ACC preparation
Separate ethics from competency language and stop rereading everything.
ICF Exam Prep // ACC · PCC · Ethics
ACC tests knowledge.
PCC tests judgment.
Prepare for the exam you're taking.
Free study tools for ACC, PCC, and Ethics. Upgrade when you want timed exams and CoachPrep practice data that identifies what to study next.
100+ people have used CoachPrep to study for the ACC or PCC exam800+ practice itemsACC · PCC credential paths$0 to start
Choose your path
Start with the exam in front of you
ACC
ACC exam
Build knowledge, ethics fluency, and timed-answer confidence.
Open this path →PCCPCC exam
Practice best/worst judgment, markers, and scenario decisions.
Open this path →ETHEthics practice
Drill the Code of Ethics behind every credential level.
Open this path →
The study system
Five ways to study. One clear path.
1 · Learn
Explore competencies, ethics, and the official source documents behind the exams.
2 · Recognize
Matching, scenarios, and judgment references build pattern recognition.
3 · Reflect
Reflection Studio helps you arrive with guided audio, then turn real coaching sessions into focused study reps.
4 · Simulate
Practice the ACC, PCC, and Ethics formats under realistic conditions.
5 · Track
Saved misses, the Exam Practice Diagnostic, and readiness signals turn practice into the next target.
Practice the decision
Coaching judgment needs more than definitions
Coach’s Chair puts you inside a six-turn conversation. Every move changes trust, awareness, and client agency, so you can see the difference between advice that sounds helpful and coaching that keeps the client in charge.
Play a free session →
Who builds CoachPrep
Practice questions written and explained by an ICF PCC
I'm Trey Henderson. I write and curate every CoachPrep item, drawing on training in PCC Marker and ACC BARS assessment standards. Each question is mapped to the competency it tests and includes a rationale, so you learn why one answer wins, not just which one.
- ICF PCC
- PCC Marker trained
- ACC BARS trained
- Mentor coach
The Problem
Why most candidates study wrong
01
Passive review doesn't transfer
The exam asks you to apply knowledge to a specific situation. Skills need reps.
02
You can't see your own blind spots
Candidates repeat the same misses when nothing keeps score across practice.
03
“What needs work?” is hard to see
The Practice Readiness Index turns saved practice into a specific next study target.
The Difference
Train on wrong answers, on purpose
The hardest part of PCC-style questions is recognizing the worst response when every option sounds reasonable.
- FAILURES Ladder: use the CoachPrep-created memory heuristic—not an official ICF framework or scoring shortcut—to notice risks, then decide from the full context.
- PCC best/worst drills: score both choices with a rationale.
- Mistake patterns: turn repeated misses into named findings.
Practice goals
What the tools are designed to help you do
PCC judgment
See why a good answer is not always the best answer.
Targeted study
Name weak areas and turn them into the next practice target.
Human support
Bring a coach into your preparation
Improve your real coaching
Software can train judgment. A mentor coach can hear what you actually do and give marker-based feedback on your recorded sessions.
Explore mentor coaching →Get hands-on exam support
Exam Concierge adds a personalized study plan, a Credential Health Check, and 30 days of direct voice and text access to Trey.
See Exam Concierge on the plans page →Free guided study path
Build exam judgment in 13 weeks
One short lesson a day, one competency a week, with practice linked at the moment it matters.
Questions
Before you start
Who's behind CoachPrep, and who writes the questions?
CoachPrep is built by Trey Henderson, an ICF Professional Certified Coach trained in PCC marker and ACC BARS assessment standards. Every question is mapped to the competency it tests and includes a rationale.
Which exams does it cover?
ACC, PCC, and ICF Code of Ethics preparation, plus judgment training that applies to both credential levels.
Is CoachPrep really free?
Yes. Learning tools, the Daily 10, starter practice, saved progress, and the 13-Week Sprint are free. Exam Pass adds full timed exams, diagnostics, the CoachPrep Practice Readiness Index, Smart Mix, and mistake review.
Should I study for the ACC or the PCC?
ACC is the standard first credential and leans on knowledge and ethics. PCC is for experienced coaches and tests judgment between good and better responses.
Is CoachPrep aligned to the current ICF exam?
CoachPrep labels its standards lanes: standard-exam preparation uses the exam-era 2019 competencies and 2020 Code, while current-practice study uses the 2025 standards separately. It is independent study material, not actual or leaked exam questions.
Do I need an account to practice?
No. You can practice anonymously. A free account syncs progress across devices.
Is this official ICF material?
No. CoachPrep is independent exam preparation and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the International Coaching Federation.
Do I need mentor coaching, and what does it add?
Mentor coaching adds marker-based feedback on your real coaching, recorded-session review, and the mentor-coaching hours required for credential applications.
Is ICF mentor coaching changing in 2027?
ICF has announced changes beginning in 2027. Verify the current rules for your exact credential and application date.
What if I'm not sure I'm ready to book the exam?
Use the official requirements and your exam instructions to make that decision. CoachPrep's free self-assessment offers a quick next step, while the Practice Readiness Index summarizes only your CoachPrep practice.
Ready when you are