Applied Lab: Strengthen Your Coaching Decision-Making
This The Applied Lab gives you a focused, real-time way to deepen your coaching awareness.
You’ll work through updated 2025 ICF competencies and ethics, explore nuanced coaching scenarios, and practice making Best/Worst answer choices under gentle time pressure.
This space is designed to help you build rhythm, clarity, and confidence as you prepare for the PCC exam or simply want to sharpen your coaching instincts.
Whether you’re preparing for a credential, returning to the core skills, or wanting more consistency in your coaching decisions, the Applied Lab offers a structured environment to support your growth.
Welcome to the Applied Lab
This space is designed to help you deepen your coaching judgment through up-to-dated ICF information and real PCC-style practice.
Take a moment, settle in, and click play to ease into the next step of your preparation.
ICF Code of Ethics (2025)
These short videos from the International Coaching Federation walk through the updated 2025 ICF Code of Ethics. Start here to anchor your practice in integrity before you dive into competencies or scenarios.
Open the ICF Code of Ethics (PDF)
Ethics Part 1, 2, & 3
Ethics Part 4 — Section 1
Ethics Part 4 — Section 2
Ethics Part 4 — Section 3
Ethics Part 4 — Section 4
Ethics Part 4 — Section 5
Ethics Part 5 — The Pledge of Ethics
The New ICF Code of Ethics: What You Need to KnoW
Information © International Coaching Federation. Embedded here for educational purposes. All credit belongs to ICF.
ICF Core Competencies (2025)
Refresh the eight Core Competencies directly from ICF. These concise videos review each competency so you can connect principles to real coaching choices in your practice.
Open the ICF Core Competencies (PDF)
IFC Core Competency 1 — Demonstrates Ethical Practice
ICF Core Competency 2 — Embodies a Coaching Mindset
ICF Core Competency 3 — Establishes and Maintains Agreements
ICF Core Competency 4 — Cultivates Trust and Safety
ICF Core Competency 5 — Maintains Presence
ICF Core Competency 6 — Listens Actively
ICF Core Competency 7 — Evokes Awareness
ICF Core Competency 8 — Facilitates Client Growth
Information © International Coaching Federation. Embedded here for educational purposes. All credit belongs to ICF.
The PCC Markers translate each competency into observable behaviors assessors look for. If you’re working toward your PCC, the markers help you turn “I know the competency” into “I consistently demonstrate it in session.” They’re concrete, coach-friendly, and ideal for self-review or mentor-coach conversations.
Why PCC Markers Matter
Open the PCC Markers (PDF)
Information © International Coaching Federation. Embedded here for educational purposes. All credit belongs to ICF.
Ready to practice?
The short exercise below gives you a feel for PCC-style decision-making. You’ll choose the Best and Worst responses and get quick feedback so you can strengthen awareness, presence, and coaching instinct in real time.
This is just a taste of the deeper Applied Lab™, where you’ll work through 40 scenarios and build real momentum.
F.A.C.E. Framework — Quick Reference Guide
Use this checklist to help spot the potentially WORST possible answer in each PCC-style scenario.
If you notice even one F.A.C.E. warning sign, the answer is likely not aligned with presence, partnership, or coaching ethics.
Keep this at hand as you work through the practice questions.