ICF 道德准则要点:2025 版的适用范围、结构、变化与投诉程序
Key Points of the ICF Code of Ethics: Scope, Structure, Changes and Complaints (2025 Edition)
适合谁读:正在学习教练的学员、ICF 会员和认证持有者,以及准备 ICF 认证考试的考生。
本文内容:2025 版 ICF 道德准则适用于谁、何时生效、由哪几部分组成,ICF 说明的与 2020 版相比的变化,ICF 核心价值观,违反准则的投诉与审查程序,ICF 提供的道德学习资源和译本,以及准则与认证考试的关系。
适用于谁
ICF 官网说明,准则适用于 ICF 生态系统(ICF Ecosystem)内的所有个人和机构。
原文:"The ICF Code applies to all individuals or entities falling within the ICF ecosystem."
ICF 由六个家族组织(family organizations)组成,合称 ICF 生态系统。
准则第 1 部分列出的受约束角色,除 ICF 专业人士外,还包括 ICF 员工、志愿者,以及在 ICF 理事会、实践社群、全球委员会等担任职务的人,具体名单见准则原文。
以 ICF 生态系统成员身份示人的,准则同样适用。
准则第 4 部分针对 ICF 专业人士,涵盖教练、教练督导、导师教练、培训师和在训学员教练(student coach-in-training)这几类角色。
不得选择不适用:准则写明,生态系统内的个人或机构不得选择不适用准则的任何部分("may opt out of any section or part of the Code"),也不得删改其条文。
来源:
生效日期与版本
现行道德准则于 2025 年 4 月 1 日生效。
原文:"Our current ICF Code of Ethics went into effect on April 1, 2025."
准则 PDF 封面标注“Board approved October 2024”,即 2024 年 10 月经理事会批准;本文核对时,英文 PDF 封面标注的修订时间为 2026 年 5 月(Revised May 2026)。
ICF 表示会定期审查准则("we conduct regular reviews of the Code")。审查周期 ICF 在上述页面未说明。
2020 版准则适用至 2025 年 3 月 31 日。对 2025 年 4 月 1 日之前发生的行为提出的投诉,仍按 2020 版审查。
来源:
2025 版的结构
准则由五个部分和一个附录组成("five main parts and an appendix")。
下表“关注什么”一栏为本站根据准则内容自写的概括,不是准则原文或译文。部分名称的中文参照 ICF 繁体中文版,转为简体。
| 部分 | 英文名称 | 中文名称 | 关注什么(本站概括) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 第 1 部分 | Purpose | 目的 | ICF 及其生态系统简介,准则约束哪些人和角色,准则怎样执行,不得选择不适用 |
| 第 2 部分 | ICF Core Values and Ethical Principles | ICF 核心价值与道德准则 | 四项核心价值观,每项之下列出相应的道德原则 |
| 第 3 部分 | Commitments for All Within the ICF Ecosystem | ICF 生态系统内所有人的承诺 | 适用于生态系统内所有人的承诺,涉及诚信与担责、持续的道德发展、文化差异、偏见与权力关系、对他人不当行为表达关切等 |
| 第 4 部分 | Ethical Standards for ICF Professionals | ICF 从业人士的道德标准 | ICF 专业人士的道德标准,分五节,逐条编号 |
| 第 5 部分 | The Pledge of Ethics | 道德承诺 | 在 ICF 生态系统中承担任何角色时遵守准则的承诺 |
| 附录 | Appendix | 附录 | 准则所用关键术语的定义,以及其他术语词汇表 |
第 4 部分五节如下(中文为本站译名)。ICF 未写明标准总条数,下面的编号范围为本站按 2025 版英文 PDF 的条文编号整理:
| 节 | 英文名称 | 本站译名 | 条文编号 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agreements for Client and/or Sponsor Engagement | 与客户和/或出资方的合作约定 | 1.1—1.2 |
| 2 | Confidentiality and Legal Compliance | 保密与合法合规 | 2.1—2.8 |
| 3 | Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest | 专业行为与利益冲突 | 3.1—3.8 |
| 4 | Commitment to Delivering Consistent Value | 持续提供价值的承诺 | 4.1—4.3 |
| 5 | Professional Integrity and Accountability | 职业诚信与问责 | 5.1—5.3 |
来源:
与 2020 版相比的变化
以下各条均出自 ICF 发布的新旧版变化说明(ICF Code of Ethics: Overview of Changes):
- 原“引言”(Introduction)改为“目的”(Purpose),并在其中写明准则适用于谁。
- 2025 版在准则中列出全部核心价值观及相关道德原则("The 2025 Code lists all ICF Core Values and the related Ethical Principles"),这部分在 2020 版中位于第 3 节,2025 版为第 2 部分。
- 新增第 3 部分“ICF 生态系统内所有人的承诺”,由 2020 版中挑选出的标准组成(2020 版第 14、16、22 条)。ICF 说明,这些标准在道德行为审查程序中难以裁决("were hard to adjudicate in the Ethical Conduct Review process")。
- 2020 版的标准分为四节,编号 1 至 28;2025 版重新分为五节,并按所在节重新编号。
- ICF 说明 2025 版的标准“technically fewer”(条数上少了),原因是部分标准合并以便理解。
- 2020 版第 1、2 条合并为 2025 版第 1.1 条。
- 删除 2020 版第 13 条(ICF 注明:不清楚如何强制执行或裁决)和第 27 条(ICF 注明:认为不再需要)。
- 新增两条:第 2.5 条,涉及通过所使用的技术(包括人工智能)履行道德和法律义务;第 3.7 条,涉及以 ICF 专业人士以外的身份行事时向客户说明。
- 道德承诺(Pledge)缩短,聚焦于义务和承诺;有关违反准则后问责的表述移到第 4 部分("The language around breach accountability was moved to section 4 in the 2025 Code")。
- 定义从 2020 版第 2 节移到附录,分为“关键术语定义”和“其他术语词汇表”两部分。ICF 说明,词汇表仅为帮助理解提供背景("solely for additional understanding and context")。
来源:
ICF 核心价值观
ICF 核心价值观有四项,写入准则第 2 部分。中文为本站译名,说明为本站概括,并附英文原文短句:
- 专业(Professionalism):教练心态与专业品质。原文:"A commitment to a coaching mindset and professional quality"
- 协作(Collaboration):社会联结与社群建设。原文:"A commitment to developing social connection and community building."
- 人性(Humanity):以人道和尊重待人。原文:"A commitment to being humane, kind, compassionate, and respectful towards others."
- 公平(Equity):以教练心态了解他人需要。原文:"A commitment to using a coaching mindset to explore and understand the needs of others"
ICF 另有单独的核心价值观 PDF 可供下载。
来源:
违反准则的处理:道德行为审查程序
ICF 处理违反道德准则投诉的程序称为道德行为审查程序(Ethical Conduct Review Process,简称 ECR),由独立审查委员会(Independent Review Board,IRB)监督("The IRB oversees ICF's Ethical Conduct Review process.")。
针对谁:ICF 会员和认证持有者。ICF 的程序说明文件写明,被投诉人目前既非 ICF 会员也非认证持有者的,ICF 无权处理("ICF has no authority to act")。
谁可以投诉:对涉嫌违反准则的情况有直接参与或知情的教练客户、同事或同行。
时限:投诉页面写明须在涉嫌违规行为发生之日起一年内提出;程序说明文件另写明,也可在发现该行为之日起一年内提出("within one (1) year of the date of discovery of the conduct complained of")。
提交方式:先填写决策树问卷(Decision Tree Questionnaire),确认投诉是否属于审查范围,再在线提交投诉表。
审查步骤(ICF 投诉页面所列):
- 初审:确认投诉属于 ICF 的管辖范围;属于的,通知被投诉教练,教练可书面回应(流程图写明回应期限为 5 个工作日);
- 调查:由 IRB 运营副主席(vice chair of operations)指派一至两名外部专业调查员收集事实,可包括与投诉人、被投诉教练和可能的证人谈话,并向 IRB 主席提交书面报告;
- 终审:由 IRB 运营副主席指派至少三名 IRB 成员组成终审小组(Final Review Panel),以三分之二多数决定是否构成违规,终审报告完整提供给被投诉教练;
- 复议:教练不接受终审决定,且发现了可能改变结果的相关信息或证据时,可申请复议;流程图写明须在收到终审报告之日起 15 天内提出。
结果:确认违规的,终审小组与教练共同制定学习计划。教练可以接受结论并完成学习计划、申请复议或拒绝结论;拒绝的,将自动失去会员资格和/或认证。终审决定以书面形式通知教练,仅可由 ICF 法律顾问复核。
用时:ICF 说明完成时间不一,可能需要数月。
准则第 5.3 条也写明,对 ICF 的问责可能包括对违规行为的处分("my accountability to ICF may include sanctions for any violation")。
针对 ICF 认证培训机构的投诉另有程序(Accreditation Complaint Process),见同一页面。
来源:
- ICF:投诉程序页面
- ICF:道德行为审查程序说明
- ICF:道德行为审查程序说明(PDF)
- ICF:道德行为审查程序流程图
- ICF:道德行为审查程序流程图(PDF)
- ICF:2025 版道德准则(英文 PDF)
ICF 提供的道德学习资源
ICF Ethics Course(免费道德课程):自定进度的线上课程,会员和非会员均免费。完成后获得 3 个道德类 CCE 学分;ICF 说明,该课程在满足道德学分要求的同时,可计入认证续证所需 24 个核心能力 CCE 学分中的 3 个。课程语言为英语,页面“Available for Learning in the Following Languages”下另列有德语、葡萄牙语、西班牙语、法语和意大利语;未列出中文。续证学分规则另见《ICF 证书续证与 CCE 学分》。
