Announcement from the International Coaching Federation
ICF Credentials & Standards is excited to announce it will launch an updated ICF Credentialing exam. Originally scheduled to launch in late 2021, we have delayed the publication of this new exam to early 2022 due to the continued impacts of the pandemic across our global community.
The new ICF Credentialing exam comes after the completion of a global coaching job analysis, resulting in the first ever updates to the ICF Core Competencies, which serve as the global standard for professional and ethical practice in coaching, released in November 2019.
Exam questions are based on and reflect the updated ICF Core Competencies, including a critical new competency: Embodies a Coaching Mindset. Reflective of its mission “to elevate professional standards in coaching” and to serve as the global Gold Standard in Coach Credentialing, ICF Credentials & Standards has designed a high-quality, state-of-the-art Credentialing exam aligned with the highest standards in psychometric assessment and informed by ICF Credentialed coaches from around the world who served as Subject Matter Expert volunteers.
The updated exam will feature approximately 200 scenario-based, multiple choice questions designed to assess a coach’s knowledge and ability to apply the ICF Core Competencies.
Earning an ICF Credential requires hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence in professional and ethical practice. It is our responsibility at ICF Credentials & Standards to honor the efforts of ICF Credential holders by ensuring the Credential you worked so hard to achieve is aligned with the highest standards of certification practice and to maintain and increase the value of ICF Credentials for all who hold them and for the clients they serve.
That’s why the updated ICF Credentialing exam will be offered through a more secure delivery format that increases the credibility and integrity of the exam and meets global standards for professional certification. Candidates will have the option to take the new exam in-person at an authorized testing center or from the convenience of their home or office through live remote proctoring. Both options will be offered through our partnership with Pearson VUE, a global leader in the administration and delivery of professional, high-stakes certification exams.
Candidates applying for an initial ICF Credential or upgrading to a higher-level Credential will be required to complete the new Credentialing exam.
Individuals renewing their ICF Credential will not be required to complete the exam.
With updates to the exam content, candidates can demonstrate they possess the knowledge and skills needed to meet the rising challenges for coach practitioners in today’s world, giving Credentialed coaches the opportunity to SHINE in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace.
Through these improvements, ICF Credentials & Standards is enhancing the quality of the ICF Credentialing process and preserving and increasing the value of ICF Credentials today and for years to come.
If you have any questions about the updated credentialing exam, please email support@coachingfederation.org.
*ICF has proudly maintained its Credentialing fees with no increases since 2015. As ICF Credentials & Standards integrates improvements to strengthen the integrity, security and value of the ICF Credentialing exam and the ICF Credentials, the updated fee structure will support our ability to maintain our high standards in the years to come