There was a shared sense of pride when we both saw the “pass” message after completing the PCC exam. It marked the end of a journey focused on continuing professional development, culminating in the Professional Coaching Credential (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). We have both been professional, trained coaches for several years, yet the prospect of attaining our PCC credential seemed daunting. We were mired in questions such as where to start, what was needed, which pathway was appropriate, and whether we needed more training.
Looking back, the fog of “where do I even begin” was probably the biggest barrier, not a lack of capability but a lack of clarity.
If you’re thinking about pursuing an accreditation, we want to share what that journey looked like for us and why the organization we chose made a bigger difference than we expected.
What neither of us had fully appreciated beforehand was how complex the credentialing process can be. It has many moving parts, including training hours, mentor coaching, practice sessions, performance evaluations, and the knowledge exam. Without a clear, coherent pathway, it’s easy to end up piecing things together and second-guessing whether you’re on the right track.
There’s also a more personal dimension to it that doesn’t get enough attention. Learning toward a credential invites real scrutiny of your coaching. You receive feedback that challenges habits you didn’t even realize you had developed. You become more critical of your own practice, noticing what’s not quite landing and questioning patterns that have felt comfortable for years. That process is necessary and ultimately valuable, and it requires a particular kind of support: something that holds you accountable without undermining the confidence you have built over years of doing this work.
This is where the Institute of Positive Psychology Coaching (IPPC)’s grounding in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology made a real difference for us. The trainers are experts in coaching and bring deep expertise in Positive Psychology and evidence-based coaching, shaping the entire learning environment. Feedback is delivered through a strengths-based lens. The culture is one of growth rather than correction. You are stretched and challenged in a way that builds on what you already do well rather than focusing on what is missing. For two coaches who were already experienced yet genuinely vulnerable in this process, that environment mattered enormously.
Having completed our PCC through the Institute of Positive Psychology Coaching, we can now look back with a clearer perspective. What the IPPC gave us wasn’t just a path to the credential; it was a structured, integrated experience in which everything aligned: the training, the ICF requirements, and the depth of learning. That coherence meant that by the time we reached the assessment, we were not only technically prepared but also trusted ourselves as coaches far more than before.
The Reality of the ICF Credentialing Path (Without Integration)
Before finding the IPPC, we did what many aspiring credentialed coaches do: we tried to piece the journey together ourselves.
That often means:
- Finding coach training from an ICF‑accredited organization
- Sourcing mentor coaching separately, often one‑to‑one, at additional cost
- Securing two solid coach recording sessions and arranging a performance evaluation independently
- Preparing for the ICF exam with limited guidance
- Trying to ensure everything aligns with current ICF standards
On paper, this may seem manageable. In reality, it can be confusing, fragmented, overwhelming, and costly.
“BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THE IPPC PROGRAM, NAVIGATING EACH ASPECT OF THE PCC CREDENTIAL ALWAYS FELT TIME-CONSUMING AND DISPARATE, WHICH DELAYED MY APPLICATION FOR MY PCC CREDENTIAL.” – Aoife Mollin, IPPC graduate, PCC
While working with different mentor coaches, we noticed that each interpreted the competencies slightly differently. This led to a reduction in our confidence in our interpretation of the competencies. Having felt that our practice had progressed more in line with the ICF competencies, we received further mentor coaching that wasn’t always consistent, leaving us questioning our coaching practice rather than building our confidence as coaches. Mentor coaching can feel disconnected from how you were trained. Exam preparation can feel like a black box.
The result?
- Delays in applying for an ICF credential
- Increased financial investment
- Patchy confidence heading into performance evaluation
- A feeling of doing it alone
Discovering a Different Way: The IPPC Pathway
What changed everything for us was the discovery of the IPPC’s Direct Pathway to ICF Credentialing.
By taking an integrated approach to coaching practice, feedback, and analysis of the ICF competencies and ethics, we continuously built our confidence and cemented our coaching practice as positive psychology coaches while also completing the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology Coaching Programme (CAPPC).
Rather than fragmented pieces, the IPPC offers one continuous, integrated journey:
- Accredited as both an ICF Level 1 and Level 2 Coach Education Provider
- Clear progression: Coaching Essentials → Level 1 → Level 2
- Consistent standards aligned with the ICF from day one
- Everything delivered in‑house
- Practice and support from the group going through the programme
From the very first module, we weren’t just “learning coaching”; we were learning ICF‑aligned coaching.
Learning That Builds Confidence, Not Confusion
One of the most powerful aspects of the IPPC journey is how intentionally everything is designed to connect.
