Credential Appeal Submission Form

Reasons for Appeals

There are six categories of appeals included in this form.

An appeal based on:

1. Not meeting eligibility requirements

2. Performance Evaluation procedures*

3. ICF exam results

4. ICF exam procedures**

5. Not meeting renewal eligibility requirements.

6. Reasons not included in other form sections.

*Disputes regarding Performance Evaluation results or feedback will not be considered in the appeals process. In these cases, credential candidates should not file an appeal but may request the following options:

Request a rescore of the recording/s  

Within six months of receiving a results letter, candidates may contact ICF staff to request that the recording(s) submitted with their application be rescored and pay a rescore fee. The rescore fee is $150 USD per recording and must be paid within six months of receiving the results letter. In cases where the rescore reverses a failed performance evaluation resulting in a pass, the candidate will receive a refund of the rescore fee. 

Request a retake

Within six months of receiving a results letter, candidates may request a retake, allowing them to submit new recordings for evaluation without submitting a new credential application. Candidates must pay a fee of $150 USD per recording for the assessment of their new recordings, which covers the cost of administering the performance evaluation review with a trained assessor. Regardless of the result, retake fees are not refunded.  

 Appeals regarding Performance Evaluation procedures undergo review by designated CS staff and may be directed to the Appeals committee for their consideration.

**Credential candidates must read and follow policies and procedures for the ICF Credentialing Exam as included on the ICF website. Appeals based on the following reasons will be reviewed by designated CS staff but will not be considered by the Appeals Committee:

• The examinee’s lack of knowledge or understanding of the test administration policies or procedures
• The examinee’s failure to follow examination administration instructions and procedures
• The examinee’s mental state during the exam, including nervousness or anxiety
• Personal circumstances of the examinee that may have affected the examinee’s completion of the exam
• Examinee errors or omissions related to understanding exam items, or understanding or recording answers, except those caused by circumstances outside the examinee’s control
• Computer-related problems that do not impact the administration of the exam
• Reasonable and commonly occurring sounds and noises in the testing center or room
• Late arrival for the test administration appointment, or not showing up for the exam administration appointment
• The validity of the content of the exam
• The passing score of the exam established by the ICF and the process used to determine the passing score

Appellants should review all sections of the form, determine the reason(s) for their appeal request, and complete the most relevant section(s) of the form.

Appeals process timelines

• Within 24 hours of submitting this form, you will receive an automated message acknowledging that your completed form has been received by ICF Credentials and Standards (CS).
• Within 15 business days following submission, your appeal request will undergo a preliminary review by CS staff, and you will receive an update and the next steps regarding your appeal. You may be asked to provide additional information regarding your appeal.
• Following the preliminary review period, CS policies allow up to 60 business days for the CS staff and Appeals Committee to thoroughly review, consider, and make a determination regarding your appeal.
• Within 15 business days of a determination, you will receive information regarding the outcome of your appeal and information regarding any next steps that you may wish to take.

1. Appeal based on eligibility requirements

Was your application denied because you did not meet one or more of the following eligibility requirements?

1. Coach-specific education
2. Coaching experience
3. Mentoring
4. Was a coaching session recording or transcript rejected because it did not meet ICF technical standards (e.g., audio file format, audio length, transcript format, transcript content)?

2.  Appeal based on Performance Evaluation procedures

Do you believe that one or more policies or procedures for the review of your recordings were not followed? (Note that Performance Evaluation results or feedback will not be considered in the appeals process. Refer to the "Reasons for Appeals" section of this form for information regarding rescores and retakes.) 

3.  Appeal based on your ICF exam results

Did your ICF exam score report indicate that you did not meet the passing standard for the exam, and you disagree with the results?

4. Appeal based on ICF exam procedures

Do you believe that one or more policies for the administration of your ICF exam were not followed?

1. Exam check-in and identification procedures
2. Disqualification by the exam proctor
3. Exam time
4. Technical issues
5. Accommodations

Credential candidates must read and follow policies and procedures for ICF exams as included on the ICF website. Appeals based on the following reasons will be reviewed by designated CS staff but will not be considered by the Appeals Committee:

• The examinee’s lack of knowledge or understanding of the test administration policies or procedures
• The examinee’s failure to follow examination administration instructions and procedures
• The examinee’s mental state during the exam, including nervousness or anxiety
• Personal circumstances of the examinee that may have affected the examinee’s completion of the exam
• Examinee errors or omissions related to understanding exam items, or understanding or recording answers, except those caused by circumstances outside the examinee’s control
• Computer-related problems that do not impact the administration of the exam
• Reasonable and commonly occurring sounds and noises in the testing center or room
• Late arrival for the test administration appointment or not showing up for the exam administration appointment
• The validity of the content of the exam
• The passing score of the exam established by the ICF and the process used to determine the passing score

5.  Appeal based on recertification eligibility requirements.

Was your credential renewal application denied because you did not meet one or more of the renewal requirements?

a.     Hours of continuing coach education

b.     Hours of Mentoring

6. Appeal for other reasons not included above.

If your appeal is for reasons other than those included in previous sections of this form, please provide an explanation in the fields below.  

Form submission

By clicking the "Submit" button below you are submitting this form and are authorizing ICF Credentials & Standards to conduct an investigation, gather information, and make a determination regarding your appeals request.