ICF ACC Renewal Requirements 2026: Complete Guide
ICF ACC Renewal Requirements 2026: Complete Guide
If your ICF ACC credential is coming up for renewal, the process can feel more complicated than it actually is.
The short version is this:
To renew your ACC credential in 2026, you need to complete 40 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits during your three-year renewal cycle. Of those 40 credits, 24 must be in Core Competencies, including 3 credits in coaching ethics and 10 hours of mentor coaching. The remaining 16 credits can be in either Core Competencies or Resource Development.
If you are trying to figure out exactly what counts, when to start, and how mentor coaching fits into the process, this guide will walk you through it.
Renewing your ACC in 2027?
If your credential expires in 2027, I’ve created a separate guide covering the 2027 ACC renewal requirements, mentor coaching timeline, CCEs and what you should be doing now.
Read the 2027 ACC Renewal Guide →
What Are the ICF ACC Renewal Requirements?
ICF requires ACC credential holders to renew their credential every three years.
During that three-year period, you need to complete a total of 40 CCE credits.
The current breakdown is:
24 Core Competency credits
Within those 24:
3 credits in coaching ethics
10 hours of mentor coaching
11 additional Core Competency credits
16 additional credits that can be completed in either Core Competencies or Resource Development
Your mentor coaching hours count toward the Core Competency portion of your renewal requirements.
The good news is that once you understand the categories, the process becomes much easier to map out.
How Many CCE Credits Do I Need for ACC Renewal?
You need 40 CCE credits total during each ACC renewal cycle.
At least 24 of those credits must be Core Competency credits.
The remaining 16 credits can be Core Competency or Resource Development credits, which gives you some flexibility depending on the professional development activities you choose.
If you are tracking your renewal over several years, I strongly recommend keeping a simple record of:
the course or activity
the date completed
the number of credits
whether the credits were Core Competency or Resource Development
any documentation or certificates you may need later
That makes the renewal process significantly easier when it is time to submit your application.
Want an easier way to keep track? Download my ACC Renewal Checklist + CCE Tracker.
How Many Mentor Coaching Hours Do I Need for ACC Renewal?
ACC credential holders must complete 10 hours of mentor coaching during each renewal cycle.
Those 10 hours must be completed over a minimum period of three months.
ICF also requires that at least 3 of the 10 hours be completed one-on-one with your mentor coach. The remaining 7 hours may be completed one-on-one or in an eligible group setting.
This means you cannot simply complete all 10 hours in a single weekend or intensive session.
The requirement is intentionally spread over time so you have space to reflect, practice, receive feedback, and continue developing your coaching skills between sessions.
You can also view my FAQ as a mentor coach for additional questions.
Do Mentor Coaching Hours Count Toward the 40 CCE Credits?
Yes.
For ACC renewal, your 10 mentor coaching hours count toward the 24 Core Competency credits you are required to complete.
This is important because your mentor coaching hours are not an additional requirement on top of the 40 CCEs.
They are part of the 40.
So if you complete 10 hours of eligible mentor coaching, you have also completed 10 of your required Core Competency credits.
What Does Mentor Coaching Actually Focus On?
Mentor coaching is not simply general coaching, business coaching, or a place to talk about your practice.
The focus is specifically on your coaching skills and how they align with the ICF Core Competencies.
Depending on your mentor coach and the structure of your engagement, mentor coaching may include:
reviewing recorded coaching sessions
receiving competency-based feedback
identifying strengths in your coaching
noticing patterns or habits that may be limiting your effectiveness
exploring different coaching choices
developing greater awareness of the ICF Core Competencies
creating a development plan for your continued growth as a coach
For many coaches, this becomes one of the most valuable parts of the renewal process because it moves beyond simply completing continuing education hours and gives you direct feedback on your actual coaching.
If you still need your mentor coaching hours, you can learn more about my 1:1 ICF mentor coaching for ACC renewal here.
Who Can Provide Mentor Coaching for ACC Renewal?
Your mentor coach must meet ICF’s eligibility requirements.
For ACC renewal, your mentor coach may hold an active ACC, PCC, or MCC credential. If they hold an ACC credential, they must have renewed that credential at least once before they are eligible to serve as your mentor coach.
