Here are the ICF Core Competency Markers (updated framework)—this is what assessors use to evaluate coaching at ACC, PCC, and MCC levels. I’ll give you a clear, practical breakdown (not the dense PDF language).

 ICF Core Competencies + Key Markers

ICF groups everything into 4 domains + 8 competencies:

 1. Foundation

1. Demonstrates Ethical Practice

Markers:

• Clearly explains what coaching is (and isn’t)

• Sets boundaries (no therapy, consulting unless agreed)

• Maintains confidentiality

• Follows the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics

• Recognises when to refer a client elsewhere

2. Embodies a Coaching Mindset

Markers:

• Stays open, curious, and flexible

• Manages own emotions (doesn’t react or judge)

• Reflects on own coaching to improve

• Sees client as capable and resourceful

• Practices self-awareness and growth

 2. Co-Creating the Relationship

3. Establishes and Maintains Agreements

Markers:

• Clarifies session goals with the client

• Aligns on what success looks like

• Adjusts direction if needed during session

• Keeps focus on what matters to the client

4. Cultivates Trust and Safety

Markers:

• Creates a safe, non-judgmental space

• Shows genuine care and respect

• Supports client expression (even difficult emotions)

• Builds psychological safety for honesty

5. Maintains Presence

Markers:

• Fully focused and present (not distracted)

• Comfortable with silence

• Adapts in the moment (not stuck to a script)

• Responds to what’s actually happening (not agenda-driven)

• Stays calm in uncertainty or emotional moments

 3. Communicating Effectively

6. Listens Actively

Markers:

• Listens beyond words (tone, emotion, patterns)

• Reflects and summarises accurately

• Notices shifts in energy or meaning

• Doesn’t interrupt or jump to conclusions

• Picks up what’s NOT being said

7. Evokes Awareness

Markers:

• Asks powerful, open-ended questions

• Challenges thinking (respectfully)

• Helps client see new perspectives

• Connects dots and patterns

• Invites deeper insight (not just surface answers)

 This is the most heavily weighted competency in PCC/MCC assessments

 4. Cultivating Learning and Growth

8. Facilitates Client Growth

Markers:

• Helps client turn insight into action

• Supports accountability

• Encourages reflection and learning

• Celebrates progress

• Promotes sustainable change

 How Markers Differ by Level

 ACC (Beginner)

• Basic structure

• Some coaching vs advice mixed

• Less depth

 PCC (Professional)

• Consistent coaching presence

• Strong questioning and listening

• Client-led, deeper exploration

 MCC (Master)

• Effortless flow

• Deep transformation

• Minimal coach input, maximum client insight

 What Assessors REALLY Look For (Simplified)

Across all competencies, assessors are asking:

• ❓ Are you leading or following the client?

• ❓ Are you fixing or evoking thinking?

• ❓ Are you surface-level or transformational?

• ❓ Are you in control or co-creating?

 One-Line Summary of Each Competency

1. Ethics → Do you play clean?

2. Mindset → Are you being a coach, not acting like one?

3. Agreements → Are you solving the right problem?

4. Trust → Does the client feel safe?

5. Presence → Are you actually here?

6. Listening → Do you truly hear them?

7. Awareness → Do you expand their thinking?

8. Growth → Does anything change?

Before we begin, I want to briefly explain what coaching is, so you know exactly what to expect from me and how we’ll work together.

Coaching is a partnership between you and me, where my role is to support you in thinking more clearly, accessing your own insights, and moving forward toward what matters most to you.

This is your space. You set the agenda. You decide what success looks like. My job is not to tell you what to do, but to help you uncover what you already know, challenge your thinking where useful, and support you in taking meaningful action.

Coaching is different from other types of support you may have experienced.

It is not mentoring — I won’t be giving you advice based on my own experience or telling you what I think you should do.

It is not consulting — I’m not here to diagnose a problem and provide you with solutions or strategies.

And it is not therapy — we won’t be focusing on healing past trauma or working on clinical or psychological issues. If anything like that comes up that needs deeper support, I will always recommend the appropriate professional.

Instead, coaching is future-focused, growth-oriented, and centered around your goals, your awareness, and your responsibility for the outcomes.

I will ask you questions that may challenge you, reflect back what I’m hearing, and help you notice patterns, assumptions, or beliefs that might be shaping your current situation.

You are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole — and I trust that you have the ability to find your own answers. My role is to help you access that more consistently.

At times, I may check in with you about how the coaching process is working for you, because this is a collaborative partnership, and we can adjust as needed to best support you.

Does that make sense, and how does that land for you before we begin?

Before we go further, I want to set a few clear boundaries so that we both feel safe, aligned, and know how we’ll work together.

