Updated March 12, 2026_ICF Ethical Conduct Review Process: Decision Tree

ICF Ethical Conduct Review Process: Decision Tree

SHOULD YOU FILE AN ETHICAL COMPLAINT?
Before filing an ethical complaint against an ICF Professional (An ICF member and/or an ICF Credential-holder, in roles including but not limited to Coach, Coach Supervisor, Coach Trainer and Student of Coaching), you will first want to review the Ethical Conduct Review (ECR) Information Packet and Sample form and walk through the following Decision Tree.

Please note that if there are multiple complainants, each of them should try to answer the questions individually, to make the complaint as clear as possible.

If you have any questions about the Decision Tree or filing an ethical complaint, please contact ethics@coachingfederation.org.

Yes, they hold both an ICF membership and an ICF credentialYes, they are an ICF memberYes, they an are ICF credential-holderI don't knowNo, they are neither a member or credential-holder
The ICF Professional must be an ICF member or credential-holder to move forward in the Complaint Form. The IRB will only accept complaints against ICF members or ICF credential-holders. All other coaches fall outside the jurisdiction of the IRB.

Check if they are an ICF Professional using our Verify a Coach

NoYes
You must select "no" to move forward in the complaint. The IRB does not review business issues.

YesNo
NOTE: The IRB may, with reasonable discretion, suspend action on a properly filed ethical complaint if there are known, pre-existing, or pending related civil or criminal proceedings. Complaints that are part of an active legal matter will not be accepted into the ECR process until such proceedings have been resolved.

*This applies only to active civil litigation or criminal prosecution that is related to the subject matter and facts of the filed complaint.
You must select "No" to move forward in the Complaint Form.

YesNo
DO NOT FILE A COMPLAINT as the Ethical Conduct Review can only take place where there is an alleged breach of the ICF Code of Ethics.

We encourage you to read the Standards of the ICF Code of Ethics along with the Insights and Considerations for Ethics. Please describe the circumstances that you feel demonstrated unethical behavior, and to the best of your ability indicate which specific standards in the ICF Code have been potentially violated. (The Code may be accessed here: https://coachingfederation.org/credentialing/coaching-ethics/icf-code-of-ethics/)

YesNo
YOU MAY FILE A COMPLAINT. Please proceed to the Ethical Complaint Form for ICF Professionals: Ethical Complaint Application
In case the ICF Professional rejects or contradicts what you have said or written, the IRB will not able to make a decision because of nonexistence of evidence. Either try to find evidence or we recommend that you DO NOT FILE A COMPLAINT.
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