ICF ICF-ACC - Associate Certified Coach (ACC Exam)

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 1.1) mandates that coaches "create an agreement/contract regarding the roles, responsibilities, and rights of all parties involved" before beginning a coaching relationship. A key responsibility of the coach in this agreement is to clearly outline the nature and scope of services provided, ensuring transparency and alignment with the client’s expectations (ICF Competency 3: "Establishes and Maintains Agreements"). Let’s evaluate the options:

A. Describing the services the coach will provide to the client: This is explicitly required by ICF standards. The coaching agreement must detail what coaching entails (e.g., frequency, format, process), distinguishing it from other services like consulting or therapy (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 1.2). This fosters trust and clarity, per Competency 5 ("Cultivates Trust and Safety").

B. Determining what information is considered confidential: While confidentiality is critical (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 4), it is a mutual understanding shaped by legal and ethical standards, not solely the coach’s responsibility to "determine." It’s typically addressed jointly in the agreement.

C. Clarifying the conditions under which the coaching goals should change: Goal-setting is a collaborative process (ICF Competency 3), and while conditions for change may be discussed, this is not typically specified as the coach’s unilateral responsibility in the agreement.

D. Specifying how long the coaching relationship will last: Duration may be included in the agreement, but it’s not universally required and often depends on client needs or mutual agreement, making it less fundamental than describing services.

Option A is the most accurate, as it reflects the coach’s core responsibility under ICF guidelines to define the coaching services explicitly in the agreement.

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 3.1) defines a conflict of interest as "a situation in which a coach has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of their professional duties." Objectivity and impartiality are critical to maintaining trust and integrity in the coaching relationship (ICF Competency 2: "Embodies a Coaching Mindset"). Let’s evaluate the options:

A. Receiving payment from a client's employer for coaching the client because the employer may try to influence the coach: While this could raise concerns about influence, it’s not inherently a conflict unless the coach’s objectivity is compromised (e.g., prioritizing the employer’s agenda over the client’s). ICF allows third-party payment if disclosed and agreed upon (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 1.2).

B. Accepting professional recognition instead of payment because the recognition is greatly valued by the coach: This is a personal preference, not a conflict, as it doesn’t inherently affect the coach’s ability to serve the client objectively.

C. Providing individual coaching to a married couple because they may discuss each other’s sessions: This involves confidentiality risks (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 4), but it’s not a conflict of interest unless the coach has a personal stake in their relationship. ICF permits this if boundaries are clear and agreed upon.

D. Coaching a peer while competing with them for the same work because that may interfere with the coach’s objectivity: This is a clear conflict of interest. Competing with the client creates a personal interest (e.g., career advancement) that could bias the coach’s actions, undermining ICF’s requirement for impartiality (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 3.2: "I will disclose any conflict of interest").

Option D best reflects a conflict of interest, as it directly threatens the coach’s objectivity, a cornerstone of ICF ethics.

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 4.1) requires coaches to "explain and ensure that, prior to or at the initial meeting, my coaching client(s) understand the nature and limits of confidentiality." Sharing with a supervisor must be disclosed in the coaching agreement (ICF Competency 3) to maintain transparency and trust. Let’s analyze:

A. Tell the client that the information needs to be shared with the supervisory coach so the coach can learn from the feedback: This is reactive and lacks prior consent, violating Section 4’s requirement for upfront clarity.

B. Add a statement to the client’s contract describing how information will be shared with the supervising coach: This proactively ensures client understanding and agreement, aligning with ICF ethics (Section 4.2) and Competency 3.

C. Correspond with the supervising coach verbally so there is no need to share the client’s information in writing: This avoids documentation but doesn’t address client consent or transparency, breaching ethical standards.

Option B is the best practice, per ICF’s confidentiality and agreement requirements.

ICF Competency 8 ("Facilitates Client Growth") focuses on "transforming learning into action" through specific, realistic plans that support ongoing progress. Addressing barriers ensures sustainability (ICF Definition of Coaching). Let’s evaluate:

A. Distributing a survey to assess the client’s level of satisfaction with the coaching progress: This evaluates the process but doesn’t directly drive progress (Competency 8).

B. Working with the client to develop an action plan that acknowledges support and resource barriers: This aligns with Competency 8, empowering the client with a tailored, actionable strategy for continued growth.

C. Emphasizing some negative outcomes that could occur if the client does not reach their goals: Fear-based motivation contradicts ICF’s positive, client-led approach (Competency 5).

D. Sharing literature relevant to the client’s goals for them to review before the next coaching session: This supports learning but lacks the actionable focus of a plan (Competency 8).

Option B most likely helps the client progress, per ICF’s growth-focused framework.