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Here are the ReciproCoach learning and development opportunities open for registration in July. Dates are listed in US ET, and registration typically closes the week before. This Month's Featured MCS Mentor Coach Training Our Mentor Coach Training program, updated in 2025 to align with the Mentor Coaching Competencies, is now recognised for 10 ICF CCEs in Core Competencies and is suitable for MCS required mentor coach education via the Credit for Prior Learning path. We are also developing a live training suitable for the standard MCS pathway. Register for both via the mentoring events page. All July Learning and Development Events (NOTE: Dates below are for US ET) 30 JUNE PCC to MCC Group Mentoring (2026/6.11) For PCC-credentialed coaches working towards MCC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an MCC-level competency focus and distinctions at the PCC level. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jun 29, 2026 1 JULY ACC Group Mentoring (2026/7.1) For coaches applying for their ACC credential and working towards ACC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an ACC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Full 2 JULY ACC/PCC Group Mentoring (2026/7.2) For coaches applying for or renewing their ACC and working towards PCC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with a PCC-level competency focus and distinctions at the ACC level. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jun 25, 2026 7 JULY ACC Group Mentoring (2026/7.3) For coaches applying for their ACC credential and working towards ACC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an ACC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jun 30, 2026 8 JULY General Coaching - Experienced Coaches (2026/7.1) For experienced coaches with 100 or more client coaching hours. This reciprocal peer coaching round offers practice across a range of client topics, with partners typically matched at a similar level of experience. Register Register by Jul 5, 2026 General Coaching - Student/New Coaches (2026/7.2) For student and new coaches with fewer than 100 client coaching hours. This reciprocal peer coaching round offers practice across a range of client topics, with partners typically matched at a similar level of experience. Register Register by Jul 5, 2026 13 JULY ACC Group Mentoring (2026/7.4) For coaches applying for their ACC credential and working towards ACC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an ACC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 6, 2026 14 JULY PCC Group Mentoring (2026/7.5) For coaches working towards PCC-level coaching, including those applying for their PCC or renewing their ACC. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with a PCC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 7, 2026 16 JULY Casual Group Supervision Session (2026/7.1) For coaches who are currently coaching individuals and looking to engage in a one-off group supervision session. This 1.25-hour session includes active reflection, discussion and learning based on recent coaching practice, under the guidance of a qualified coaching supervisor within a collaborative group setting. Register Register by Jul 9, 2026 21 JULY ACC Group Mentoring (2026/7.6) For coaches applying for their ACC credential and working towards ACC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an ACC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 14, 2026 PCC to MCC Group Mentoring (2026/7.8) For PCC-credentialed coaches working towards MCC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an MCC-level competency focus and distinctions at the PCC level. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 14, 2026 22 JULY Business Coaching - Experienced Coaches (2026/7.3) For experienced coaches with 100+ client coaching hours who want to grow their coaching business. This reciprocal peer coaching round focuses on business development through coaching on real business goals with a matched partner. Register Register by Jul 19, 2026 Business Coaching - Student/New Coaches (2026/7.4) For student and new coaches with fewer than 100 client coaching hours who want to grow their coaching business. This reciprocal peer coaching round focuses on business development through coaching on real business goals with a matched partner. Register Register by Jul 19, 2026 ACC/PCC Group Mentoring (2026/7.7) For coaches applying for or renewing their ACC and working towards PCC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with a PCC-level competency focus and distinctions at the ACC level. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 15, 2026 1 AUG ACC Group Mentoring (2026/8.1) For coaches applying for their ACC credential and working towards ACC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with an ACC-level competency focus. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 26, 2026 ACC/PCC Group Mentoring (2026/8.2) For coaches applying for or renewing their ACC and working towards PCC-level coaching. This 1.5-hour interactive session includes observation, discussion and learning, with a PCC-level competency focus and distinctions at the ACC level. An observer-only option is also available for this session, allowing you to learn in your own time by listening to the session recording. Register Register by Jul 26, 2026 ANY TIME On Demand Learning ReciproCoach MCS Mentor Coach Training - Prior Learning Pathway (2026/Early Bird) ReciproCoach MCS Mentor Coach Training - Standard Pathway (2026/Interest Only) Mentor Coach Training: 2025 ICF Minimum Skills Requirements UPDATED ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training (Upgrade-Only) ICF ACC Individual Mentoring (Paid) ICF PCC Individual Mentoring (Paid) ICF MCC Individual Mentoring (Paid) Individual Supervision View All Events & Register In addition to the opportunities above, we encourage you to plan your learning and development beyond this month. There are always several months of events open for registration . Membership credits and discounts apply to all standard rounds shown in blue above. Non-standard rounds appear in white and are not eligible for membership credits or discounts.

