Daily lessons
one coaching focus a day: what it means, what it looks like, and the exam trap to avoid.
Build exam judgment over 13 focused weeks, one email each morning.
A guided path through all 8 ICF competencies and original competency-based practice prompts. Choose ACC or PCC, and every lesson follows that exam path.
13weeks of practice
91daily emails
2–4 minlesson reading
$0free, no card
- Clear daily order: no staring at a wall of material wondering what to study next.
- Credential-specific lens: ACC leans into one-best-answer logic; PCC adds deeper judgment reps.
- Built into CoachPrep: every lesson points to the matching drill, quiz, or study tool.
The weekly rhythm
The same loop every week, so the model sticks.
Each week combines new material with revisiting uncertain answers, one spoken coaching response, and a five-question cumulative review. Every third week offers an optional 20-item practice checkpoint.
Spoken response
Say or record one exact coaching response, then reflect on intent, ownership, and assumption risk.
Cumulative retrieval
Five questions combine this week with earlier material. Every third week adds an optional 20-item practice checkpoint.
Morning-sized
Allow 2–4 minutes to read most lessons. Set aside extra time for practice and weekly reviews.
The curriculum
13 weeks mapped to the ICF model.
The backbone is shared, while the examples and exam logic adjust to the credential you choose.
Phase 1
Foundation
Weeks 1-3Week 01
Foundation & ICF Mindset
What coaching is and is not, client autonomy, and the exam format itself.
Week 02
Demonstrates Ethical Practice
Competency 1, a competency behavior a day.
Week 03
Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Curiosity, self-regulation, and reflective practice.
Phase 2
Co-creating the relationship
Weeks 4-6Week 04
Establishes & Maintains Agreements
The contract, the session goal, and measures of success.
Week 05
Cultivates Trust & Safety
The client's context, identity, and safe space to share.
Week 06
Maintains Presence
Focus, curiosity, and working with strong emotion.
Phase 3
Communicating and growing
Weeks 7-9Week 07
Listens Actively
What the client says, does not say, and means.
Week 08
Evokes Awareness
Powerful questions, silence, metaphor, and reframes.
Week 09
Facilitates Client Growth
Insight to action, accountability, and session close.
Phase 4
Judgment and final sprint
Weeks 10-13Week 10
Mixed Scenarios
Harder exam-style situations that cross competency lines.
Week 11
Ethics & Boundaries
Confidentiality, referrals, conflicts of interest, and sponsor vs client.
Week 12
Answer Judgment
ACC: eliminate distractors to find the one coaching answer. PCC: choose best and worst when all four options sound plausible.
Week 13
Final Exam Sprint
Daily quizzes, common traps, rationales, and your readiness check.
Same backbone, different lens. ACC candidates get clearer knowledge and ethics framing. PCC candidates get more reps on nuance, ranking, and best/worst judgment.
Two credential paths
Choose ACC or PCC when you sign up.
The Sprint uses the same daily habit, then adjusts examples and exam logic to the credential you are preparing for.
Knowledge and ethics
For coaches building structure from the ground up.
- One-best-answer framing for the ACC question style.
- Distractor elimination drills to spot non-coaching answers.
- Heavier emphasis on definitions, boundaries, and ethics.
- Useful when the model still feels like a lot of material.
Judgment and nuance
For coaches who know the model and need reps on judgment.
- Scenario judgment with best and worst answer selection.
- Deeper answer ranking when all four choices sound plausible.
- Extra focus on mixed scenarios and Week 12 judgment.
- Useful when you need instinct sharpening, not just review.
Built on CoachPrep
Read the email. Run the drill. Repeat.
- Every lesson links to the matching CoachPrep activity: competency reviews, spinner scenarios, Daily 10, or exam questions.
- Sign in for free to keep your Sprint history together. Add Exam Pass when you want quiz results to feed diagnostics and readiness.
- Fall behind? Nothing breaks. Lessons wait in your inbox and in your Sprint hub.
- Add Daily 10 when you have another 15–25 minutes for practice and answer review.
Start today
Your first lesson is one email away.
Pick ACC or PCC, confirm your email, and the 13-Week Sprint starts. Free, self-paced, and easy to leave anytime.
Join the Sprint →No credit card · No spam · One-click unsubscribe
Questions
Sprint FAQ
Is the 13-Week Sprint really free?
Yes, completely free. No credit card, no trial that turns into a charge. The Sprint links to free starter tools throughout the path. The Exam Pass is optional and unlocks the scoring layer: full timed exams, diagnostics, the CoachPrep Practice Readiness Index, Smart Mix, and mistake review.
What do I get each week?
Seven daily emails combining short lessons, revisiting uncertain answers from your notes, one spoken or recorded coaching response, and a five-question cumulative review. Every third week offers an optional 20-item practice checkpoint.
How much time does each lesson take?
Most lessons take 2–4 minutes to read. Allow 5–8 minutes for a spoken lab, 10–20 minutes for the weekly review, and 8–15 minutes for an optional five-item practice set. Optional 20-item checkpoints take about 30–60 minutes including review. Each email explains its activity and timing.
When will the emails arrive?
One lesson a day, around 8:00 AM in your local time zone. You can change the time and time zone anytime from the preferences link at the bottom of every email. Right after you sign up, check your inbox for a quick confirmation email; your first lesson follows once you confirm.
What if I fall behind or miss a day?
Nothing breaks. The Sprint is self-paced; lessons wait in your inbox, and if you sign in for free every lesson is saved in your Sprint hub to review anytime.
Should I pick ACC or PCC, and can I switch later?
Pick the credential you are working toward and the examples and exam framing adjust to it. ACC uses knowledge questions. The current CoachPrep PCC track uses the existing best-and-worst judgment format. ICF launches a new mixed-format PCC-MCC Exam on November 10, 2026. CoachPrep has a separate new-format rehearsal with original AI-assisted practice questions reviewed and approved by experts; it is not an official or validated exam. You can switch Sprint tracks anytime from the preferences link at the bottom of every email.
Do I need a CoachPrep account to do the Sprint?
No. The lessons arrive by email and stand on their own. Signing in for free is optional but recommended so your Sprint history stays in one place. Exam Pass adds diagnostics and the CoachPrep Practice Readiness Index from saved results.
How is the Sprint different from just using the free study tools?
The tools are there whenever you want them; the Sprint is the guided path through them. It decides what to study each day and in what order, so you are never staring at a wall of material wondering where to start. They work best together.
Does this replace mentor coaching?
No. The Sprint builds exam knowledge and judgment on your own schedule. Mentor coaching develops your actual coaching through observation, feedback, reflection, and practice, and it can satisfy applicable credential requirements. Many coaches use both. See the mentor coaching options.
Will you spam me or share my email?
You will receive signup confirmation, daily Sprint lessons, and essential course messages, not unrelated marketing. We do not sell your email or use it for advertising. It is shared only with providers needed to deliver and operate the course, as described in our Privacy Policy, and every course email includes an unsubscribe link.
What happens when I finish the 13 weeks?
Week 13 is a final exam sprint with daily quizzes, common traps, and a readiness check. By the end you have covered all 8 competencies and original competency-based practice prompts, and you can stay sharp with the Daily 10 and Focused Practice.