ICF submissions
ICF Performance Evaluation Timelines
By Gary Malcolm, Master Certified Coach (ICF) · Updated 1 September 2026
Key takeaways
- ICF performance evaluation results take 6 to 8 weeks after an assessor is assigned to your recording.
- A failed attempt costs about two months before you pay the $150 retake fee, and the retake starts the clock again.
- For ACC and PCC portfolio candidates the wait interacts with a hard deadline: recordings are accepted only through 31 March 2027, so a first submission after January 2027 leaves no room for a second attempt.
- Checking your recording against the standards before you submit reduces the risk of waiting two months for a fail.
ICF performance evaluation results take 6 to 8 weeks after an assessor is assigned to your recording, and there is no way to speed it up. Plan around it: a failed attempt costs two months before you pay the $150 retake fee.
What a failed attempt costs in time
If a recording comes back Below Standard, you lose the wait, the time to work out what went wrong (the feedback names competencies, not moments), the time to re-record, and a second wait. Repeated retakes can take six months or more.
The 2027 deadline
For ACC and PCC portfolio candidates, recordings are accepted only through 31 March 2027. Submit by December 2026 and a failure still leaves time for a retake. Submit for the first time in late February 2027 and you get one attempt.
Check your recording before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the ICF performance evaluation take?
ICF states results take 6 to 8 weeks after an assessor is assigned to your submission. Assignment itself can add time depending on assessor availability and language.
Can I speed up my ICF evaluation?
No. There is no paid option to speed up the performance evaluation. What you control is when you submit.
What is the total cost of a failed attempt in time?
Roughly three months: 6 to 8 weeks waiting for the result, time to work out what went wrong and re-record, and 6 to 8 more weeks for the retake result, plus $150 per failed recording. Repeated retakes can take six months or more.
How does the wait interact with the 31 March 2027 deadline?
ACC and PCC portfolio candidates must submit recordings by 31 March 2027. Working backwards: a submission by December 2026 leaves room for one retake inside the window; a first submission in February or March 2027 is a single unrepeatable attempt.
What should I do while waiting for results?
Keep coaching and keep recording. If a Below Standard result comes back, you will already have new recordings to choose from.
Can I check my recording before I submit it?
Yes. Review My Coaching reviews your recording against the current ICF standards. Expert reviews include a Submit / Not Yet / Do Not Submit verdict reviewed by Gary Malcolm, MCC.