For many coaches considering the new ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS), the mentor coach education requirement is proving to be one of the most confusing aspects of the application process. Fortunately, the ICF has now released detailed guidance on what actually qualifies as mentor coach education. Interestingly, the emphasis is not so much on whether a program is accredited, but whether it is intentionally designed to develop mentor coaching capability and clearly aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies. The good news for ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training participants is that our training already aligns with these guidelines on several counts. The UPDATED ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training (Sessions 1–4 of our current asynchronous MCS training) now carries 10 Core Competency CCEs and was specifically designed around the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies. We also provide curriculum summaries and supporting documentation with certificates to help demonstrate this alignment. For a summary of the ICF guidance, examples of what may qualify as mentor coach education, and what this means for ReciproCoach participants, read our summary. Please note that the information provided is based on our current understanding and interpretation of the MCS requirements and related communications available at the time of writing. The ICF remains the final authority on all MCS requirements and application decisions.

Applications for the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) are now open. You can now apply either through the Standard Pathway or the Credit for Prior Learning pathway to become and MCS designated Mentor Coach. To help coaches determine which pathway is most appropriate, the ICF has also released a useful MCS Application Survey that guides applicants based on their education and experience. For many experienced mentor coaches, the Credit for Prior Learning pathway is likely to be the most relevant option. We have updated our ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) Application Guide with an overview of the application pathways, requirements, mentor coach education options and frequently asked questions.

Coaching relationships have long been recognised as one of the most important contributors to successful coaching outcomes. Whether we are talking about executive coaching, health coaching, workplace coaching, or life coaching, the quality of the relationship between coach and client consistently emerges as a key factor in determining whether coaching is effective. The coaching relationship has become even more relevant with the rise of AI coaching. As technology increasingly takes on aspects of the coaching process, questions about what is uniquely human in coaching are becoming more important. If the coaching relationship is one of coaching's most valuable ingredients, what do we actually know about it? Indeed, there is no agreed definition of what the coaching relationship actually is, and while we know it matters, we are far less clear on what it consists of. This issue of Coaching Research in Practice explores the substantial body of research from coaching, psychotherapy, counselling, health, and other helping professions to shed further light on the factors that influence the coaching relationship. Rather than requiring coaches to navigate hundreds of individual studies, it brings together the current knowledge in a practical and accessible way, highlighting not only the factors coaches can intentionally develop through their skills, behaviours, and attributes, but also those that may be beyond our direct control and therefore call for greater awareness, curiosity, and discernment. Be quick! The full article is freely accessible for one week here. After that, this article, like all other past issues of Coaching Research in Practice, will require a paid subscription to read. Most paid ReciproCoach memberships include full Coaching Research in Practice library access.

With applications for the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) expected to open publicly soon, many mentor coaches are now asking the same question: Am I ready to apply? While additional information relating to MCS processes and documentation requirements is still emerging, the broad requirements for the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) pathway are now reasonably clear. This article provides a practical checklist to help you assess your readiness and identify any remaining gaps before applications open. What is the MCS? The Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) is a specialist designation for ICF mentor coaches designed to support greater consistency, quality and professional standards within mentor coaching. The MCS is available at PCC and MCC levels, as well as ACCs who have renewed at least once. It recognises mentor coaches who have completed mentor coach-specific education and demonstrated mentor coaching experience aligned with current ICF expectations. Are You Ready to Apply? To apply via the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) pathway, you will generally need the following: An Eligible ICF Credential You must hold one of the following: A PCC credential An MCC credential An ACC credential that has been renewed at least once Ten Hours of Mentor Coach Education You will need documentation demonstrating completion of at least 10 hours of mentor coach-specific education aligned with the Mentor Coaching Competencies. If you don't have this yet, register for the ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training. When preparing your application, gather any certificates and supporting documentation relating to mentor coach education you have completed. In general, you'll need to have the following information: Education organisation Program name Program date Total number of education hours Whether the training is ICF-accredited You may also need to gather curriculum summaries, program outlines, session descriptions or other documentation that demonstrates how your mentor coach education aligns with the Mentor Coaching Competencies. Five Eligible Mentees MCS Credit for Prior Learning pathway applicants will need details of five mentees who have applied for and achieved an ICF credential within the