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PCC Session Observation Form
ICF — Professional Certified Coach level · rev. 7.10.2026
Marker ratings:ObservedNot observedHow it works: log what you hear as observation rows (evidence notes with timestamps or quotes), then mark each PCC marker Observed or Not observed in the competency lists — those calls drive the read. Click a marker number (e.g. 3.1) to add a row for it. Tallies feed the cumulative Competency Review Form, where a marker counts as Proficiency Demonstrated once it is Observed in any session.
Competency 1 — Demonstrates Ethical Practice
Understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards of coaching. Both qualifiers must be Observed — a “Not observed” cannot be offset by the C3–C8 markers.
Q1Coach demonstrates alignment with the ICF Code of Ethics.
Q2Coach is in consistent alignment with the role of a coach.
Competency 2 — Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Develops and maintains a mindset that is open, curious, flexible and client-centered.
"Embodying a coaching mindset — a mindset that is open, curious, flexible and client-centered — is a process that requires ongoing personal and professional learning and development as a coach. These elements take place over the course of a coach's professional journey and cannot be fully captured in a single moment in time. These particular behaviors are articulated and evaluated through the following PCC Markers: 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 6.5, 7.1, and 7.5." — ICF Mentor Coaching Session Observation Form – PCC, rev. 07.02.26
Markers that inform Competency 2Gray: not yet rated · Green: observed · Red: not observed
Competency 3 — Establishes and Maintains Agreements
Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans, and goals. Establishes agreements for the overall coaching engagement as well as those for each coaching session.
3.1Coach partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what the client wants to accomplish in this session.
3.2Coach partners with the client to define or reconfirm measure(s) of success for what the client wants to accomplish in this session.
3.3Coach inquires about or explores what is important or meaningful to the client about what they want to accomplish in this session.
3.4Coach partners with the client to define what the client believes they need to address to achieve what they want to accomplish in this session.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
Competency 4 — Cultivates Trust and Safety
Partners with the client to create a safe, supportive environment that allows the client to share freely. Maintains a relationship of mutual respect and trust.
4.1Coach acknowledges and respects the client’s unique talents, insights and work in the coaching process.
4.2Coach shows support, empathy or concern for the client.
4.3Coach acknowledges and supports the client’s expression of feelings, perceptions, concerns, beliefs or suggestions.
4.4Coach partners with the client by inviting the client to respond in any way to the coach’s contributions and accepts the client’s response.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
Competency 5 — Maintains Presence
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded, and confident.
5.1Coach acts in response to the whole person of the client (the who).
5.2Coach acts in response to what the client wants to accomplish throughout this session (the what).
5.3Coach partners with the client by supporting the client to choose what happens in this session.
5.4Coach demonstrates curiosity to learn more about the client.
5.5Coach allows for silence, pause or reflection.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
Competency 6 — Listens Actively
Focuses on what the client is and is not saying to fully understand what is being communicated in the context of the client systems and to support client self-expression.
6.1Coach’s questions and observations are customized by using what the coach has learned about who the client is or the client’s situation.
6.2Coach inquires about or explores the words the client uses.
6.3Coach inquires about or explores the client’s emotions.
6.4Coach explores the client’s energy shifts, nonverbal cues or other behaviors. (If there is no distinct shift in the client’s energy, nonverbal cues or other behavior, mark the marker as “Observed.”)
6.5Coach inquires about or explores how the client currently perceives themself or their world.
6.6Coach allows the client to complete speaking without interrupting unless there is a stated coaching purpose to do so.
6.7Coach succinctly reflects or summarizes what the client communicated to ensure the client’s clarity and understanding.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
Competency 7 — Evokes Awareness
Facilitates client insight and learning by using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor, or analogy.
7.1Coach asks questions about the client, such as their current way of thinking, feeling, values, needs, wants, beliefs or behavior.
7.2Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond the client’s current thinking or feeling to new or expanded ways of thinking or feeling about themself (the who).
7.3Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond the client’s current thinking or feeling to new or expanded ways of thinking or feeling about their situation (the what).
7.4Coach asks questions to help the client explore beyond current thinking, feeling or behaving toward the outcome the client desires.
