Frequently Asked Questions

ICI offers two main types of courses: 1. ICI Certification Programme — the main programme leading to the ICI Certified Specialist title. 2. Academy Courses — individual continuing-education and specialist courses available through the ICI Academy.

Course formats vary by programme and may include study materials, narrated audio lectures, multiple-choice quizzes, written assignments, case analyses and other practical tasks. Where a course includes recorded responses or another specific task format, the requirements are explained in the course description. Each task can be attempted up to two times where the course uses the ICI two-attempt system. Course-specific requirements are always stated in the relevant programme information.

Each task can be submitted a maximum of two times. After the second attempt, no further submission is available for that task. The system retains the better result as the final task score. Both attempts remain recorded in the task history. Tasks may use different formats, including multiple-choice questions, case analyses, practical exercises and process-planning tasks. The final certification assessment brings together different task types and covers the programme as a whole. There is no single overall score for the entire programme. Individual task results document performance and understanding in specific areas of the course. Where applicable, the certificate supplement presents the final result for each task. If the second attempt improves the result, the progression from Attempt 1 to Attempt 2 may also be shown according to the ICI certificate format.

ICI uses AI only where it supports the learning process, such as speech transcription, structured checks and preliminary feedback on selected tasks. AI-assisted processes operate within the ICI educational framework and do not replace the certification requirements or the participant's own work. Where applicable, participants can request a review of an automated assessment through the task interface.

No. The ICI Academy is open to everyone. You can purchase courses without membership or a subscription. Membership is optional and provides additional benefits for certified specialists, including active status and eligibility for public Registry participation.

No. The ICI Certificate is issued as a permanent confirmation of completing the ICI Certification Programme and meeting the ICI Standard at the time of certification. Annual membership is separate. It determines active ICI status and eligibility for Registry participation and member benefits. The certificate remains valid independently of membership.

Active ICI membership provides: - eligibility for public Registry participation, - discounts on Academy courses, - bonus codes and other Academy member benefits, - unlimited access to the ICI screening toolkit, - CPD tracking and other current membership benefits.

The available screening tools depend on your account status and the current ICI offering. Some tools may be available to registered users or certificate holders, while active membership includes unlimited access to the ICI screening toolkit. Available tools may change as the platform develops. Check your panel for the current selection.

A Digital Certificate (Open Badges 3.0) is a verifiable digital credential based on the 1EdTech Open Badges standard and aligned with the Verifiable Credentials ecosystem. It contains structured information that allows the credential to be independently verified.

The Open Badges format makes the credential easier to verify and share across compatible digital credential platforms and professional profiles. It can also be presented on your own website or other professional materials.

The ICI Public Registry lists certified specialists who choose to make their profile public and who meet the Registry requirements. Public listing requires: an ICI certification, active membership, successful identity verification, and consent to public listing. The Registry is designed to provide a public way to confirm a specialist's current ICI status.

Certificates can be verified through the dedicated ICI Certificate Verification page using the QR code or the unique certificate identification number. The verification page provides the credential information made available by ICI for verification.

You can use the Add to LinkedIn option provided with your digital credential, where supported. The credential information and its unique verification URL can be added to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. The certificate supplement presents the final result for each required task according to the ICI certificate format. The system retains the better result from the two available attempts. Where the second attempt improves the result, the supplement may also show the progression from Attempt 1 to Attempt 2. ICI does not use one single overall grade to represent the entire programme. Individual task results document performance and understanding in specific areas.

No. The public registry listing requires your consent, and keeping it depends on active membership. The certificate remains your achievement regardless of registry presence.

The order is random and changes on each page load, so that every specialist – regardless of their name – has equal visibility. At ICI, advertising and priority placement cannot be purchased.

When the system records that you have met 100% of the annual CPD criteria, it automatically issues the relevant annual confirmation and updates your CPD status. Where applicable, the corresponding CPD badge is displayed with your Registry profile.

Every registered user receives a unique referral code in the 'My Account' tab. When a friend signs up with your code and completes their first purchase (Academy course or ICI Certification), you receive an email notification and a personal reward discount code locked to your account.

The right to publish scientific articles, analyses and professional case analyses in ICI Scientific Publications is reserved exclusively for verified specialists with active membership in the International Counselling Institute. Each submission must meet substantive criteria (minimum 5,000 characters, reliable bibliography) and undergo a formal review procedure before publication.