{"id":25953,"date":"2025-12-16T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/?p=25953"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:19:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:19:06","slug":"your-guide-to-preparing-for-the-acc-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/your-guide-to-preparing-for-the-acc-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Preparing for the ACC Exam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Much like a smartphone upgrade that introduces improvements for a smoother user experience, the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Exam was carefully crafted with the ACC candidate in mind. Smartphone upgrades and enhancements come from a combination of industry experts and user feedback. Similarly, ICF relies on experienced coaching professionals worldwide to create, review, and test the exams to ensure they are fair, accurate, and valid. An international team of expert coaches\u00a0helped shape the\u00a0exam\u00a0content, ensuring it is effective and\u00a0provides an improved experience for\u00a0candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to input from seasoned coaches and previous test takers, the ACC Exam was created to specifically assess the knowledge of coaches at this stage of their coaching journey. All ICF exams are designed by coaches for coaches to ensure they remain the gold standard in professional coaching.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ACC Exam Explained<\/span><\/h2>\n

Smartphone upgrades often showcase new features and improvements to enhance user experience. The international team of expert coaches who helped create this exam shared the same vision. Their work to design an exam that assesses foundational coaching knowledge and skills essential for coaches to have early in their career, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the ACC credential.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ACC\u00a0Exam\u00a0contains\u00a060 items\u00a0compared to\u00a0the 78\u00a0items\u00a0that make up the ICF Credentialing Exam. Fewer questions mean\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0need to set aside less time on exam day,\u00a090 minutes,\u00a0requiring half the time\u00a0allocated\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0ICF\u00a0Credentialing Exam\u00a0under standard testing conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The items on this exam are also different. The ACC Exam features knowledge-based questions with one best answer selected from four options. These multiple-choice questions test your knowledge of the ICF Core Competencies, Code of Ethics, and definition and boundaries of coaching. The ICF Credentialing Exam includes longer, more complex, and nuanced <\/span>scenario-based items<\/span><\/a>\u00a0designed\u00a0to test your ability to apply your knowledge in coaching situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

What To Expect on the ACC Exam<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unlike\u00a0smartphone\u00a0updates that leave you guessing about\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0new,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0giving you all the\u00a0details\u00a0you need to\u00a0prepare for and take the\u00a0ACC\u00a0Exam\u00a0with confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The exam is divided into two sections with an optional 10-minute break in between. In part, a successful exam is knowing how to manage your pace as you work through each item.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s\u00a0what you can expect:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Exam Instructions: 2 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Section 1 (30 items): 39 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Scheduled Break: 10 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Section 2 (30 items): 39 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The\u00a060\u00a0questions\u00a0cover\u00a0<\/span>three\u00a0primary\u00a0areas of coaching knowledge<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n