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Meta Description- Are you willing to consider ICF coaching as your career add-on & become a certified
coach? Read these important FAQs on ICF coaching to clear all your doubts.
H1 Tag: ICF Coaching Definition- Some Important Facts & FAQs [2022]
Image Name and Alt Text: ICF Coaching Frequently Asked Questions
Are you willing to consider coaching as your career add-on? Inclined to become a coach? Feeling stuck in
deciding whether to go for a Coach Certification or not? Is your mind filled with lots of questions?
Relax… We got you covered.
1. One of the best definitions of Coaching is that is given by ICF. ICF defines Coaching as-
"Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize
their personal and professional potential."
2. Another popular definition of coaching is, “Coaching is unlocking a person's potential to maximize
their performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” - Sir John Whitmore
(Author, Coaching for Performance, one of the most popular books on coaching)
3. We also consider pure and classical coaching as an opportunity for the client to move from the
current state to a more resourceful state.
● We have 6 ICF Chapters in India (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Pune)
● Recently, Regal Unlimited Community has reached 300+. This number represents the total number
of Coaches we have trained in the ICF methodology. Small in number, big on impact.
You can also be a part of the 300+ Regal Coaches Community by signing up with us for ICF coach
training.
FAQ 1. What is ICF Coaching Definition and What Does ICF Coaching Stand For? H3 Tag
ICF Coaching refers to the structured and well-curated approach to the practice of coaching. It stands for
the highest standards, its focus on ethical aspects, and the global acceptability of the ICF Coaching
Credentials.
Earning an ICF Credential degree involves rigor and thorough processes of Performance Evaluation and
examination of the Coaching Knowledge ensuring the higher quality of the ICF Coaching. In one word,
ICF Coaching is the GOLD standard in coaching globally. An undisputed leader with credible brand
acceptance across the globe.
You don’t need ICF for becoming a Life Coach but you need ICF for becoming a good Life Coach and to
give the best to your client.
ICF adds the credibility aspect which the ICF brand attaches to the tag of Life Coach. Moreover, ICF
Coaching brings a structured approach to the Coaching skill which makes the Life Coach give the best to
his/her/their client, as he/she/they touch the client(s)’s lives.
The above-mentioned aspects are backed by first-of-its-kind research, which was done to understand
the Coaching Landscape prevalent in India. It provides input for many similar doubts that arise in the
minds of aspiring coaches.
ICF provides a rock-solid foundation for Coaching (through its framework of competencies) Once the
coach has mastered that - any other niche like Executive Coaching, Life Coaching, Wellness Coaching,
etc can be practiced. No separate certification is required.
ICF has curated a framework considering today’s requirements in terms of Coaching, which not just
ensures that the Coaching is provided in a structured manner, but also ensures that it is done keeping in
mind the aspects like ethics, client’s best interests, etc.
To become an ICF Coach - they have to go through almost 4 months of rigorous training, 10 hours of
mentoring, and at least 100 hours of prior practice, and only after assignments and online evaluation, do
they get ICF Credentialed.
Therefore, these credentials ensure that the coaches are well-equipped to serve the clients in the best
way possible. There are no shortcuts in the ICF Credential journey and that’s what makes it a very high-
quality coach certification. Clients get the best coaching - thanks to the rigorous ICF credentialing
process!
● Coaching is not Mentoring, as mentoring works in an advisory mode. It involves guidance from the
mentor, who is a subject matter expert to the mentee, who is relatively less experienced.
● Coaching is not consulting, as consulting is giving solutions to the issue at hand. It is very ‘problem-
specific.’
● Coaching is not training, as training is imparting a skill with pre-prepared content.
● Coaching is not Therapy, as therapy/counseling involves correcting, confronting, and instructing
a change in the attitude and behaviour of the client, to improve the performance that is below
the set standards.
Image Name and Alt Text: What Is ICF Coaching Not
ICF is considered the industry gold standard in the field of coaching. Its worldwide presence makes its
Credentials acceptable globally. Moreover, an ICF Coaching Credential carries the credibility of the brand
and also the structured approach to Coaching. Hence, if one is planning to consider options for Coaching
Education, ICF stands out as the best option.
Moreover, ICF Coaching Education focuses on Coaching Education rather than the niche. Hence, ICF
Coaching isn’t a niche-specific one, to start with. This opens up the possibility of various opportunities in
terms of choosing the niche. Be it Life-Coaching, Executive Coaching, or Millenial Coaching or for that
matter, you choose any niche, the ICF Coaching Education caters to all.
FAQ 7. How Can Someone Ensure They Benefit From ICF Coaching? H3 Tag
One can benefit from ICF coaching by surrendering to the process. The framework is holistic, complete,
and empowering. Regal Unlimited’s approach to ICF coaching involves
FAQ 8. What Can You Expect From An ICF Coaching Certification? H3 Tag
The ability to coach the ‘who’ of the client, beyond the ‘what’. At Regal Unlimited, we train ICF Coaches to
coach the person, not the story. The spider, and not the web. An ICF coach does not get caught up with
the client's stories, even though that is the reality for the client.
All these require training on ICF coaching methodology & framework. The exposure to the framework,
the synchronous & asynchronous learnings, the assignments, the mentoring, and most importantly, the
practice hours… all help the coach to build the coaching muscle. There is no shortcut for it. ICF coaching
certification process also gives the confidence to coach the client, in all areas of his/her work, and life.
ICF’s curated framework involves 8 Competencies which are considered the ICF Core Competencies.
These competencies have been established to support a greater understanding of the skills that are
required in the Coaching conversations in today’s Coaching Profession.
While defining the professional standards for Coaching, ICF has laid down the ethical standards as well.
