ICF PCC certified coach: what it means and how to choose a good coach

In Spain, "coach" is not a regulated profession: anyone can put it on their business card. That is why, when someone asks me how to choose a coach, I always start in the same place: ask about their training and their credential.

What the ICF is

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the largest professional coaching organisation in the world. It defines what coaching is and what it is not, has a code of ethics and describes the competencies a coach must demonstrate. Its credentials are among the most recognised by companies and business schools.

The three levels: ACC, PCC and MCC

• ACC (Associate Certified Coach): 60 hours or more of coach training and 100 hours or more of coaching with clients.
• PCC (Professional Certified Coach): 125 hours or more of training and 500 hours or more with clients.
• MCC (Master Certified Coach): 200 hours or more of training and 2,500 hours or more with clients.

All three levels also require 10 hours of mentor coaching, passing an exam and demonstrating the competencies in real sessions. The credential is renewed every three years with continuing education.

In other words: a PCC coach has trained for at least 125 hours and has worked with clients for more than 500.

My own path

I earned the ACC credential in 2018, after training as a coach in Barcelona. I went on to study team coaching at Gestalt Barcelona, trained as a mentor coach and in values-based coaching, and in 2022 I obtained the PCC with more than 600 hours of coaching. I renewed it in 2025. I am a member of ICF Spain and ICF International. If you want to know the whole journey, I tell it in my story.

But a credential is not everything. These are the questions I would ask myself before starting with any coach.

Five questions to choose a coach

1. Do they have a credential you can check? The ICF has a public directory of credentialed coaches on its website. If someone says they are certified and does not appear, ask them why.
2. Is there trust from the first conversation? A coaching process works when you can speak freely. If you do not feel comfortable in the first session, that is a sign.
3. Do you agree on goals, duration and confidentiality? A good coach makes clear what you will work on, how many sessions there will be, how you will see progress and what stays between you.
4. Do they have experience with your kind of challenge? A career change is not the same as leading a growing team. Ask them who they usually work with.
5. Do they ask you questions or give you advice? Coaching is not about telling you what to do. If all you get are recipes, that is consulting or mentoring, not coaching.

Warning signs

• They promise guaranteed results or change in record time.
• They do not distinguish coaching from therapy. A good coach refers you to a health professional when you need one.
• There is no agreement at all on goals or confidentiality.

In person or online

I work in my office in Barcelona, near the Sagrada Familia, and also by video call. The method is the same: choose whatever feels most comfortable. Sessions can be in Spanish, English or Dutch.

If you want to understand better how a coaching process works, read what coaching is or see how I can help you. And if you would rather talk it through, write to me.

Frequently asked questions

What does PCC mean?

Professional Certified Coach, the second of the ICF's three credential levels. It requires at least 125 hours of coach training and 500 hours of experience with clients.

How can I check whether a coach is ICF certified?

In the directory of credentialed coaches on the ICF website, by searching for their name.

How long does a coaching process last?

It depends on your goal. We agree on it in the first session and review it along the way.

Is coaching the same as therapy?

No. Coaching works on your goals and your actions in the present and the future. If a topic comes up that needs therapy, the right thing is to refer you to a professional.

Does online coaching work as well as in person?

Yes. The method is the same, and what matters is the conversation, not the place. Choose the format that feels most comfortable.