My role here is as your coach. That means I will stay in a coaching stance — supporting your thinking, awareness, and forward movement — rather than stepping into other roles unless we explicitly agree to it.

This is not therapy. I won’t be working with trauma, diagnosing, or treating any psychological or clinical conditions. If anything comes up that feels like it would benefit from therapeutic support, I will name it and encourage you to seek the right kind of help.

This is also not consulting or mentoring by default. I won’t automatically give advice, solutions, or tell you what I would do in your situation.

However, if at any point you would like input, ideas, or a more directive approach, we can pause and explicitly agree to shift into that mode for a moment — and then consciously return to coaching. You’ll always have a choice.

Everything we do here is in service of your goals, your values, and your responsibility for the outcomes.

My commitment is to stay present, ask you questions that expand your thinking, and reflect what I notice — while respecting these boundaries so that the coaching remains clean and effective.

If at any point something doesn’t feel right, or you want to adjust how we’re working together, I invite you to say so. This is a partnership.

How does that sound to you?

Before we begin, I want to speak briefly about confidentiality so that you feel safe in this space.

Everything you share here will be kept strictly confidential. This is your space to think, explore, and speak openly without concern that it will be shared outside of our conversation.

The only exceptions to confidentiality would be if I am required by law to disclose something, or if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others. In those situations, I would always aim to discuss it with you first before taking any action.

If we are working within an organization, I will not share the content of our conversations with anyone else, including sponsors or managers. If there is any reporting required, it will be agreed upfront and will remain at a high level, without personal detail, unless you explicitly consent.

I also take responsibility for maintaining your privacy by ensuring that any notes or records I keep are stored securely.

My intention is to create a space where you feel fully comfortable to be honest and open.

How does that feel for you, and is there anything you’d like to add or clarify around confidentiality before we begin?

Before we begin, I want you to know that my coaching is guided by the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics.

What that means for you is that I am committed to working with you in a way that is professional, respectful, and always in your best interest.

I will be honest and transparent with you, and I will communicate clearly about what coaching is and what it isn’t, so there is no confusion about the role I’m playing.

I take confidentiality seriously, and I will protect your privacy as we’ve discussed.

I will also stay aware of my own limits. If at any point I feel that what you need is outside the scope of coaching, I will say so and support you in finding the right kind of help.

If a conflict of interest ever arises, I will openly discuss it with you so that we can decide how to move forward in a way that feels right and ethical.

You always have choice in this process — including the choice to pause or stop coaching at any time.

My intention is to create a space that is safe, respectful, and grounded in trust, where you feel supported to explore what matters most to you.

If you ever have concerns about how I’m working, I welcome you to raise them so we can address them together.

How does that sound to you before we begin?

As part of working together, I also want to be clear about my responsibility to recognise when coaching is the right support — and when something else may serve you better.

My role is to support you through coaching, which is focused on your goals, awareness, and forward movement. At the same time, I stay aware of the limits of coaching.

If at any point I notice that what you’re dealing with may be better supported by another professional — for example, a therapist, counsellor, medical professional, or specialist — I will name that openly and honestly.

This isn’t about stopping support, but about making sure you get the most appropriate support for what you need.

Where it feels appropriate, we can pause coaching, or continue alongside other support, depending on what serves you best.

I will always aim to have that conversation with care, respect, and transparency, and involve you in deciding the next steps.

My priority is your wellbeing and ensuring that you are supported in the most effective way possible.

How does that feel for you, knowing that I will hold that responsibility as part of our work together?

As we work together, I want you to know how I will show up in this space with you.

My intention is to stay open, curious, and flexible throughout our conversation.

That means I won’t come in with a fixed agenda or assumptions about you or your situation. Instead, I will listen deeply to what matters to you and allow the conversation to unfold based on where your thinking goes.

I will ask questions מתוך curiosity, not judgment — to help you explore your perspectives, expand your awareness, and discover what feels true for you.

If something shifts during our conversation — your goal, your energy, or what feels most important — we can adapt in the moment. We’re not locked into a rigid structure.

I may also share observations or reflections as they arise, and I will check in with you to ensure they are useful and relevant for you.

This is a dynamic, responsive process, and we will co-create it together in a way that best supports you.

If at any point you want to change direction, go deeper, or slow things down, you can let me know, and we’ll adjust.

How does that approach feel for you?

As we work together, I also want you to know how I will hold myself in this space.

My role is to remain present, grounded, and non-judgmental, regardless of what you choose to share.

I’m aware that my own thoughts, reactions, or emotions may arise at times, and I take responsibility for managing those so that they don’t interfere with your process.

This means I won’t impose my opinions, judge your choices, or react in a way that shifts the focus away from you.

Instead, I will stay curious and open, and if I notice something within myself that could impact the coaching, I will consciously set it aside so that I can continue to support you effectively.

