The New ICF PCC-MCC Exam: What's Changing in 2026 (and What Isn't)

What is the new PCC-MCC Exam?

On July 17, 2026, the International Coaching Federation announced it has redesigned its written assessment for coaches seeking the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC) credentials. The updated assessment launches on November 10, 2026 and will be called the PCC-MCC Exam.

The headline change is the question format. The exam now combines two types of questions to evaluate candidates more completely; testing both real-time coaching judgment and foundational knowledge.

What has changed?

The new exam features two distinct question formats working together:

• Situational judgment questions present realistic coaching scenarios and assess your ability to evaluate and prioritize the right response. These are not new; they have long been part of the credentialing assessment.
• Knowledge-based questions are new to the PCC-MCC Exam. They measure your understanding of core coaching concepts, principles, and professional standards. (These have previously been used on the ACC Exam.) Because they are more direct than scenario questions, the overall exam involves less reading than the current format.

The exam has also been aligned with the ICF's most recent 2025 updates to the Core Competencies and the Code of Ethics.

The new exam format at a glance

What hasn't changed?

If you're preparing for the exam, this is the reassuring part; the fundamentals are stable.

• The difficulty and pass rate remain consistent with the current exam. The format has evolved, but the bar has not moved.
• The four-domain structure is unchanged: Foundation, Co-Creating the Relationship, Communicating Effectively, and Cultivating Learning and Growth.
• Your existing study materials still apply. Even with the 2025 competency and ethics updates reflected in the exam, current preparation resources will continue to serve candidates well. The ICF will also release a free tutorial shortly before launch.
• The exam is still built by coaches, for coaches, through a research-driven development process.

Key dates to know

What this means for you as a candidate

During the transition period (November 10, 2026 to March 31, 2027), you'll have the option to choose which exam you sit as you progress through the credentialing process. If you're already deep into preparation with current materials, you can continue with confidence; the pass standard is unchanged, and your resources remain valid. If you're just beginning, it's worth simply being aware that the format now includes direct knowledge questions alongside the familiar scenarios.

Either way, there's no need to rush or panic. This is a refinement of how the exam measures readiness, not a raising of the hurdle.

How Coaching Out of the Box® keeps you ready

Exam formats evolve. What keeps our graduates ready isn't teaching to any single version of a test; it's building genuine competency in the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics, which is what every version of the exam actually measures.

As an ICF Level 1 and Level 2 accredited provider, we keep our curriculum current with ICF's standards, including the 2025 Core Competency and Code of Ethics updates now reflected in the PCC-MCC Exam. Our programs bake in the mentor coaching, performance evaluation, and competency-based practice that prepare you not just to pass, but to coach well; which is why our graduates achieve a 95% first-attempt pass rate.

Whether you're pursuing your ACC credential through our FastTrack program or advancing to PCC through our Level 2 pathway, you'll be prepared for the exam as it stands today and as it evolves.

Source: International Coaching Federation; Understanding the Latest Credentialing Exam Changes (July 17, 2026). Always confirm current requirements directly with the ICF.