When Should I Start My 10 Hours of ICF Mentor Coaching for ACC Renewal?
When Should I Start My 10 Hours of ICF Mentor Coaching for ACC Renewal?
Updated September 2026
If your ACC renewal date is getting closer and “complete my mentor coaching hours” is still sitting somewhere on your to-do list, there is one important timing requirement you do not want to discover too late:
Your 10 hours of ICF mentor coaching cannot be completed all at once.
ICF requires ACC credential holders to complete 10 hours of mentor coaching over a minimum period of three months as part of the ACC renewal process. More specifically, 12 full weeks must pass between your first and final mentor coaching sessions.
That means the best time to start mentor coaching is often earlier than coaches expect.
When should I start mentor coaching for ACC renewal?
Short answer: I generally recommend starting your 10 hours of ICF mentor coaching about 4–6 months before your ACC renewal deadline.
Although ICF requires the mentor coaching to span at least three months, giving yourself four to six months provides more flexibility for scheduling, practising between sessions, reviewing coaching recordings and actually using the feedback you receive.
If you wait until the last three months before your credential expires, there may be very little room for rescheduling or unexpected delays.
What are the ICF mentor coaching requirements for ACC renewal?
ACC credential holders are currently required to complete:
10 total hours of mentor coaching
Mentor coaching completed over a period of at least three months
12 full weeks between the first and final mentor coaching session
At least 3 hours of one-to-one mentor coaching
The remaining 7 hours through individual or qualifying group mentor coaching
Mentor coaching must focus specifically on the development of your coaching skills in relation to the ICF Core Competencies.
This distinction matters.
Mentor coaching is not simply another form of personal, leadership or business coaching. The focus is on how you coach: your skills, your choices in a coaching conversation and how effectively you demonstrate the ICF Core Competencies.
Why do I recommend starting 4–6 months before your ACC renewal?
Technically, you may be able to meet the minimum timing requirement in a little over three months.
I still would not recommend planning your renewal around the absolute minimum.
Life happens.
A session may need to be rescheduled. Your mentor coach may be unavailable during a particular week. Work may become unusually busy. Holidays happen. You may want to submit a coaching recording and need time to prepare it.
More importantly, good mentor coaching is a developmental process.
You want enough space between sessions to notice what you are doing, experiment with a different approach, coach real clients, reflect on what changed and bring those observations back into your next mentor coaching conversation.
When all 10 hours are crammed into the smallest possible window, you may technically complete the requirement while missing some of the developmental value.
Can I complete two mentor coaching sessions per month?
Yes.
For many of the ACC renewal coaches I work with, meeting approximately twice per month creates a comfortable rhythm.
At roughly two sessions each month, 10 one-hour sessions would typically be spread across about five months.
That gives you time to:
practise between sessions
bring real coaching challenges into our work
review recordings
integrate feedback
notice patterns in your coaching
make adjustments before the next session
It also means your mentor coaching can become part of your professional development rather than another credentialing task you are trying to finish before a deadline.
What if my ACC renewal is only three months away?
This is where you need to look closely at your exact dates.
Because 12 full weeks must pass between your first and final mentor coaching sessions, having a renewal deadline approximately three months away can leave very little margin.
For example, if your ACC credential is due for renewal on December 31, I would not recommend waiting until October or November to begin looking for a mentor coach.
Ideally, you would begin your mentor coaching by September or earlier.
If your deadline is getting close and you have not started your mentor coaching yet, check your dates now rather than assuming you can simply schedule the 10 hours quickly at the end.
Can I complete all 10 mentor coaching hours in one month?
No.
For ACC renewal, the 10 hours of mentor coaching need to be completed over the required minimum period.
Even if you were able to find enough appointments to complete 10 hours in a few weeks, that would not satisfy the timing requirement.
This is one of the most important reasons to plan your mentor coaching before your renewal deadline is immediately approaching.
Do I need 10 new mentor coaching hours every time I renew my ACC?
Yes.
If you are renewing your ACC credential, the mentor coaching requirement forms part of your renewal requirements.
These hours are separate from the mentor coaching you may have completed when originally applying for your ACC.
This is something coaches sometimes do not realize until they begin looking closely at the renewal process.
Do I need to finish my CCEs before starting mentor coaching?
No.
Your mentor coaching can happen while you are completing the other Continuing Coach Education requirements for your ACC renewal.
In fact, I usually recommend getting the mentor coaching timeline established before leaving the rest of your renewal requirements until later.
Many education hours can be completed relatively quickly.
The minimum mentor coaching timeline cannot.
You cannot compress the required three-month period into a weekend course when your deadline gets close.
How many individual mentor coaching hours do I need for ACC renewal?
At least 3 of your 10 mentor coaching hours must be completed one-to-one with a qualified mentor coach.
The remaining 7 hours may be completed through individual mentor coaching or an eligible group mentor coaching format.
This creates a few different ways to meet the requirement.
Some coaches complete all 10 hours privately.
Others complete seven hours through a group program and then arrange the required three individual hours separately.
Neither approach is automatically better.
The right option depends on the amount of individualized feedback you want, your budget, your learning style and where you currently are in your development as a coach.
Should I choose group or 1:1 mentor coaching for ACC renewal?
Both can be useful.
Group mentor coaching can give you an opportunity to learn from other coaches, hear different perspectives and complete part of your requirement at a lower cost.
