Prep for Written Exams
The finish line is in sight!
Successfully completing training, embracing mentor coaching, and collecting the requisite number of coaching experience hours get you to the the final critical step--PASS THE EXAM(S). Just like most people wouldn't dream of taking the GMAT, Bar exam, CPA exam or any other crucial credentialing exam without studying and preparing, the ICF and BCC exams are just as important. Preparing for the exam includes more than knowing the content, which of course is fundamental. But it also includes understanding how to most effectively TAKE the exam. There are subtleties and nuance in every standardized exam that can dramatically impact success or failure.
Positive Coaching Solutions is dedicated to supporting coaching candidates, whether they graduated from our programs or not. Our unflinching mission is to be a learning partner, long-term, and to walk along side you all the way to the finish line.
Our success ratio is truly enviable. And that's because we care. We invest our time, resources, and whole heart in expanding the world of coaching with like-minded and dedicated coaches. Coaching changes people, and one-by-one, we can change the world.
Upcoming ACC Sessions:
August 13, 2026
November 12, 2026
February 11, 2027
All sessions 1:00 - 4:30 pm Central Time
Upcoming PCC Sessions:
September 10, 2026
All sessions 1:00 - 5:30 pm Central Time
ICF Written Exam Prep -- ACC and PCC
Positive Coaching Solutions is dedicated to getting our students and ALL ICF credential candidates successfully through the ICF written exams, as painlessly and productively as possible. We offer two sets of ICF Exam Preparation Workshops that dig into the format and success factors of both exams. When a candidate is getting close to their experience hours target, we recommend registering for an exam prep module when you can "see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Having an exam prep close to the exam date ensures the competencies are refreshed, the code of conduct has a renewed focus, and any announced evolutions in the exam can be adequately communicated. All our graduates may take any exam prep module for FREE for 18 months after the end of the program using their unique coupon code for the cohort.
The ACC Exam: The ACC exam is a straightforward multiple choice test that requires a strong understanding of the core competencies and the code of conduct. It's 90 minutes in a proctored setting, either in a testing center or in a proctored virtual setting that meets the requirements. Tuition is $395.
The PCC Exam: The PCC exam is more comprehensive in terms of assessing an experienced coach's judgement and deep understanding of the complexities of providing coaching in multidimensional situations. Tuition is $495.
As with any standardized exam, we believe it is essential to understand the objectives of the exam, the structure of the process, and the underlying rationale for success. We are here to help you pass the first time!
BCC Written Exam Prep
We are a Registered Coach Training Provider (RCTP) for the Board Certified Coach (BCC) credential. We have a number of students who decide the BCC credential is an important "interim" credential while they are working toward their ICF credential or a preferred "terminal" (only) certification in their coaching credential portfolio.
- For one thing, it can be much quicker to obtain because it does not require three months of mentor coaching or a recorded performance evaluation for any applicant.
- For anyone with Master's degree or higher in social or behavior sciences (includes MBA), it only requires 30 hours of coaching experience compared to 100 hours for ICF. While I remain steadfastly opposed to their conditions, they do allow candidates to look backward and count "coaching experience hours" prior to receiving any coach-specific training. In my opinion, this is improper and undermines the significance of the required training. Yet, it is acceptable and gives candidates more flexibility.
- And honestly, the title "Board Certified Coach" has a perceived value, relevance, and marketing cache, especially in certain professions or industries, such as health care, law, medical services, or any distinctive professional services marketplace.
There are seven different sets of certification requirements, depending on the candidate's level of education. Here's the whole list with corresponding educational requirements: https://www.cce-global.org/credentialing/bcc/requirements.
A brand new set of "competencies" was published in 2024, which is the basis for the written exam. We believe these updated skills are vastly more in line with professional coaching best practices today. A new Content Outline with the new CCE Core Competencies in SIX revised domains is available here: BCCE Content Outline.
The new exam is a 120-question, 3-hour, multiple-choice exam. The only study guidance they provide is an "Assessment" you can take for $25. It's quite obscure on their website, so here is a direct link: https://academy.cce-global.org/courses/bcce. At completion, you will learn if you passed or failed and the results by domain. You will not, however, get the correct answers for your study benefit. You're on your own for that.
In their Resources section , they offer a Selected Reference List, the most current being 2018. In my opinion, the most important reference book list is Becoming a Professional Life Coach (3rd Edition): The Art and Science of a Whole-Person Approach by Patrick Williams and Diane Menendez. Actually, it's quite a good book, and at 432 pages, it's not light reading. With the new competencies, however, you will be reasonably well prepared just based on your Level 1 training.
Interactive Study Guide
Positive Coaching Solutions is developing a comprehensive, interactive study guide to support candidates in preparing for their BCC Exam.
When you register for the Guide, you will receive an invitation to the Positive Coaching Solutions Learning Hub. Complete your review at your own pace.
And we are always here to answer questions, provide direction, and otherwise support your credentialing journey. Your success matters greatly to us!
Continuing Professional Education Programs Designed for YOU
We are committed to providing high-value, game-changing professional development opportunities
that will make real differences in the lives and businesses of our cherished coaching community.
The new Certified Group Coaching Program (CGC) is launching September 16, with access to the exciting new Learning Hub on August 1. Learn more and Register here. This comprehensive and hands-on program will equip coaches to expand their service offerings in a business model that expands their portfolio and produces more net income.- Certified Career Management Coach (CCMC) is being retooled and updated to include important new content, including the use of AI in career development and job search. The new program will roll out in 2027. Check it out here.
- Stand up to Conflict with Coaching Skills adds broadly relevant coaching capabilities for coaches to work with difficult relationships and incompatible needs or values. Stay tuned for 2027 dates to be published!
We believe in collaborative partnerships and the creative benefits of working with other passionate professionals. Good things just happen. Stay tuned for more to come.