The ICF has made big changes this year to continue to lead the field as an organization committed to professionalizing the coaching industry through credentialing education and new coach competencies 2021.
As a core part of this effort, the ICF has updated the Coach Competencies and the Code of Ethics that form the cornerstone of their coach assessment process. Learning the new ICF Coach Competencies 2021 should be at the top of the to-do list for every ICF Coach.
Performance evaluations and the Coach Knowledge Assessment will be revised to align with these competencies a few short months from now.
As always, if you are working toward earning credentials you may be required to work with a qualified Mentor Coach who will assist you in aligning your work with the ICF ethical standards and competencies.
This year, you will want to ensure that your mentor coaching is based on the new competencies.
Even if you are not working toward a credential this year, participating in Mentor Coaching is an excellent strategy for learning the new competencies. Especially since ten hours of mentor coaching will provide ten CCE units. That is important for those of you who are renewing a credential this year.
Where Can You Find a Mentor Coach?
You can find available mentor coaches using the ICF Mentor Coach Registry, but this is not required. You can work with a Mentor Coach of your choosing, provided that the Mentor Coach is an ICF member who holds a credential at the same or higher level than the one you are seeking or renewing.
It is important to note as well that ICF Mentor Coaching must be focused on the ICF Coach Core Competencies 2021 and not on business building or topics that are not related directly to developing coaching skills.
Be sure to verify that potential mentor coaches will be working with the new ICF Competencies 2021, especially if you will be writing the CKA or submitting recordings for performance reviews this year.
Here’s a Quick Recap of the ICF Mentor Coaching Requirements
You will need mentor coaching if:
- You are planning to apply for an ICF ACC credential on the ACSTH path
- You are planning to apply for an ICF ACC credential on the Portfolio path
- You are renewing your ICF ACC credential
- You are planning to apply for an ICF PCC credential on the ACSTH path
- You are planning to apply for an ICF PCC credential on the Portfolio path
- You are planning to apply for an ICF MCC credential
If you are not sure what you need, request a download of my free ICF Credentials Checklist
What Else Do You Need to Know About Mentor Coaching
- The ten hours can be a combination of group and one-on-one sessions
- Three of the ten hours must be one-on-one sessions
- All ten hours must be completed in no less than 3 months
- ACC mentor coaches must have completed one renewal cycle (3 years)
- Ten mentor coaching hours also provide ten CCE units in the CC category
- To get a head start on learning the new ICF Competencies you can participate in mentor coaching and earn ten CCE units for your credential renewal.
Ready to Learn the New ICF Competencies 2021?
My next Group Mentor Coaching program starts on March 11 and is limited to ten participants. You will earn ten ICF mentor coaching hours and ten ICF Continuing Coach Education units for attending.
Find out more about the next group, or register here now
If you are not sure what path you are on, or you want to talk more about mentor coaching you can schedule a quick chat here.

Author: Cathy Shaughnessy
Cathy Shaughnessy is a PRISM award-winning ICF Master Certified Coach and active ICF Assessor. Cathy coaches senior leaders, mentors credentialed coaches, trains fledgeling coaches and creates tools and programs to assist coaches seeking ICF Coach Credentials. Get more information on Cathy’s group mentor coaching programs here. Get more information on Cathy’s ICF CCE unit programs here. Quick links to Resources for Coaches. Click the image below to download the Free Easy Tracking Form for Coaches and get tools and resources from Cathy!
Cathy Shaughnessy is a PRISM award-winning ICF Master Certified Coach and active ICF Assessor. Cathy coaches senior leaders, mentors credentialed coaches, trains fledgeling coaches and creates tools and programs to assist coaches seeking ICF Coach Credentials. Get more information on Cathy’s group mentor coaching programs here. Get more information on Cathy’s ICF CCE unit programs here. Quick links to Resources for Coaches.
Click the image below to download the Free Easy Tracking Form for Coaches and get tools and resources from Cathy!