previous three years. Read more about how to find and verify eligible mentees here. ReciproCoach Members If you completed the UPDATED ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training, you will shortly receive updated documentation recognising the training as 10 hours of mentor coach education, together with a curriculum summary document outlining how the UPDATED Mentor Coach Training aligns with the Mentor Coaching Competencies. If you completed the original ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training, please note that the Mentor Coaching Competencies did not yet exist when the training was developed. While the original training aligned implicitly with many of the Mentor Coaching Competencies, it did not include explicit competency mapping and does not constitute 10 hours of mentor coach education on its own. Many long-term ReciproCoach Group Mentors have also completed substantial mentor coach development through Group Mentor Development Sessions covering the Mentor Coaching Competencies and updates to the ICF Core Competencies and Minimum Skills Requirements, among other relevant ICF updates over the years. If this applies to you, gather any relevant certificates and session summaries, as these may help demonstrate your overall body of mentor coach education and development. Final Checklist Before applications open, ask yourself: Do I hold an eligible ICF credential? Do I have documentation demonstrating 10 hours of mentor coach education? Can I demonstrate alignment with the Mentor Coaching Competencies? Have I identified five eligible mentees? Have I gathered my certificates and supporting documentation? If you can answer "yes" to each of these questions, you are likely to be well positioned to begin your MCS application once applications become publicly available.

This week, during International Coaching Week (ICW), people around the world are coming together to celebrate and recognize the profound impact of professional coaching. Coaching has long been associated with supporting growth, awareness, leadership, performance, wellbeing and meaningful change in individuals, teams and organisations, and ICW is an invitation to pause and wonder… If coaching can have a profound impact on people, organisations and leaders, then where else might we have a responsibility to utilise that impact for greater good? One greater good many coaches feel drawn to applying their impact towards is the climate and sustainability challenges facing our world. The ICF Code of Ethics speaks about performing our duties "with integrity and accountability by thinking globally, being courageous in our thoughts, actions, and speech, being aware of our impact, and bearing the responsibility of any consequences." And so it is that every year during ICW, we give ReciproCoaches an opportunity to courageously explore and experience the impact coaching can have on our climate awareness, our sustainability choices, and the way we relate to the broader systems we are part of, both ecologically and socially. This round brings together coaches who want to explore how coaching can support greater awareness, values alignment, behaviour change, leadership and meaningful action in relation to climate and sustainability challenges. Participants coach and are coached by another coach around personally meaningful climate-related goals, questions or tensions. Some participants arrive with very clear goals. Others simply arrive with curiosity, concern, uncertainty, or a sense that this is something they feel drawn to explore more deeply. Wherever you find yourself, if there is a pull, there is no telling where the coaching process might lead. Register Now Climate Coaching Peer Coaching Round | Register by May 24 And because as coaches, we regularly find ourselves navigating complexity, systems, values, uncertainty, power, ethics, responsibility, boundaries and competing agendas, particularly when working with climate-related values and concerns, we also offer a corresponding Climate Coaching Supervision session. Whether you participate in the Climate Coaching Peer Coaching Round or not, the Climate Coaching Supervision session provides a space for coaches working with climate-consciousness in their coaching, and grappling with questions around ethics, agenda, systems, boundaries and responsibility. Together, participants reflect on how broader systemic issues, including sustainability and climate-related concerns, are already present in the lives, workplaces, leadership challenges and emotional realities of the people we coach, whether explicitly named or not. The supervision space also invites reflection on how we ourselves are being with that complexity. Register Now Climate Coaching Supervision Session | Register by August 11 Over the years, since the Australian bushfires sparked our first Climate Coaching round in 2020, we have explored the possibilities and reach of climate coaching together. We have thought deeply, tested the edges, and navigated the tension between empathy, responsibility, growth and agenda. The conversations that have emerged among participants have brought reflection, values alignment, systemic awareness, meaningful behavioural change and, perhaps most importantly, a deeper appreciation for the complexity of these conversations and what it means to coach thoughtfully within them. Whether or not you choose to participate in one of our Climate Coaching initiatives, perhaps International Coaching Week is an opportunity for all of us to continue reflecting on the profound impact coaching can have, and what it means to work thoughtfully, ethically and courageously within an increasingly complex world.   About the author Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC, is the founder and global coordinator of ReciproCoach. Kerryn has been coaching since 2002 and her PhD explored the learning processes underpinning coaching. Since 2005, she has been dedicated to making ongoing professional and personal development through coaching, mentoring and supervision more accessible to coaches around the world. Drawing on both educational and coaching expertise, Kerryn creates collaborative, practice-based learning opportunities that support reflective practice, meaningful development and high-quality coaching. ReciproCoach. Supporting the global coaching community for over 20 years.