Insights and Considerations for Ethics(ICE):ICF 编写的配套资料,用于支持对准则标准的学习和道德判断。ICF 称其为“living document”,会定期更新。页面提供英文和西班牙文 PDF。
ICF Ethics Assist Line(道德咨询热线):就道德准则、投诉程序和道德资源提问,邮箱 ethics@coachingfederation.org,电话 +1.859.226.4245。ICF 说明,回复不构成法律意见。
其他:ICF 道德资源页还列有道德案例研究、道德主题视频合集(YouTube)、每月一次的免费线上交流会(Ethics Water Cooler Conversations,含英语、德语和亚太场次)以及道德主题实践社群。
来源:
官方译本
2025 版准则的各语种版本在 ICF 资源页下载。
繁体中文:有。ICF 繁体中文版标题为“ICF 道德規範”,PDF 首页标注发布日期 2026 年 4 月 11 日。
简体中文:本文核对时,资源页没有简体中文下载链接。
资源页提供下载的其他语种:阿拉伯语、亚美尼亚语、英语、法语、德语、意大利语、日语、波兰语、葡萄牙语(巴西)、葡萄牙语(葡萄牙)、罗马尼亚语、俄语、西班牙语、土耳其语、乌克兰语;丹麦语标注为即将推出(Coming Soon)。
译本与英文版之间的效力关系,ICF 未说明,以 ICF 官网为准。
来源:
准则与认证考试
ICF 认证考试考查对道德准则的掌握,各考试依据的准则版本不同:
- ACC 考试:依据 2020 版准则。是否以及何时改用 2025 版,ICF 未说明。
- 现行 ICF Credentialing Exam(PCC/MCC):依据 2020 版准则。ICF 写明,核心能力和道德准则虽已于 2025 年更新,但该考试尚未反映新版("the exam does not yet reflect the newer version of these core documents")。
- 新版 PCC-MCC Exam:2026 年 11 月 10 日推出,依据 2025 版核心能力和 2025 版道德准则。2026 年 11 月 10 日至 2027 年 3 月 31 日,PCC 和 MCC 考生可在两种考试中选择;2027 年 3 月 31 日是现行考试的最后考试日。
考试详情见《ICF 认证考试介绍》。
来源:
Key Points of the ICF Code of Ethics: Scope, Structure, Changes and Complaints (2025 Edition)
ICF 道德准则要点:2025 版的适用范围、结构、变化与投诉程序
Who this is for: coaching students, ICF members and credential-holders, and candidates preparing for ICF credential exams.
What it covers: who the 2025 ICF Code of Ethics applies to, when it took effect, its structure, the changes from the 2020 Code as stated by ICF, the ICF Core Values, the complaints and review process, ICF ethics resources and translations, and how the Code relates to the credential exams.
Who it applies to
"The ICF Code applies to all individuals or entities falling within the ICF ecosystem", which is made up of six family organizations. Besides ICF professionals, the roles governed include ICF staff, volunteers and people serving on ICF boards, Communities of Practice and global committees; see Part 1 of the Code for the full list. It also applies when people represent themselves as belonging within the ICF ecosystem. Part 4 addresses ICF professionals in their roles as coach, coach supervisor, mentor coach, trainer and student coach-in-training. No one within the ecosystem "may opt out of any section or part of the Code" or modify its provisions.
Effective date and versions
The current Code "went into effect on April 1, 2025". The PDF reads "Board approved October 2024"; at the time of checking, the English PDF was marked "Revised May 2026". ICF says it conducts "regular reviews of the Code"; the review cycle is not stated on these pages. The 2020 Code applied through 31 March 2025 and is used to review complaints about behaviour that occurred before 1 April 2025.
