Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching: Our ICF-Accredited Path to the MCS

At Awaken, our foundation has always been community, presence, and deep connection. Every member of our faculty is a trained, experienced mentor coach with a thriving coaching practice, and together we span four continents. Our commitment to this work doesn’t stop with our own practice. We wanted to cultivate a space where mentor coaching is rooted in love, courage, and fierce kindness, rather than just checking credentialing boxes.

That’s why we created our love-based course, Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching.

Today, we are thrilled to share a major milestone: This course is now officially ICF-accredited for 15 hours as part of our Level 3 MCC in Community program, and we are opening enrollment for coaches pursuing or renewing their ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS).

With the International Coaching Federation (ICF) introducing changes to the mentor coaching process, shifts in our field are inviting all of us to reflect on how we support growth, depth, and excellence in coaching.

Why Mentor Coaching at Awaken is Different  

We take deep pride in the 1:1 relationships and rich community dynamics we build with our course participants. Over time, we’ve seen more and more coaches, many who completed their initial training elsewhere, come to Awaken specifically to experience our approach to mentor coaching.

Here, mentor coaching is more than the checklists you’ll find in the ICF’s PCC Marker training. It’s a sacred space where rigor and human warmth sit at the same table.

We believe growth should never happen in isolation. When coaches sign on to our Standards of Presence, they say yes to bringing more love, beauty, and truth into the world.

What the ICF Mentor Coach Specialization Means for You

The ICF Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS), which some earlier ICF materials called the Mentor Coach Qualification (MCQ), recognizes coaches who have completed education aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies. You can earn the MCS at the ACC, PCC, and MCC levels.

From January 1, 2027, coaches applying for an ICF credential will complete their mentor coaching hours with a mentor coach who holds the MCS at the appropriate level. If you mentor coaches today, or feel called to begin, the MCS is how you’ll continue walking alongside coaches on their credentialing journey.

Two pathways to the MCS

The ICF offers two application pathways, each honoring a different stage of experience.

The Standard MCS Path welcomes coaches who hold a current PCC, MCC, or renewed ACC credential and have completed 41 hours of mentor coaching education aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies, with at least half completed through live, synchronous learning.

The Credit for Prior Learning Path, often called the prior experience route, honors experienced mentor coaches. Alongside a current PCC, MCC, or renewed ACC credential, you’ll complete 10 hours of mentor coaching education and show that you’ve mentored at least five coaches in the past three years, either clients who earned a new ICF credential or students within an ICF Level 1, 2, or 3 program.

For both pathways, you’ll also complete the coaching skills evaluation training for each MCS level you’re applying for: ACC BARS, PCC Markers, or MCC BARS.

Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching offers 15 hours of ICF-accredited mentor coaching education, giving you more than the 10 hours the Credit for Prior Learning Path asks for, and a meaningful start toward the Standard Path.

What You’ll Experience in the Course

Led by Christi Byerly, MCC and our senior team of MCC mentor coaches, Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching is designed for PCC or MCC coaches who have completed the ICF PCC Marker course (as well as the ACC and MCC Bars courses, if desired) and are seeking or renewing their ICF MCS via the prior experience route.

Across 12 live online hours and 3 practical application hours (15 hours total credit), we explore:

• Module 1: Grounding Mentor Coaching Mastery in an Ethical Core
• Module 2: Tailoring Mentor Coaching Agreements to Each Coach’s Specific Needs
• Module 3: Mentoring the Whole Human Behind the Coach
• Module 4: Fierce Kindness in Mentoring Feedback
• Module 5: Strengths-Based Clarity in Written Feedback
• Module 6: Your Presence as a Group Mentor Coach

Bonus: Course participants also receive Awaken’s proprietary group facilitation guide and game, the exact process our faculty uses, so you can experience and embody it in action.

We’d Love to Welcome You for the Upcoming Cohort

If you are ready to expand your mentoring practice, step into your MCS with confidence, and experience mentor coaching that holds both requirement and heart together, we invite you to join us.