Since publishing our earlier article on the ICF Mentor Coach Specialisation (MCS), many coaches have continued reaching out with practical questions and concerns. This post is designed as an ongoing Questions and Answers discussion space where you can ask questions and we can share answers based on the information currently available. Rather than responding individually to emails, we will answer broader questions here so that the responses can support the wider coaching community and ongoing discussion. Start the ReciproCoach Mentor Coach TrainingMCS Prior Learning Pathway Early bird pricing limited to the first 100 participants

If you've been trying to make sense of the new ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) changes lately, you are definitely not alone. Across the global coaching community right now, there is a great deal of discussion, confusion, clarification and interpretation happening as coaches, mentor coaches and training providers all try to understand what these changes mean in practice. The changes are substantial, the timelines are relatively short, and new information is still continuing to emerge. At the same time, we also believe these changes represent a very important and very positive step forward for the coaching profession. For many years, mentor coaching has varied enormously in quality, structure and developmental rigour across the industry. The new MCS framework is designed to increase consistency, professionalism, accountability and developmental quality in mentor coaching worldwide. In many ways, this is exactly the direction ReciproCoach has already been moving toward for more than a decade. Since 2016, ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training and Group Mentor Development has focused heavily on: structured observation of coaching competency-based feedback developmental mentor coaching processes ongoing mentor coach education reflective practice and supervision alignment with evolving ICF standards, including the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies and Minimum Skills Requirements So while the current changes may feel overwhelming, hopefully there is also some reassurance in knowing that if you have been learning, mentoring, observing, reflecting and developing within the ReciproCoach community, you are already building strong foundations for the direction the profession is now moving. At ReciproCoach, we've been following the MCS updates very closely and working hard behind the scenes to: monitor new information and clarifications released by the ICF translate complex updates into practical guidance review and update our mentor coach training pathways develop accessible and affordable support and training options support existing mentor coaches in preparing for the new requirements without needing to start from scratch Navigating the MCS changes To help the community navigate the changes, we've now created a detailed MCS updates page summarising the latest information currently available, including: the key 2027 transition dates the new MCS pathways Credit for Prior Learning requirements group mentor coaching implications ICF evaluation training requirements enhanced mentor coaching and documentation changes what coaches and mentor coaches should be doing now Read the full MCS update here. We have also created a separate page specifically for coaches who have previously completed ReciproCoach Mentor Coach Training. This explains how earlier ReciproCoach training fits into the new MCS requirements and what additional steps, if any, may still be needed. Read the Mentor Coach Training upgrade information here. For coaches who are preparing for the MCS via the Credit for Prior Learning Pathway and still need mentor coach education aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies, you can view the full ReciproCoach MCS-Aligned Mentor Coach Training here. The training is currently being offered at early bird pricing for the first one hundred participants, and while the ICF continues finalising elements of the MCS rollout and implementation requirements. View MCS Mentor Coach Training Early bird pricing limited to the first 100 participants While there are still some areas awaiting final clarification from the ICF, the overall direction is becoming increasingly clear: mentor coaching is becoming more rigorous, more developmental, more documented and ultimately more effective. In many ways, these changes formalise and validate the kind of mentor coaching approach ReciproCoach has been advocating, training and delivering for well over a decade. We'll continue updating our pages, training and support options as further information becomes available. About the author Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC, is the founder and global coordinator of ReciproCoach. Kerryn has been coaching since 2002 and her PhD explored the learning processes underpinning coaching. Since 2005, she has been dedicated to making ongoing professional and personal development through coaching, mentoring and supervision more accessible to coaches around the world. Drawing on both educational and coaching expertise, Kerryn creates collaborative, practice-based learning opportunities that support reflective practice, meaningful development and high-quality coaching.

