ICF Core Competencies & Ontology of Value®
Alignment, compliance, and accreditation clarification
Ontology of Value® is an ICF-aligned career advisory framework and diagnostic toolset. It supports professional counseling practice but does not replace ICF standards. Ontology of Value® certification is not an ICF credential; however, coaching-specific hours may be submitted individually to ICF for review under the Portfolio Path.
The 2020 Model
The 8 ICF Core Competencies (2020)
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines professional coaching through eight Core Competencies (the 2020 Model):
Demonstrates Ethical Practice
Understanding and consistently applying coaching ethics, professional standards, confidentiality, and appropriate boundaries.
Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Developing and maintaining self-awareness, openness, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning as a coach.
Establishes and Maintains Agreements
Clearly contracting the coaching relationship, session goals, roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
Cultivates Trust and Safety
Creating a psychologically safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment that supports client vulnerability and growth.
Maintains Presence
Being fully present, flexible, and responsive in the moment, allowing the coaching conversation to unfold organically.
Listens Actively
Focusing on what the client says and does not say, noticing patterns, emotions, values, and meaning.
Evokes Awareness
Facilitating insight and new perspectives through powerful questioning, reflection, and reframing—without giving advice.
Facilitates Client Growth
Supporting the client in translating insights into actions, learning, accountability, and sustainable change.
Framework Alignment
How Ontology of Value® as a coaching method is compliant with ICF competencies
Ontology of Value® (OOV) is not a coaching standard itself, but it can be used as an ICF-aligned coaching framework when applied correctly. Below is how OOV supports (rather than replaces) the ICF competencies.
| ICF Core Competency | How the Ontology of Value® supports it | In short |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ethical Practice |
| ✅ Compliant when used as a reflective tool, not as authority. |
| 2. Coaching Mindset |
| ✅ The coach does not “know better” because of the tool. |
| 3. Establishing Agreements |
| ✅ The tool supports clarity, not control. |
| 4. Cultivating Trust and Safety |
| ✅ The client remains the expert of their own life. |
| 5. Maintaining Presence |
| ✅ The conversation leads; the tool follows. |
| 6. Active Listening |
| ✅ Listening remains primary; analysis is secondary. |
| 7. Evoking Awareness |
| ✅ Strong alignment with the core of ICF coaching. |
| 8. Facilitating Client Growth |
| ✅ Insight → action → learning loop remains client-led. |
Accreditation Clarity
What OOV Certification
Is and Is Not
Understanding ICF credentialing requirements relative to Ontology of Value® training is essential for coaches pursuing professional credentials.
What OOV Certification Does Not Provide
– Does not automatically count toward ICF credentialing
– Is not an ICF-accredited program (ACSTH / Level 1 / Level 2)
– Tool training and diagnostic hours are not eligible for ICF review
– No guarantee of acceptance of any submitted hours
What Participants May Submit Individually
Coaching-specific training hours from OOV may be submitted on an individual basis as:
– Coach-Specific Education (CSE)
– Via the Portfolio Path only
– Subject to ICF’s individual review and approval
– Only coaching components — not tool training or theory
Comparison to other tools (from the ICF perspective)
Ontology of Value® is treated by ICF in the same category as:
- CliftonStrengths (Gallup)
- FRIS
- MBTI
- DISC
- Hogan
All of these:
- are tools, not coaching standards,
- can be used within ICF-aligned coaching,
- but do not confer ICF hours automatically.
What matters to ICF is how the coach coaches, not which tool is used.