When choosing a mentor coach, I would also look beyond credential eligibility.
Consider:
how they approach feedback
whether they review recordings
how familiar they are with the ICF Core Competencies
whether their learning style feels like a good fit for you
whether you feel comfortable being honest about what is difficult in your coaching
A strong mentor coaching relationship should feel both supportive and developmental.
When Should I Start My ACC Renewal Mentor Coaching?
Do not leave this until the final few weeks before your credential expires.
Because your 10 mentor coaching hours must span at least three months, you need to build in enough time to complete the requirement before your renewal deadline.
In practice, I recommend starting earlier than the bare minimum.
A four- to five-month window gives you more room to:
schedule sessions without rushing
practice between conversations
submit recordings
reflect on feedback
reschedule if life gets busy
integrate what you are learning
That pacing also tends to make mentor coaching much more valuable than simply treating it as a credentialing requirement.
What Counts as Core Competency CCE Credits?
Core Competency credits are professional development activities that directly relate to ICF coaching competencies and coaching skill development.
Your required 24 Core Competency credits include:
10 mentor coaching hours
3 coaching ethics credits
11 additional Core Competency credits
Examples may include eligible coach training, continuing education, mentor coaching, coaching supervision, and other professional development activities that meet ICF’s criteria.
If you are unsure whether a course or activity qualifies, check how the provider categorizes the credits and keep documentation.
What Counts as Resource Development?
Resource Development covers professional development that supports you as a coach but is not directly focused on the ICF Core Competencies.
The remaining 16 CCE credits in your renewal cycle can be completed in either Resource Development or Core Competencies.
That gives you some flexibility to choose learning that supports your broader practice.
Do I Need 3 Ethics Credits?
Yes.
Of your 24 required Core Competency credits, 3 must be in coaching ethics.
This is one of the easiest renewal requirements to complete early, so I recommend checking it off rather than leaving it until your renewal deadline.
What Information Do I Need to Keep About My Mentor Coaching?
When you submit your ACC renewal application, it is helpful to keep track of:
your mentor coach’s name
their email address
their credential level
the start date of your mentor coaching
the end date
the total number of mentor coaching hours completed
Keeping these details in one place will make your renewal application much easier later.
What Happens If My ACC Credential Expires?
If you miss your renewal deadline, there may still be a limited period in which you can renew, depending on how long your credential has been expired.
If your credential is already expired or close to expiring, I recommend checking your specific status directly with ICF rather than assuming the standard renewal process still applies.
What Is Changing in 2027?
ICF has been introducing new standards related to mentor coaching qualifications.
Because these requirements are evolving, I recommend taking a look at this post specific to 2027 when you are choosing a mentor coach for a 2027 renewal.
I will also continue updating this site as the new standards are implemented.
How Do I Renew My ACC Credential?
At a high level, your renewal process looks like this:
Confirm your ACC renewal deadline.
Review how many CCE credits you have already completed.
Complete any missing Core Competency credits.
Complete your 3 ethics credits.
Complete 10 hours of eligible mentor coaching over at least three months.
Complete any remaining Resource Development or Core Competency credits.
Gather your records and documentation.
Submit your renewal application through ICF.
The easiest way to avoid a stressful renewal is to treat it as a three-year process rather than something you deal with in the final month.
ACC Renewal Checklist
Before you submit your renewal, make sure you have:
40 total CCE credits
at least 24 Core Competency credits
3 ethics credits
10 hours of mentor coaching
mentor coaching completed over at least three months
at least 3 hours of 1:1 mentor coaching
documentation and records for your professional development
your mentor coach’s contact and credential information
Download my ACC Renewal Checklist + CCE Tracker to keep everything in one place.
Need to Complete Your ACC Renewal Mentor Coaching Hours?
If mentor coaching is one of the remaining pieces of your ACC renewal, I offer 1:1 ICF mentor coaching for ACC renewal.
My approach includes personalized feedback, coaching recording review, development planning, and a strong focus on helping you understand how the ICF Core Competencies show up in your actual coaching.
The goal is not simply to complete 10 hours.
It is to use those hours to become more intentional, confident, and skillful in the way you coach.
Explore ICF Mentor Coaching for ACC Renewal: