Updated April 20, 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.

  • Is the ICF Professional a member and/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

  • I understand that ICF will not review anonymous complaints.*

  • You must select "yes" to move forward in the Complaint Form.

  • The complaint must be filed with ICF within one (1) year of the date of the conduct complained of, or within one (1) year of the date of discovery of the conduct complained of. The one (1) year limitation reinforces the importance of timely reporting, helping to ensure more accurate recollections of events and the preservation of relevant documentation by all parties involved.*

  • You must select "yes" to move forward in the Complaint Form.

  • I affirm that this complaint is not solely concerning an ICF Professional's Intellectual Property (IP) infringement without proof from a court of law that such a violation has been demonstrated.*

  • You must select "yes" to move forward in the Complaint Form.

  • Is this complaint solely a financial and/or business-related dispute?*

  • You must select "no" to move forward in the complaint. The IRB does not review complaints that are solely based on a financial and/or business-related dispute or if they are deemed to be "vexatious" in nature. (A vexatious complaint is a complaint that is brought without reasonable grounds and primarily to punish, harass, annoy, burden, or pressure another party rather than to seek a legitimate resolution.)

  • Are there any current or pending legal issues involving these specific circumstances?*

  • 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.

  • Were any attempts made between you and the ICF Professional to resolve or remedy these issues?
  • Is this an issue that could potentially be a breach of the ICF Code of Ethics?

  • 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.

  • If you cannot find a potential breach of the ICF Code of Ethics, would you prefer to have a conversation with someone from the Independent Review Board before filing this complaint?

  • Please contact ICF at ethics@coachingfederation.org for assistance.

  • Do you have evidence apart from words and opinions to support your allegations?

  • 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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