Why We Chose ICF Accreditation & Why It Still Matters
- Sarah Anthony
- Feb 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 25
There are many routes into coaching.
Coaching remains an unregulated profession, which means standards can vary widely.
Some are short courses. Some are self-study. Some are built from years of experience in leadership, mentoring, consulting or HR.
Then, there are programmes accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Over the years, I’ve been asked many times: ‘Do I really need ICF accreditation?’
It’s a fair question. The answer isn’t about status or badges. It’s about standards.
We have been delivering ICF-accredited training for over a decade, we’ve seen first-hand the difference that standards make.
Why we chose the ICF
When we were building North Point, we didn’t assume that the ICF was the only route. There are several accrediting bodies in the coaching profession.
We chose the ICF deliberately...
...because of its global reach.
...because of the clarity of its competency framework.
...because of its emphasis on ethics and mentor coaching.
...and because its accreditation process requires genuine external scrutiny rather than self-declaration.
For us, accreditation needed to mean something. It needed to represent an external validation of the quality of our programme, not simply a membership badge.
What ICF Accreditation actually is
The ICF is one of the largest global bodies setting standards for professional coaching. When a programme is ICF-accredited, it means the curriculum, mentoring, assessment and structure have been reviewed and aligned to internationally recognised competencies and ethical guidelines.
For us, accreditation means that our Certificate in Professional Coaching is an ICF Level 1-accredited pathway that prepares coaches for the ACC credential.
In simple terms: it means the programme has been externally scrutinised and approved. It also means our Alumni complete coach-specific training hours that qualify them to apply for ICF credentials such as the ACC, should they wish to take that next step.
Why Accreditation matters
Accreditation does three important things:
Number One: It protects the coaching profession
Because coaching is unregulated, shared standards matter.
The ICF provides a consistent framework for what competent, ethical coaching looks like across countries and contexts. It gives clients a reference point when choosing a coach and it helps aspiring coaches make informed decisions about the quality and rigour of the programmes they invest in.
Number Two: It builds Confidence, Capability and Credibility
Capability grows through training and practice. Confidence develops as you refine your skills. Credibility is strengthened when your development is aligned with recognised professional standards.
When someone chooses an ICF-accredited training pathway, it signals commitment. Commitment to being trained and assessed against internationally recognised standards and to preparing for professional credentialing should they choose to pursue it.
Number Three: It deepens the learning journey
Accreditation requires mentor coaching.
It requires observed performance feedback. It requires assessment against competencies.
It raises the bar not in an intimidating way, but in a developmental one.
When we first applied for accreditation back in 2016, it wasn’t about adding a badge to our website, although that was pretty cool too. It was about asking whether what we had created could stand up to external review.
Each renewal and framework update has sharpened us.
We moved from ACSTH to the ICF Level 1 framework when the new structure was introduced. Not because we had to (we had to!), but because alignment matters to us.
Do you need it?
Not everyone who learns coaching intends to build a professional practice.
Some want coaching skills for leadership.
Some want them for internal development.
Some want them to complement another profession.
And yet, even for those who don’t plan to pursue coaching commercially, there is something powerful about going through an accredited process.
The mentoring. The observed feedback. The assessment against clear competencies. The requirement to demonstrate your coaching rather than simply talk about it.
Again and again, our coaches tell us that the process itself changes them. Not just professionally, but personally. It sharpens self-awareness. It strengthens confidence. It deepens integrity.
So while accreditation becomes increasingly important if you intend to practise professionally, build a coaching business, or work with organisations, its value isn’t purely commercial.
It’s developmental. It’s about professionalism and it’s also about growth.
What Accreditation means for North Point
For us, accreditation is an expression of who we are.
It means we hold ourselves to external standards, not just our own internal convictions. It means we invite scrutiny rather than avoid it. It means our inside-out philosophy is grounded in recognised professional practice.
Practically, yes, it means we align our curriculum with the ICF core competencies, uphold the Code of Ethics, integrate mentor coaching and observed assessments, and prepare coaches for ACC and beyond.
But more than that, it means we are serious about developing coaches who are confident, capable and credible.
Accreditation isn’t the end goal.
It’s part of our commitment to strengthening the profession and equipping coaches to practise with integrity, depth and professionalism wherever they are in the world.
If you’d like to explore our ICF Level 1 Certificate in Professional Coaching, you can find more details here:
