ICF’s 2027 Mentor Coaching Changes: What Coaches Need to Know

Last updated: August 2026

If you’re working toward an ACC, PCC, or MCC credential — or renewing your ACC — the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is changing who is qualified to provide your required mentor coaching, starting January 1, 2027. Here’s what’s changing, when, and what it means for you.

New in 2027: the Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS)

ICF announced the new Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) in April 2026, with important implications for anyone seeking mentor coaching as part of a credential application, renewal, or continuing education in 2027 and beyond. At a high level:Mentor coaching hours completed before January 1, 2027 under current requirements will still be accepted toward your application or renewal — this change only affects new hours going forward.

Any new, qualifying mentor coaching hours delivered on or after January 1, 2027, must be with a coach holding the Mentor Coach Specialization at the level — MCS-ACC, MCS-PCC, or MCS-MCC — that corresponds to the credential you’re working toward.

• If you’re seeking a PCC credential, you’ll need a mentor coach with the MCS-PCC.
• If you’re seeking your MCC credential, you’ll need a mentor coach with the MCS-MCC.
• If you’re renewing your ACC credential, you can choose to work with an MCS-ACC (for mentoring at the ACC level) or an MCS-PCC (for mentoring at the PCC level)

The requirement for 10-hours of mentor coaching over a minimum of three months remains unchanged.

Other important changes

Portfolio Path applications for ACC and PCC will no longer require submission of recordings for a performance evaluation. Instead, once the transition is complete, you’ll need to submit at least one Competency Review Form completed by your mentor coach, backed by at least three observed and reviewed coaching sessions over the course of your mentor coaching engagement and documented with written Session Observation Forms. You won’t submit the Session Observation Forms unless requested by ICF for audit purposes. Practically, this means your mentor coach becomes responsible for assessing your readiness for the credential and documenting your skill development over time, rather than a one-time recorded session being sent to ICF assessors.

The rollout has a short transition window: applicants can use either the current recording-based Performance Evaluation or the new mentor-coaching pathway from January 1 through March 31, 2027, before the Competency Review Form becomes the only route starting April 1, 2027.

Portfolio Path applications for MCC currently remain unchanged, apart from the requirement to work with a mentor coach holding the MCS-MCC designation. The Performance Evaluation stays in place, so you’ll continue to submit two recorded coaching sessions with verbatim transcripts to ICF for review. The Session Observation and Competency Review Forms are not required, though you may opt to use them to help identify your strongest recordings

ACC renewals require you to work with a mentor coach holding the MCS-ACC or MCS-PCC depending on which level of mentoring you are seeking. Mentor coaching for ACC renewal do not require the use of Session Observation and Competency Review Forms, though they can still be a useful tool for you and your mentor coach.

PCC and MCC renewals do not require mentor coaching. However, up to 10 hours of mentor coaching used for ongoing professional development can be applied toward your 40-hour continuing education requirement for each renewal cycle. In this case, your mentor coach will need to hold the MCS at the level you’re seeking.

Key dates at a glance

(Sources: ICF, ICF Support)

What this means for you

Whatever your needs as you are navigating this transition — pursuing your first credential, renewing an existing one, or simply making sense of what’s changing — working with a qualified, experienced, MCS designated mentor coach starting now sets you up with the most flexibility.

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This page reflects ICF guidance as of August 2026. Because ICF continues to refine the rollout details, always confirm current requirements on ICF’s official mentor coaching page before preparing for and submitting an application.