If I ever sense that something I’m experiencing could be useful to the conversation, I may choose to share it carefully and respectfully — always in service of your awareness, and I will check in with you to ensure it lands in a way that supports you.

My intention is to create a space where you feel fully accepted and free to explore whatever is important to you.

How does that feel for you?

As part of how I work as a coach, I also take responsibility for continuously reflecting on and improving my own coaching practice.

This means that after our sessions, I may take time to reflect on how I showed up — what supported you well, and where I can grow to better serve you.

At times, I may also check in with you directly to gather your feedback on what is working for you in the coaching, and what could be even more effective.

If appropriate, I may bring that reflection back into our conversations in a way that supports your progress — always keeping the focus on what will serve you best.

My intention is to ensure that the coaching you receive continues to evolve in a way that is aligned with your needs and goals.

This is part of my commitment to showing up with quality, presence, and professionalism in our work together.

If you ever notice something that could make this coaching more valuable for you, I welcome you to share it openly.

As we begin, I want to share something important about how I see you in this coaching space.

I fully believe that you are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. You already have within you the ability to find solutions, make decisions, and create the changes you want in your life.

My role is not to fix things for you or give you the answers. Instead, I am here to help you access your own thinking, explore possibilities, and notice what you already know.

Even when challenges arise, I trust in your capacity to navigate them and take action in a way that aligns with your goals and values.

I may ask questions, reflect what I notice, or highlight options, but always with the understanding that you are the expert on your life. You have the answers; my job is to help you find them more clearly.

How does it feel to know that I see you as capable and fully resourceful in this space?

As part of my coaching practice, I make it a priority to stay self-aware and committed to my own growth.

This means I continually reflect on how I show up in sessions, noticing my assumptions, reactions, and patterns so that I can be fully present for you.

I also seek to learn and improve as a coach — whether through feedback, supervision, or my own reflection — so that the support I provide is always evolving and effective.

If at any point I notice that something in my awareness or behavior could affect the session, I take responsibility for managing it, or I may bring it up transparently in service of the coaching.

My goal is to ensure that our coaching is high quality, responsive, and fully focused on your needs and outcomes.

I welcome your feedback too, because your perspective helps me grow and ensures that this space works best for you.

How does it feel to know that I am committed to being fully present and continuously growing as your coach?

Before we dive in, I’d like to clarify what you’d like to focus on in today’s session.

What’s most important for you to explore, resolve, or move forward with right now?

We can co-create a goal for this session that feels meaningful and achievable for you. It can be specific or broad — whatever will make this session most valuable.

Throughout our conversation, we can check in to make sure we’re staying aligned with that goal. If something new comes up that feels more important, we can adjust the focus together.

This is your space, so you guide the priorities, and I’ll support you in reaching clarity, generating options, and taking action that moves you forward.

How would you like to frame today’s session goal?

Before we start, I’d like us to clarify what success would look like for you in this session (or overall coaching journey).

What would need to happen for you to feel that this session has been valuable and productive?

We can define what a “win” or meaningful outcome looks like from your perspective, and use that as our guide throughout our conversation.

This ensures that everything we explore stays focused on what matters most to you, and that the session delivers real impact.

If at any point you feel that your definition of success shifts, we can pause and adjust so that we remain aligned.

How would you describe success for today’s session?

As we go through our session, I want you to know that we can adjust the direction at any time.

If something comes up that feels more important to you than our original focus, we can pause, explore it, and shift the conversation to best serve your needs.

Similarly, if a particular approach or line of questioning isn’t resonating, I may check in with you and we can decide together how to move forward.

This flexibility ensures that the session remains relevant, useful, and fully aligned with what matters most to you.

Our goal is to create a coaching conversation that flows with your priorities, rather than being fixed or rigid.

How do you feel about being able to guide or change the direction of our conversation if needed?

As we work together, my focus will always stay on what matters most to you.

I will check in regularly to make sure the conversation is relevant and aligned with your priorities.

If I notice we’re drifting or exploring something that isn’t serving your goals, I will gently bring it back to what you’ve identified as important.

This ensures that every part of our conversation contributes to your clarity, insight, and forward movement.

Your agenda, your values, and your goals guide our work — I’m here to support and illuminate, not to redirect or impose my priorities.

How does it feel to know that this space is fully dedicated to what matters to you?

As we begin, I want you to know that this is a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore whatever is most important.

You can share openly without fear of criticism or evaluation. Everything you say here is respected, and my role is to listen deeply, reflect, and support your thinking — not to judge or impose my views.

This space is yours. You guide what we discuss, how deep we go, and what matters most to you. I am here to ensure that you feel heard, understood, and supported throughout our conversation.