• Dates: Tuesdays, November 10 to December 15, 2026
• Live session times: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Paris | 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. New York | 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. California | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Nairobi | 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Delhi
• Investment: €1,000 EUR | $1,160 USD, also available as three monthly installments at no extra cost

View full details and reserve your spot in Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching

Continue reading

• Beyond the Checkboxes: What Real Mentor Coaching for Your ICF Credential Looks Like
• Your ICF Credential Is the Floor, Not the Ceiling
• More Than One Way to Meet ICF Renewal Hours
  

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm already mentoring coaches. What do I need to keep mentoring after January 1, 2027?

From January 1, 2027, coaches applying for an ICF credential will complete their mentor coaching hours with a mentor coach who holds the MCS at the appropriate level. If you already offer mentor coaching, the Credit for Prior Learning Path is likely your route. You’ll need a current PCC, MCC, or renewed ACC credential, 10 hours of mentor coaching education, experience mentoring at least five coaches in the past three years, and the evaluation training for each MCS level you’re applying for.

Can I complete my MCS education before the end of 2026?

Yes. Awakening Love and Courage in Mentor Coaching runs every Tuesday from November 10 to December 15, 2026, and offers 15 hours of ICF-accredited mentor coaching education. Participants who complete the course receive their certificate on or before December 22, 2026, ready to submit with their MCS application before the year ends. ICF estimates four to eight weeks to review an application, so we warmly encourage you to apply as soon as your certificate arrives.

Why choose Awaken for your MCS training?

At Awaken, we believe transformation is witnessed, and Love is always available to guide the conversation. Our mentor coach training carries that belief into every module, so you learn to hold the ICF requirements and the whole human behind the coach in the same moment. Many of our participants describe a surprising lightness when the two come together, and the work becomes joyful. You’ll learn alongside up to nine other experienced coaches, guided by Christi Byerly, MCC and our senior team of MCC mentor coaches, whose practices span four continents. You’ll also receive Awaken’s proprietary group facilitation guide and game, the exact process our faculty use to create connection participants describe as “next level.”

How do I become an ICF mentor coach?

Your path begins with an ICF credential at or above the level you’d like to mentor. From there, you’ll complete mentor coaching education aligned with the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies, the evaluation training for your chosen level, and an application for the Mentor Coach Specialization. Coaches building their mentor coaching experience apply through the Standard MCS Path, which asks for 41 hours of education, and Awaken’s 15 ICF-accredited hours can count toward that total, and offers more than the hours you need for your renewal every three years.

What does an ICF mentor coach do?

An ICF mentor coach supports another coach’s growth by observing their coaching sessions and offering structured, developmental feedback aligned with the ICF Core Competencies. Mentor coaching helps coaches strengthen their skills, deepen their practice, and prepare for credential-level coaching, and it often becomes one of the most meaningful relationships in a coach’s professional journey.

Is mentor coaching right for me?

Many coaches feel called to mentor coaching after experiencing a mentor who truly saw them. If you love witnessing other coaches grow, care about keeping coaching deeply human, and enjoy offering feedback that is both honest and kind, mentor coaching may be a beautiful next step in your journey. Our faculty would love to explore it with you at communitycare@awakencoaching.com.

What should I look for in a Mentor Coach Specialization training?

Look for a training that prepares you to meet ICF’s standards and to meet the coach in front of you as a whole human. The most transformative programs let you practice mentor coaching live, with real feedback, in a small group where you can be truly seen. Pay attention to who teaches the course, too. Faculty who hold the MCC and mentor coaches in their own thriving practices bring the requirements to life through lived experience.

Do the PCC Markers and BARS courses count toward my mentor coaching education hours?

For the Credit for Prior Learning Path, the evaluation trainings sit alongside your 10 hours of mentor coaching education and count separately. For the Standard MCS Path, they can count toward your 41 hours as asynchronous learning.

What will I gain from earning the MCS?

Coaches who earn the MCS receive a digital badge and a listing in the ICF Mentor Coach Registry, making it easier for credential candidates to find you. ICF lists the application at $50 USD for ICF members and $125 USD for non-members through March 2027.

About the Author

Christi Byerly, MCC, is the founder and CEO of Awaken Coach Institute. Her coaching process motivates you to build a community of empathy and grace around you, and to live your mission as part of something bigger than you are. With over 15 years of coaching experience, Christi has trained hundreds of new coaches and maintains a thriving practice focused on depth, presence, and authentic transformation.