The ICF Code of Ethics is the blueprint for the standards that describes the core values of ICF, as well as
the ethical principles and the standards of ethical behaviour that are expected from all the ICF-
Professionals.
Not just the Code of Ethics, ICF also provides a venue for consumers to file ethical complaints. The details
of the process are mentioned on the ICF’s Ethics page. ICF Ethics is a very powerful component that
establishes the baseline for coaching - safeguarding the nuances of coaching and preventing
unscrupulous coaching interventions.
FAQ 11. What Counts As Coaching Hours For ICF? H3 Tag
Coaching hours for ICF involve the number of hours used for the practice of Coaching as an experience
requirement for the ICF credentials.
● ICF mandates at least 75 (out of 100 hours) to be paid (either in cash or in-kind) and the remaining 25
hours could be either paid or unpaid.
● 25 out of 100 hours, must have occurred within 18 months before the submission of the application
for credentials to ICF.
● The hours must include practice with at least 8 clients.
● You can check the ICF requirements in detail, as mentioned in the experience section.
One needs to pay a certain amount of fee for the ICF Membership as per the applicability.
ICF is the gold standard in professional coaching. It is a not-for-profit organization, managed by full-time
employees, and volunteers. All chapters, across the globe, are managed by volunteer coaches. As such,
there is no competition for ICF. There are other good coaching bodies, such as EMCC.
ICF Coaching can be very effective if the client chooses to trust the process and partners with the coach
to move toward the action. A lot depends on the client’s willingness to work on themselves.
It helps if the coach is trained & certified, ICF credentialed & experienced, and continues to work on
themselves.
Hence we say, trust the client, trust the coach, and trust the process
Image Name and Alt Text: How Effective Is ICF Coaching
FAQ 15. Can Coaching Supervision take the place of Mentor Coaching for an ICF
Credential? H3 Tag
No. Coaching Supervision has a broader bandwidth encompassing supporting the Coach and sharing
the wisdom. Whereas Mentor Coaching focuses on the skills of the Coach regarding the ICF Core
competencies.
Therefore, only Mentor Coaching is considered and accepted for the Mentor Coaching requirement for
obtaining the ICF Credentials, and not Coaching Supervision.
ICF accredited refers to the Coaching Education Programs or Institutes that have been approved by the
ICF to impart the ICF Coaching Education and hence eligible for providing certification to the aspiring
ICF Professional Coaches.
These programs/institutes have been evaluated and reviewed rigorously in terms of quality and other
important aspects like the learning philosophy, methodologies, evaluation, etc., to ensure that the quality
of Coaching Education provided by the institutions is of higher standards and is conforming with the
Coaching standards established by ICF.
ICF has curated a framework and process through which an individual becomes a certified ICF coach.
For this purpose, ICF has accredited certain Institutions and Coaching Education Programs that help and
support individuals in their journey to become ICF Certified Coaches.
The process of becoming an ICF-certified coach involves 5 basic steps-
In case you are inclined to know more about this at length, read it here
Credentialed, in the ICF’s context, refers to the individuals who have completed the stringent
coaching education and have fulfilled the experience requirements, and also have demonstrated
mastery over the coaching competencies. Once the above aspects are ticked, ICF confers the credentials
on the individual.
While accredited refers to the Coaching Education Programs and Coaching Education Providers who are
qualified by ICF to impart the Coaching education/training curated by ICF. These Coaching Education
Programs are recognised by the ICF for undertaking the certification, which makes an individual eligible
for the Credentials. This is to ensure that the Coaching Education provided to the individuals is of high
quality and adheres to the framework curated by the ICF.
In essence, ICF provides Credentials to the individual coaches. ICF provides Accreditation to the
coach training Programs/Institutes.
FAQ 19. How Much Does It Cost to Get ICF Certification? H3 Tag
The ICF Certification cost might vary subject to the Coaching Education Provider.
With Regal Unlimited, the cost for ICF ACC Certification is ₹140,000 (plus 18% GST) for Indian Residents.
Similarly, the cost is 2000 USD for Learners from Overseas.
However, this cost doesn’t include the application fee, payable to ICF during the submission of the
application for ICF ACC Credentials.
The application fee for ICF ACC Credential can cost from USD 175 up to USD 625, depending on the ICF
Membership status and the pathway chosen for the application for ICF-ACC Credentials.
The Application fees to be paid by ICF Members for ICF-ACC are as follows-
The Application fees to be paid by Non-ICF members for ICF-ACC are as follows-
● ACTP Path- 325 USD
● ACSTH Path- 525 USD
● Portfolio Path- 625 USD
However, after every 3 years of the Credentials, there needs to be a Renewal of Credentials, which
might cost around 175 USD for ICF members and 275 USD for non-members.
FAQ 20. How Long Does It Take To Become an ICF Certified Coach? H3 Tag
Approximately, it takes anywhere around 8 months to 18 months on average. It varies from Coach to
Coach as the pace of clocking in of Coaching Practice hours and also the review of Performance
Evaluation adds to the variability of the period involved.
At Regal Unlimited, we encourage learners to complete the entire process in 12 months. We are very
supportive of our learners, provide them with additional resources and cohorts to fast-track their
practice, and consistently clock the coaching hours.
We also believe in ‘Getting Coached Slowly’. In coaching, there is no shortcut, hence detailed practice &
mentoring sessions are encouraged! Regal Unlimited provides a supportive ecosystem to catalyze the
journey of becoming an ICF Certified Coach within 12 months!
Do you still have further questions that you would like to discuss? If the answer is yes, please write to us
at info@regalunlimited.com or ping us at +91 6362 872 685