ICF Team Coaching Certification 2024 ACTC Complete Guide

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The ICF team coaching certification is called Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) and is widely recognized in the corporate and business coaching world. 

The demand for qualified team coaches is sharply rising and with a certification from the International Coaching Federation, you can level up your coaching career. 

My complete guide lists all the needed requirements and shows you the leading team coaching certification programs.

ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC)

Organizations worldwide increasingly recognize the power of teams to innovate and drive their business and mission forward. 

In order to use a team’s skills, energy, and intelligence to progress their efforts and produce better outcomes, private businesses, governmental organizations, and charitable organizations are turning more and more to team coaches.

The ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), developed to acknowledge the knowledge, skill, and competence of advanced team coach practitioners, was recently introduced by ICF Credentials and Standards, the world leader in the certification of professional coaches.

ICF Team Coaching Competencies

The Advanced Certification in Team Coaching is based on the ICF Team Coaching Competencies which I describe more in detail in this article: ICF Team Coaching Competencies.

Benefits Of ACTC Certification

If you acquire the ACTC you prove that you have surpassed the demanding criteria of the ICF, the most widely respected certification body for coach practitioners. 

This will likely help you as a door opener to acquiring new clients in the business sector.

Your advanced abilities, expertise, and experience, all of which have been independently validated, serve as further evidence of the value you bring to teams and businesses.

Through the ACTC, team coaches can demonstrate their competence and ability to provide the sophisticated abilities necessary for successful team coaching, such as: 

• Differentiating team coaching from other methods of team development 
• Managing the complex dynamics and patterns unique to teams 
• Partnering with a variety of stakeholders to establish team coaching agreements 
• Supporting teams in the development of effective communication and collaboration skills 
• Partnering with teams to develop a sense of common identity and purpose 
• Collaborating with teams to support conflict resolution  
• Fostering the autonomy of a team and its long-term viability 

 ACTC Requirements

If you want to apply for an ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching the requirements are:

• You need to hold an ICF credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC)
• Complete 60+ hours of team coaching education (ICF accredited or not)
• Complete 5+ team coaching engagements within the last 5 years
• Complete 5+ hours of coaching supervision
• Pass the ICF Team Coaching Certification Exam

Education

You must document the completion of at least 60 hours of team coaching education. The educational hours must be aligned with the ICF Team Coaching Competencies, ICF Core Competencies, and ICF Code of Ethics. A minimum of 48 of the education hours must be aligned with the Team Coaching Competencies or the ICF Core Competencies applied in team coaching contexts.

The hours can be from an ICF-accredited or non-ICF-accredited institute. 

If the hours are non-ICF-accredited, you have to provide a program syllabus or course outline with your application. These may be reviewed to ensure alignment with ICF standards.

Credit For Prior Learning
If you are a long-term team coach practitioner you may receive credit for 30 hours of team coaching education with additional team coaching experience and development through the ACTC Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) application. You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this application:

• Completion of 10 team coaching engagements, with at least 3 engagements completed 5 years or more prior to the date of application 
• Completion of at least 10 hours of coaching supervision with an eligible supervisor 
• Completion of at least 30 hours of team coaching education 

Experience

If you want to apply for an Advanced Certification in Team Coaching you need to complete at least 5 team coaching engagements within the last 5 years. These 5 engagements must include team coaching sessions and can include team development activities, team training, consulting, facilitation, team building, etc.

If you do team coaching with a group bigger than 15 people you must include a co-coach.

If you apply through the credit for prior learning (CLP) application you must include an additional 5 team coaching engagements (total of 10). At least 3 of them have to be in the last 5 years.

You are required to submit a letter of verification for 2 of the 5 required team coaching engagements. The letter can be provided by a team member, team leader, authorized representative of the sponsor organization, or a third-party coaching body. 

Letters should be signed, submitted on company letterhead (unless prohibited by a confidentiality agreement), and include the following elements:  

• Name and contact information of the authorized representative 
• The representative’s role within the organization or team 
• Name of the ACTC applicant 
• Total hours of the team engagement 
• Start and end dates of the engagement, and the number of team members

Supervision Requirements

Because team coaching has complex dynamics, it is necessary that you engage in guided supervision for your development and support. You must document at least 5 hours of supervision with an eligible Coaching Supervisor or ICF Mentor Coach with supervision training and experience.  

You can complete these supervisions either one-on-one with a coaching supervisor or in a group supervision setting of up to 10 participants. 