One-to-one mentor coaching gives you more time to focus specifically on your coaching.
If you want detailed feedback on recordings, recurring patterns in your sessions or particular ICF Core Competencies you are working to strengthen, private mentor coaching may give you more space to do that.
I work primarily with coaches who want the full 10-hour requirement delivered through 1:1 mentor coaching, although coaches who have already completed qualifying group hours may also need only their remaining individual hours.
What actually happens during ICF mentor coaching?
Good mentor coaching should be much more than checking 10 hours off your ACC renewal list.
It is an opportunity to slow down and examine what is actually happening when you coach.
In my own 1:1 ACC Renewal Mentor Coaching work, we may explore:
where your coaching is already strong
patterns you may not notice while you are coaching
how deeply you are listening
the kinds of questions you tend to ask
where you may be moving too quickly
how effectively you are partnering with the client
how consistently your coaching demonstrates the ICF Core Competencies
feedback from actual coaching recordings
specific areas of your coaching you want to strengthen
My goal is not simply to help you collect 10 mentor coaching hours.
I want you to leave the process more confident, intentional and skilled in the way you coach.
What changes for ACC mentor coaching in 2027?
There is an important change coming for coaches completing mentor coaching beginning in 2027.
Starting January 1, 2027, newly completed mentor coaching used toward an ICF credential or credential renewal must be provided by a mentor coach who holds the appropriate ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS).
The fundamental ACC mentor coaching requirement is not disappearing. ACC coaches will still need 10 mentor coaching hours completed over the required minimum period, including at least three individual hours.
What is changing is who is eligible to provide those mentor coaching hours.
If your ACC renewal date falls in 2027, it is worth checking the current ICF requirements before selecting your mentor coach and creating your timeline.
I hold the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization for ACC and PCC-level mentor coaching, in addition to my PCC credential.
How long does ICF mentor coaching take for ACC renewal?
At minimum, the process must span approximately three months because 12 full weeks must pass between your first and final mentor coaching sessions.
For many coaches, though, I recommend allowing 4–6 months.
That tends to provide a better balance between meeting consistently and having enough time to practise and integrate what you are learning.
So, when should you start your 10 hours of mentor coaching?
A simple guideline is:
If your ACC renewal is 6–12 months away:
You have plenty of time, but this is a good point to begin planning your mentor coaching and identifying the mentor coach you want to work with. You can hold preliminary interviews or connect calls with a few coaches to find someone who’s the right energy fit for you.
If your renewal is 4–6 months away:
This is an excellent time to start.
If your renewal is around 3 months away:
Look at your exact dates now. You need to make sure 12 full weeks can pass between your first and final session. I’d email coaches directly at this point and ask specifically if they can accommodate this timeline.
If your renewal is less than 3 months away:
Do not assume you will be able to complete your mentor coaching before your renewal date. Review your timeline and the current ICF requirements carefully. You can ask the ICF to grant you an extension.
The biggest mistake is rarely starting mentor coaching too early.
It is discovering too late that your 10 hours have a timeline attached to them.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACC Renewal Mentor Coaching
How many mentor coaching hours do I need to renew my ACC?
You need 10 hours of mentor coaching as part of the ACC renewal process.
How long do the 10 mentor coaching hours need to take?
The hours must be completed over a minimum period of three months, with 12 full weeks between the first and final mentor coaching session.
Can I do all 10 mentor coaching hours individually?
Yes. You can complete all 10 hours through one-to-one mentor coaching if you prefer.
Can some of my mentor coaching hours be completed in a group?
Yes. At least three hours must be individual mentor coaching. The remaining seven may be completed individually or through qualifying group mentor coaching.
Can I complete all 10 mentor coaching hours in one month?
No. Even if you complete 10 hours of sessions, your mentor coaching still needs to meet ICF's minimum time-span requirement.
Can I start mentor coaching before completing my other ACC renewal CCEs?
Yes. Your mentor coaching and other Continuing Coach Education requirements can be completed alongside one another.
When should I start mentor coaching before my ACC renewal?
I generally recommend beginning 4–6 months before your renewal date. That gives you more flexibility than planning around ICF's minimum three-month requirement.
Do I need an MCS mentor coach for ACC renewal in 2027?
Beginning January 1, 2027, newly completed mentor coaching used toward an ICF credential or renewal must meet ICF's new Mentor Coach Specialization requirements. If your renewal falls in 2027, check the current ICF guidance when selecting your mentor coach.
Need help figuring out your ACC renewal timeline?
If your ACC renewal is approaching and you are trying to figure out when to start your mentor coaching, how to structure your 10 hours, or whether 1:1 mentor coaching is the right fit, you are welcome to book a consultation with me:
I work with ACC coaches through private ICF mentor coaching, including coaches completing their full 10-hour renewal requirement and coaches who need individual hours after completing group mentor coaching.
On a consultation call, we can look at your renewal date, where you currently are in the process and whether working together makes sense for what you need.
You can see my packages and pricing here:
You do not need to have your entire ACC renewal figured out before we talk. We can start by looking at the timeline together. I’m here to help!
About Justine Cochrane
Justine Cochrane, PCC, MCS, is an ICF credentialed coach and mentor coach who provides 1:1 mentor coaching for coaches completing their ACC renewal requirements. Her mentor coaching focuses on practical feedback, ICF Core Competency development and helping coaches strengthen the way they coach—not simply complete the required hours.