7.5Coach shares — with no attachment — observations, intuitions, comments, thoughts or feelings, and invites the client’s exploration through verbal or tonal invitation.
7.6Coach asks clear, direct, primarily open-ended questions, one at a time, at a pace that allows for thinking, feeling or reflection by the client.
7.7Coach uses language that is generally clear and concise.
7.8Coach allows the client to do most of the talking.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
Competency 8 — Facilitates Client Growth
Partners with the client to transform learning and insight into action. Promotes client autonomy in the coaching process.
8.1Coach invites or allows the client to explore progress toward what the client wanted to accomplish in this session.
8.2Coach invites the client to state or explore the client’s learning in this session about themself (the who).
8.3Coach invites the client to state or explore the client’s learning in this session about their situation (the what).
8.4Coach invites the client to consider how they will use new learning from this coaching session.
8.5Coach partners with the client to design post-session thinking, reflection or action.
8.6Coach partners with the client to consider how to move forward, including resources, support or potential barriers.
8.7Coach partners with the client to design the best methods of accountability for themself.
8.8Coach celebrates the client’s progress and learning.
8.9Coach partners with the client on how they want to complete this session.
Time ↕
Marker ↕
Evidence — what you heard (timestamps or quotes)
C3 Agreements
—
C4 Trust & Safety
—
C5 Presence
—
C6 Active Listening
—
C7 Evokes Awareness
—
C8 Client Growth
—
Mark the markers above — the tallies update automatically
How this feeds the Competency Review
This form records ONE observed session. On the cumulative Competency Review Form a marker counts as Proficiency Demonstrated once it was Observed in any Session Observation Form, and at least 67% of markers in each competency must be demonstrated to meet the PCC requirement — so a below-67% competency in a single session is a focus area, not a verdict.
Strengths Observed
Tag each entry to a competency — aim for at least two.
Areas for Development
Tag each entry to a competency — aim for at least two.
Client reflections
Provide before the mentor coaching session, allowing time to respond in advance. — Prior to reviewing this session with your mentor coach, listen to the recording of your coaching and reflect on your demonstration of coaching skills in this session. What skills did you demonstrate proficiently, based on your reflection? What areas do you believe you have opportunities for improvement or growth?
Provide after the mentor coaching session, allowing time to respond. — Following the review of your observed coaching session and demonstration of coaching skills with your specialized mentor coach, reflect on specific areas of your coaching where you demonstrated proficiency and growth, as well as 2-3 skills for your continued development.
Mentor coach attestation & signature
By signing, I attest that: I have observed my client's coaching session and provided a full, accurate, documented evaluation of their demonstrated coaching skills in this session, based on the ICF Minimum Skills Requirements for the credential level · I have reviewed the completed form in real time with my mentor coaching client and discussed their skill demonstration, areas of strength, and opportunities for continued development · I have reviewed and discussed their self-reflections completed prior to this session and after receiving my feedback · I grant permission to my mentor coaching client to share this completed form with the ICF, if required for credentialing or credential-renewal purposes.
Awaiting the client’s post-review reflection. Everything else on this form can be finished now. The attestation above covers the reflection completed after your feedback, so sign once you have received and discussed it — commonly at the top of the next mentor coaching session, where it doubles as the “how did the plan land” opener. Nothing requires this form to be signed the same day.
For the official ICF PDF export
These confirmations appear on the official ICF Session Observation Form. They are optional for the local Tandem PDF and required only for the official ICF PDF.
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Marker rating — ICF PCC Session Observation Form (rev. 07.02.26)
Observed: select "Observed" based on the evidence found in the session, and list evidence — such as timestamps or quotes — to support the rating. If you observed a session that is not recorded and does not contain timestamps, note that no timestamps were recorded in the session.
Not Observed: the marker did not occur in the session. If the mentor coaching client does not demonstrate a particular skill competently, provide developmental feedback.
6.4 exception: if there is no distinct shift in the client's energy, nonverbal cues or other behavior, mark 6.4 as "Observed."
Competency 2 is evaluated through markers 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1–5.4, 6.1, 6.5, 7.1 and 7.5 — it has no rows of its own. Competency 1 uses the two qualifiers at the top of the form.