If at any point something doesn’t feel safe or useful, please let me know, and we’ll adjust. My commitment is to create trust, clarity, and respect so that you can fully engage in this coaching process.

How does it feel to have this kind of safe space to work in today?

As we begin, I want you to know that I am fully committed to working with you with genuine care and respect.

I respect your experiences, perspectives, and choices. My role is to honor where you are, listen deeply, and support you without judgment or assumption.

Everything we explore here is done with your wellbeing and growth in mind. I am present, attentive, and engaged, so that you feel valued and understood throughout our conversation.

If at any point you feel that I’m not honoring your needs or perspective, please let me know. Your voice is important, and I want to ensure that this coaching relationship is always respectful, collaborative, and empowering.

How does it feel to know that this session is grounded in respect and genuine care for you?

As we work together, I want you to know that this is a space where you can fully express yourself — including thoughts or emotions that might feel difficult, uncomfortable, or vulnerable.

I will listen without judgment and hold whatever you share with care and respect. You won’t need to hide or minimize your feelings here.

If strong emotions arise, I will stay present and grounded, supporting you to explore and express them safely, while keeping the focus on your learning, insights, and forward movement.

You guide the depth and pace of what we explore. My role is to ensure you feel heard, acknowledged, and supported, no matter what comes up.

How does it feel to have a space where you can fully express what matters, even if it’s challenging?

MCC Opening Script Summary

• Define coaching & set boundaries: Coaching is a partnership focused on your goals and growth. I won’t give advice or act as a therapist unless we agree it’s appropriate.

• Confidentiality & ethics: Everything shared is confidential. I follow the ICF Code of Ethics and will refer you to other professionals if needed.

• Openness & flexibility: I stay curious, open, and responsive. We can adjust direction anytime based on your priorities.

• Emotional management & presence: I manage my own emotions and remain non-judgmental, creating a safe, supportive space.

• Client capability & empowerment: I see you as capable, resourceful, and whole. You guide the session; I help you access your insights.

• Self-awareness & growth: I reflect on my coaching and welcome feedback to improve how I serve you.

• Session goals & success alignment: Let’s clarify your focus and define what success looks like for today.

• Focus & expression: I keep attention on what matters to you, support your full expression (even difficult emotions), and show genuine care and respect.

How this script hits all 17 MCC competencies

Competency

How it’s addressed

Defines coaching clearly

“Coaching is a professional partnership focused on your goals…”

Sets boundaries

“I won’t give advice or act as a therapist, consultant…unless we explicitly agree.”

Maintains confidentiality

“Everything you share here is confidential…”

Follows ICF Code of Ethics

“I work according to the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics…”

Recognises when to refer

“If I notice your needs might be better supported elsewhere…I will let you know openly.”

Stays open, curious, flexible

“I remain open, curious, and flexible…allow the conversation to evolve based on your priorities.”

Manages own emotions

“I stay mindful of my own emotions, managing them so they don’t interfere…”

Reflects on own coaching

“I continuously reflect on my coaching and seek feedback…”

Sees client as capable/resourceful

“I fully believe that you are capable, resourceful, and whole…”

Practices self-awareness/growth

“I continuously reflect…seek feedback so I can serve you more effectively.”

Clarifies session goals

“Let’s clarify what you’d like to focus on today…”

Aligns on success

“Once we define that, we can align on what success looks like…”

Adjusts direction

“We can adjust the direction at any time if something else becomes more important.”

Keeps focus on client priorities

“I’ll check in regularly to ensure we stay focused on what matters most to you…”

Creates safe, non-judgmental space

“Maintaining a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share openly…”

Shows genuine care/respect

“I am fully present, showing genuine care and respect for you, your experiences, and your choices.”

Supports client expression

“…you can share openly — even if emotions or topics feel difficult.”

Coaching is a professional partnership focused on your goals.  Unless we explicitly agree, I wont give advice, or act as a consultant or mentor.  Everything shared in a coaching session is confidential.  I will ask you if I can record, for review with a mentor whose only interest would be to help me improve my coaching. Training sessions are recorded. They may be reviewed by students. You can elect to make parts of them confidential. I work according to the ICF and Comensa Code of Ethics. If I notice you needs are better supported by a different person I will openly tell you. I am open, curious and flexible to your agenda and the conversation will evolve based on your priorities.  I am mindful of my own emotions and will manage them so that they dont interfere. I reflect on my coaching and welcome feedback. You are capable, resourceful and whole. We can adjust the direction at any time if something becomes more important. I'll check in to confirm we are still focused on what matters most to you. We want to create a safe, non-judgemental space where you can share openly. I have genuine care and respect for you, your experiences and choices. You can share openly, even if topics are difficult.  Lets clarify what you want to focus on in todays session. Once we have done that we can align on what success looks like.