this competency on your ACC Performance Evaluation if you choose the topic for the client or if you do not coach around the topic the client has chosen.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t4. Cultivates Trust and Safety<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t For “Competency 4: Cultivates Trust and Safety,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n At an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to receive a passing score for this competency is that the coach shows genuine concern, support, and respect for the\u202fclient and is attuned to client’s beliefs, perceptions, learning style, and personal being.<\/p>\n Specifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within “Competency 4: Cultivates Trust and Safety” as part of the Performance Evaluation process:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for this competency in the ACC Performance Evaluation if you:<\/p>\n For “Competency 5: Maintains Presence,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n ICF notes that “Competency 4: Cultivates Trust and Safety” and “Competency 5: Maintains Presence” are interrelated competencies. Therefore, you will not receive a passing score for this competency on the ACC Performance Evaluation if you:<\/p>\n For “Competency 6: Listens Actively,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n At an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to receive a passing score for this competency is that the coach listens to what the client communicates in relation to the client’s agenda, responds to what the client offers to ensure clarity of understanding, and integrates what the client has communicated to support the client in achieving their agenda. The coach’s behaviors in this competency may include listening to what the client has communicated verbally, as well as what the client may communicate in other ways, such as tone of voice, energy,\u00a0 emotional shifts, or body language.<\/p>\n Specifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within this competency as part of the Performance Evaluation process:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for “Listens Actively” on the ACC Performance Evaluation if you do not demonstrate listening that is focused on and responds to what the client communicates or if your responses are not related to what the client is trying to achieve.<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing grade on the ACC Performance Evaluation if you appear to be listening for the place where you can demonstrate your knowledge about the topic or tell the client what to do about the topic.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t7. Evokes Awareness<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t For “Competency 7: Evokes Awareness,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n At an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to receive a passing score for this competency is that the coach uses inquiry, exploration, silence, and other techniques to support the client in achieving new or deeper learning and awareness.<\/p>\n Specifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within this competency as part of the Performance Evaluation process:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for “Evokes Awareness” on the ACC Performance Evaluation if:<\/p>\n For “Competency 8: Facilitates Client Growth,” the key skills evaluated are:<\/p>\n At an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to receive a passing score for this competency is that the coach supports the client in exploring how to apply the client’s learning and awareness to post-session actions that are related to the client’s stated agenda and have the potential to move the client forward in their thinking, learning, or growth. At this level, the coach may also suggest resources to assist the client in achieving their goals so long as the resources are not forced on the client.<\/p>\n Specifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within this competency as part of the<\/p>\n Performance Evaluation process:<\/p>\n You will not receive a passing score for “Facilitates Client Growth” on the ACC Performance Evaluation if you:<\/p>\n Please review the updated minimum skills requirements.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReview the New ACC Minimum Skills Requirements\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n To help you prepare for a successful ACC Performance Evaluation and become a better coach, here are some valuable resources:<\/p>\n Eligibility Requirements for ACC The journey toward your ACC credential is one…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":2416,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Criteria for Assessing ACC Credential | Certification Guide","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about the key criteria for performance evaluations required to assess the ACC Credential. Discover the steps and minimum skills needed for certification.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14838","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","not-partnership-post","hf_cat_page-credentialing","no-featured-image"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14838"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24774,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14838\/revisions\/24774"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\t\t\tOverview of ACC Performance Evaluation\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\t\tKey Skills Evaluated\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tWho Are the ACC Minimum Skills Requirements For?\t<\/h3>\n\t
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\n\t\t\tSubmission of Your Performance Evaluation\t<\/h3>\n\t
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Available Languages for ACC Performance Evaluation<\/h4>\n
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\n\t\t\tCore Competencies Evaluation Criteria: ACC Minimum Skills Requirements\t<\/h2>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t Applying On Or Before December 31, 2025? \t<\/h3>\n\t
Minimum Standard Skill to Pass This Competency<\/h5>\n
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Key Skills Evaluated<\/h5>\n
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Below the Standard<\/h5>\n
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Key Skills Evaluated<\/h5>\n
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Minimum Standard Skill to Pass This Competency<\/h5>\nAt an ACC level, the minimum standard of skill that must be demonstrated to receive a passing score for this competency is that the coach demonstrates curiosity about the client and the client’s agenda and is responsive to the information the client offers throughout the session.
\nSpecifically, you are assessed on the following behavioral statements within “Competency 5: Maintains Presence” as part of the Performance Evaluation process:\n\n
Below the Standard<\/h5>\n
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Key Skills Evaluated<\/h5>\n
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Minimum Standard Skill to Pass This Competency<\/h5>\n
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Below the Standard<\/h5>\n
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Minimum Standard Skill to Pass This Competency<\/h5>\n
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Below the Standard<\/h5>\n
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\n\t\t\tApplying On Or After January 1, 2026? \t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tResources for Success\t<\/h2>\n\t
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