A step-by-step guide shared by Betsy Block, PCC, ReciproCoach Mentor and Supervisor. One of the benefits of belonging to the ReciproCoach community is being part of a coaching community where colleagues support each other not only through coaching, but also by sharing knowledge, experience and resources. This article is one such example. Many thanks to ReciproCoach mentor and supervisor Betsy Block, PCC, for generously sharing the process she used to identify five successful mentees for her ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) Prior Learning Pathway application. Is this guide for you? This guide is intended for mentor coaches who have provided mentor coaching independently, including through ReciproCoach. It is particularly relevant for mentor coaches who work independently outside of an ICF-accredited education program, including ReciproCoach group mentors, recommended mentors, and mentors participating in individual mentoring rounds. If your mentor coaching was provided through an ICF-accredited training provider, they will usually issue you with a letter of attestation directly and you may not need to track this evidence yourself. If you are planning to apply for the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) via the Prior Learning Pathway, one of the requirements is demonstrating that you have successfully mentored coaches who later earned an ICF credential within the last three years. For many mentor coaches, particularly those who mainly facilitated group mentoring sessions or one-off individual mentoring sessions, the mentoring relationship may have developed organically over time. In many cases, mentors did not necessarily follow mentees all the way through to their credential application, and record keeping may not always have included whether the mentee ultimately achieved their credential. As a result, tracking and verifying this information retrospectively can take more time than expected. If you have maintained organised mentor coaching records, you may already have much of this information available. However, you will still need to identify which mentees successfully achieved a credential. The following process is the system that worked for Betsy, along with a few additional tips from ReciproCoach to make the process easier. How to Track and Verify Your Successful Mentor Coaching Clients Step 1: Search your email archives for ICF Mentor Coaching Notification emails Each time a coach who received mentor coaching from you applies for an ICF credential and lists you as their mentor coach, ICF typically sends an email with the subject line: "ICF Mentor Coaching Notification" Search your email archives for this subject line and review the emails one by one. These emails can help you verify: Who identified you as their mentor coach Approximate mentoring dates Which credential they were applying for If you are a ReciproCoach group mentor, you can also review your mentoring session history through ReciproCoach to identify participants who attended your mentoring sessions. As you work through this process, begin collating the following information: Name: the mentee’s full name Mentoring Date(s): important if the coach later achieved multiple credentials over time Credential Level: if you were mentoring a group of mentees at different credential levels, you may not know this until the next step in the process Step 2: Cross-reference and organise your records Create a spreadsheet or tracking document to organise your evidence. Add names from your session records Add names from ICF notification emails Cross-reference dates where possible Highlight any coaches you believe may have successfully achieved their credential Step 3: Verify credentials via the ICF directory For each person on your list, ICF members can verify credentials via the ICF directory here. When checking credentials, make sure you: Look for the date the credential was awarded Only include mentees whose credential was awarded after the mentoring took place Only include mentor coaching connected to a new credential application. Under the current Prior Learning Pathway guidance, mentor coaching provided for credential renewals cannot be used towards an MCS application. Automation Tips: Save Time with AI If you have a large number of mentees or mentoring sessions to review, AI tools may help speed up the process. Add your ReciproCoach mentoring records to an AI tool such as Claude and ask it to extract mentee names, dates and mentoring details automatically Be mindful of coaching ethics and confidentiality. You may need to de-identify records by removing surnames before uploading them to any third-party platform Connect your Gmail account to an AI tool to help search for “ICF Mentor Coaching Notification” emails and extract relevant details Use AI tools to cross-reference mentoring records against ICF notification emails and identify likely matches That’s it. While identifying and verifying your five successful mentees may initially feel overwhelming, these three relatively straightforward steps can make the process much more manageable. For many mentor coaches, particularly those who have been mentoring for years across multiple settings and platforms, much of the required evidence already exists. It simply needs to be located, organised and cross-referenced. Hopefully Betsy’s process, along with the additional tips shared here, helps make your MCS Prior Learning Pathway preparation clearer, easier and less time-consuming. Preparing for the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) Prior Learning Pathway? ReciproCoach offers a comprehensive ICF Mentor Coach Training program designed to help mentor coaches develop mentor coaching skills in line with the MCS requirements and prepare for the upcoming 2027 mentor coach changes. The training includes mentor coach education aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies, practical mentor coaching experience, and extensive resources related to the updated 2025 ICF documentation and Minimum Skills Requirements.