Mentor Coaching Is Embedded, Not an Add‑On
Mentor coaching isn’t something you scramble to organize at the end. It’s woven throughout the programmes, with experienced MCC and PCC credentialed coaches who know:
- The ICF competencies inside out
- Exactly how they’re assessed
- How to support growth without over‑coaching
“Learning to coach is not just about learning a script or a secret formula. It was about taking all that I am and dancing in the moment with the accredited guidelines and my coachee as my partners. Learning with the IPPC allowed time for that dance to develop with grace and kindness. The clarity of instruction was clear, concise and rooted in theory. The support of the mentors and other classmate was amazing which allowed me to be vulnerable in practicing things while learning that dance. My successes were celebrated and my struggles were held with kindness while direction provided the way forward until I mastered it. I would do it all again for the next level in a heartbeat.” – Dr. Alison Bishop, IPPC graduate, ACC
Practice Sessions With Expert Feedback
Practice coaching sessions are observed and supported by expert faculty. Feedback is practical, precise, and development-focused, not vague or contradictory. Coaching in front of your peers can be scary at first, but it ultimately builds your confidence as a coach. Observing other coaches teaches you to listen differently to coaching conversations and to spot the ICF core competencies in others, which helps you apply them more effectively in your own coaching practice.
You are not guessing what “meets the standard.” You are shown. Throughout the program, your understanding of the competencies deepens through reflection, feedback on your sessions, and observation of your peer coaches during practice sessions.
Performance Evaluation Done Internally — With Preparation
Rather than facing an external evaluation unprepared, the IPPC guides you through:
- What assessors are listening for
- How competencies show up in real sessions
- How to self‑evaluate with accuracy
The combination within the CAPPC program leads you to a deep understanding not only of the competencies but also of the psychology behind why each competency is important, making you a more competent coach for your clients.
Preparing for the ICF Knowledge Assessment — With Clarity
Preparing for the ICF exam can be a major source of anxiety for coaches. At IPPC, exam readiness is developed alongside skill development.
Through discussions of coaching scenarios, you become more confident in identifying how the competencies and the Code of Ethics apply in different situations. Having a group of like-minded peer coaches critically examine real-life examples leads to rich discussions and a deeper understanding.
You learn:
- How the ICF thinks
- How questions are structured
- How to apply the competencies — not memorize them
An Added Dimension: Specializing in Applied Positive Psychology Coaching
The opportunity to become a Certified Applied Positive Psychology Coach (CAPPC) was a powerful differentiator.
This integration of evidence-based positive psychology with coaching psychology deepened our work with clients — and strengthened our professional identity. It also shines a spotlight on your own wellbeing as a coach — a strong facet of positive psychology that aligns with the most recent 2025 ICF Core Competency 2 – “embodies a coaching mindset”.
Specifically, core competency 2.07 states, “maintains emotional, physical, and mental well-being in preparation for, throughout, and following each session”. The IPPC training provides you with tools not only to help your client but also to support your own well-being as the coach.
“I didn’t just earn a credential — I became the coach I wanted to be.” — Sanna Välttilä-Wit, IPPC Graduate, PCC
A Seamless Journey, From First Step to PCC
The PCC journey through the IPPC is truly a one‑stop pathway — from foundational coaching skills to credentialing.
- No sourcing external providers
- No second‑guessing alignment
- No feeling like you’re behind or missing something
Instead, you feel:
- Supported
- Guided
- Held to a high standard
- And never alone
“The training I completed on my journey to ICF ACC accreditation was exceptional — rigorously rooted in research and evidence, it gave me a genuinely deep understanding of coaching theory and practice that I draw on in every session.
The mentor coaching element was outstanding. Having an experienced coach observe my practice, reflect it back honestly and hold me to the highest professional standard accelerated my development in ways no amount of self-study could have replicated. The peer review sessions were equally powerful — learning alongside other coaches, reviewing real sessions together and exploring the ICF competencies in practice created a richness of learning I continue to value enormously.
This journey has made me a significantly more effective coach. The ICF core competencies and ethical framework now feel completely integrated with my natural strengths and my positive psychology approach — presence, active listening, powerful questioning and client autonomy are at the heart of everything I do.
I would do this journey again without hesitation and recommend it wholeheartedly to any coach who is serious about their practice and their clients.” – Eddie Quinlan, IPPC graduate, ACC
For Aspiring Credentialed Coaches
If you’re considering ICF accreditation, the journey matters just as much as the outcome.
When your training, mentoring, assessment, and exam preparation are aligned, confidence follows naturally. At IPPC, everything is packaged into one program. No part of the journey is walked alone. You can become a skilled, ethical, confident, ICF‑credentialed coach specializing in Applied Positive Psychology Coaching — with clarity every step of the way.
We invite you to join our next CAPPC Information Session on May 20, 2026 to learn how the IPPC program can help you become an ICF-credentialed coach grounded in applied positive psychology, coaching psychology and evidence-based coaching, with clarity and confidence. Click here to learn more and register.
Sanna Välttilä-Wit (MSc, CAPPC, EIA Sr. Practitioner, PCC)