Coaching supervision hours must focus on your team coaching practice.

Your coaching supervisor must meet at least one of the following criteria:  

• Hold an active coaching supervision certification, credential, or accreditation by a coaching or coaching supervision professional body 
• Have completed a coaching supervision education program of at least 60 hours and have at least 120 hours of coaching supervision experience 
• Be an eligible ICF Mentor Coach with 60 hours of coaching supervision education and at least 120 hours of coaching supervision experience 

Final Exam

If you meet all requirements to apply for the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC), you have to do a final exam. 

The exam is computer-based and consists of 62 questions.

The questions focus mainly on the ICF Team Coaching Competencies and ICF Core Competencies

You can complete the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through Pearson OnVUE, a remote-proctored testing service that allows you to test from your home or office while being monitored by an online proctor. 

Here you find more information and sample questions about the Team Coaching Certification Exam 

Team Coaching Certification Programs

Coach Training Alliance (CTA) is one of the most recognized and leading ICF coaching program facilitators. 

iNLP Center offers one of the best-rated ICF-certified coach training programs.

Related: Best ICF Coaching Certification Programs 

More team-specific certification programs with less recognition:

• Solutions Academy
• Team Coaching Global Alliance
• Transcend Intl.
• Team Coaching Studio
• Coach Transformation Academy
• Systemic Team Coaching

Team Coaching Certification Cost

The cost for a team coaching certification program varies widely between around $2,000 and $15,000 USD. 

The ICF application fee for the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) is:

ICF Member: $250 USD

Non-member: $350 USD

Estimated Time for Review: 4-6 weeks

ACTC Renewal

To keep your ACTC, you must maintain an active ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) and complete 20 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units in team coaching practice every 3 years. 

A minimum of 16 CCEs must be directly applicable to the ICF Team Coaching Competencies. The total required 20 CCE units may also be submitted toward the renewal of the ICF Credential, allowing you to count the 20 CCE credits toward both renewals. 

You can use up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision to fulfill CCE requirements for renewal of the ACTC.  

What Is Team Coaching?

Team coaching is when a group of people works together to achieve a common goal. 

A coach helps the team to build trust, make decisions, and work together effectively. 

Usually, a team has 10 or fewer members. 

The coach can be someone from outside the team or the team leader. The goal of team coaching is to help the team achieve success while creating a safe and supportive environment. 

This is done by defining clear roles, making firm decisions, and acting decisively. It also helps team members to learn from each other, handle problems better, and appreciate each other’s unique abilities.

ICF Team Coaching Definition

ICF team coaching is a type of coaching that focuses on helping teams achieve their goals and enhance their performance. 

It involves a certified coach who works with the team to build trust, improve communication, and increase collaboration. The coach uses coaching techniques to help team members identify their strengths, challenges, and areas of improvement. 

ICF team coaching is based on the ICF core competencies, which include active listening, powerful questioning, and creating awareness.

Related: ICF Definition of Coaching

How Do I Become A Team Coach?

Education and Training: To become a team coach, you need to have a strong foundation in coaching principles, communication skills, and leadership. An ICF certification is highly recommended to set yourself apart from other coaches. You can also attend training programs and workshops offered by reputable coaching organizations to enhance your skills.

Gain Experience: Gain experience by working with teams in different settings, such as sports, business, or non-profit organizations. This will help you understand the dynamics of team communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Networking: Build a network of professionals in the coaching industry. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with coaches who have experience in team coaching. This will help you learn from their experiences and also create opportunities for collaboration.

Develop a Coaching Style: Develop a coaching style that aligns with your personality and strengths. Identify your coaching philosophy, values, and goals. This will help you create a unique coaching approach that sets you apart from others.

Market Yourself: Once you have gained experience and developed your coaching style, start marketing yourself as a team coach. Create a website, social media profiles, and marketing materials that showcase your expertise and experience. Reach out to potential clients and offer your services to teams that can benefit from your coaching.

ICF Team Coach Salary

The average life coach salary is $47,100 globally and $62,500 in North America. However, because ICF Team Coaches with an ACTC Certification work primarily with corporations, their average salary lies around $100,000 to $200,000 USD. 

Be aware that the salary varies widely depending on your experience, skills, and references. 

Is ICF certification legit?

Yes. The International Coaching Federation is the most recognized organization when it comes to coaching certifications.