International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) exists to provide support, education, training and resources to help its members enhance their coaching skills, including life, career and business. The ICF requires all its members to agree to the pledge of ethics. This helps keep coaches accountable and protects them from unsubstantiated accusations of ethical misconduct.

  1. Pledge of Ethics

    • The ICF regulatory committee, formed in 2002, supports the ICF mission statement "to protect and preserve the integrity of the coaching profession." Because life and career coaches are privy to sensitive client information and work closely with clients, it makes sure coaches follow the Pledge of Ethics that states, "If I breach this Pledge of Ethics, or any part of the ICF Code of Ethics, I agree that the ICF ... may hold me accountable for so doing. I further agree that my accountability to the ICF for any breach may include sanctions, such as loss of my ICF membership and/or my ICF credentials."

    Standards of Ethical Conduct

    • ICF coaches work with clients in business, career development, finances, health and relationships. Coaches promise not to lie or be misleading about their coaching abilities, credentials or services they offer. They must "honor and recognize the efforts and contributions of others," not representing them as their own. At all times, ICF coaches must recognize personal conflicts and either avoid them or report them to the client and governing bodies. Coaches should honestly report all business or industry research, case studies and client profiles pertaining to the professional life- and career-coaching industry within scientific guidelines. Finally, coaches agree to keep all personal and professional information private and use it only in the manner authorized by the ICF.

    Professional Conduct with Clients

    • The ICF requires its coaches to set clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries governing physical contact. Coaches promise not to lie to clients or sponsors and to explain all information about coaching agreements, the nature of coaching, confidentiality and financial arrangements. Coaches must respect a client's right to end the coaching relationship at any point (according to the contract) and should encourage clients and sponsors to change coaches when they believe it more beneficial. Finally, coaches agree not to become sexually intimate with current clients or sponsors.

    Conflicts of Interest

    • The ICF Code of Ethics requires coaches to avoid conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest, and to openly disclose any possible conflicts. For example, coaching an employee and his supervisor would be a conflict of interest. A coach will offer to remove himself from the coaching relationship when such a conflict arises. Coaches promise to disclose all information to clients and sponsors regarding compensation and referrals from other parties. Finally, a coach must not take personal, professional or monetary advantage beyond what the coaching contract establishes.

    Confidentiality

    • ICF coaches promise to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality in all client and sponsor relationships. A clear agreement must specify situations in which coaches share personal, professional, health, financial or employment information with outside parties. It is the coach's duty, when training student coaches, to clarify all confidentiality policies.