Structure
Five parts and an appendix. The descriptions below are our own summary, not the Code's text.
| Part | Name | Focus (our summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purpose | ICF and its ecosystem, who the Code governs, how it is upheld, no opting out |
| 2 | ICF Core Values and Ethical Principles | The four core values, each with related ethical principles |
| 3 | Commitments for All Within the ICF Ecosystem | Commitments for everyone in the ecosystem, including integrity and accountability, ongoing ethical development, cultural differences, bias and power, and raising concerns about others' conduct |
| 4 | Ethical Standards for ICF Professionals | Numbered standards for ICF professionals in five sections |
| 5 | The Pledge of Ethics | A promise to uphold the Code in any role within the ICF ecosystem |
| Appendix | Key definitions and a glossary of other terms |
ICF does not state a total number of standards. By the numbering in the 2025 English PDF, Part 4 runs: Section 1, Agreements for Client and/or Sponsor Engagement (1.1–1.2); Section 2, Confidentiality and Legal Compliance (2.1–2.8); Section 3, Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest (3.1–3.8); Section 4, Commitment to Delivering Consistent Value (4.1–4.3); Section 5, Professional Integrity and Accountability (5.1–5.3).
Changes from the 2020 Code
According to ICF's Overview of Changes:
- The Introduction was replaced with a Purpose, which states who the Code applies to.
- "The 2025 Code lists all ICF Core Values and the related Ethical Principles" (section 3 in the 2020 Code, Part 2 in 2025).
- New Part 3 is made up of selected 2020 standards (14, 16 and 22) that "were hard to adjudicate in the Ethical Conduct Review process".
- The 2020 Code had four sections with standards numbered 1–28; the 2025 Code has five sections, renumbered by section.
- There are "technically fewer standards", as some were combined for greater understanding.
- 2020 standards 1 and 2 were combined into 1.1.
- Standards 13 ("Unclear about how to mandate/adjudicate") and 27 ("Deemed unneeded") were removed.
- Two new standards: 2.5, on meeting ethical and legal obligations through the technology used, including artificial intelligence; and 3.7, on disclosing to the client when acting in a role other than an ICF professional.
- The Pledge was shortened to focus on obligations and commitment; "The language around breach accountability was moved to section 4 in the 2025 Code".
- Definitions moved from section 2 to an Appendix with Key Definitions and a Glossary, the latter "solely for additional understanding and context".
ICF Core Values
Professionalism ("A commitment to a coaching mindset and professional quality"); Collaboration ("A commitment to developing social connection and community building."); Humanity ("A commitment to being humane, kind, compassionate, and respectful towards others."); Equity ("A commitment to using a coaching mindset to explore and understand the needs of others"). ICF also publishes the Core Values as a separate PDF.
Complaints: the Ethical Conduct Review Process
Complaints about breaches of the Code go through the Ethical Conduct Review (ECR) Process. "The IRB oversees ICF's Ethical Conduct Review process."
- Against: ICF members and credential-holders. ICF's process document states that if the person named is currently neither, "ICF has no authority to act".
- Who may file: coaching clients, colleagues or peers with direct involvement in or knowledge of the incident.
- Time limit: within one year of the alleged breach (complaints page); the process document also allows filing "within one (1) year of the date of discovery of the conduct complained of".
- How: complete the Decision Tree Questionnaire first, then file online.
- Steps: initial review (jurisdiction; the coach is notified and may respond in writing, within 5 business days per the flow chart); investigation by one or two external professional investigators appointed by the IRB vice chair of operations, which may include interviews with the complainant, the coach and possible witnesses, with a written report to the IRB chair; final review by a panel of at least three IRB members, appointed by the vice chair of operations, deciding by a two-thirds majority, with the final report shared in full with the coach; reconsideration if the coach does not accept the determination and "relevant information or evidence has been found that could potentially change the outcome", requested within 15 days of receiving the Final Report (flow chart).
- Outcome: if a breach is confirmed, the panel works with the coach on a learning plan. The coach may accept and complete it, file for reconsideration, or refuse the findings, in which case the coach automatically loses membership and/or credential. The written final determination is subject only to review by ICF legal counsel.
- Timing: completion times vary and could take several months.
Standard 5.3 states that "my accountability to ICF may include sanctions for any violation". Complaints about ICF-accredited coaching education providers follow a separate Accreditation Complaint Process.
Ethics resources
- ICF Ethics Course: self-paced, free for members and non-members; three CCE units in Ethics, which ICF says also provide three of the 24 Core Competency CCE credits required for renewal. The course language is English; the page also lists German, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian under "Available for Learning in the Following Languages". Chinese is not listed.
- Insights and Considerations for Ethics (ICE): a companion resource that ICF calls "a living document"; English and Spanish PDFs.
- ICF Ethics Assist Line: ethics@coachingfederation.org, +1.859.226.4245, for questions on the Code, complaint processes and ethics resources. Responses are not legal advice.
- Also listed: ethics case studies, an ethics YouTube playlist, free monthly Ethics Water Cooler Conversations (English, German and Asia Pacific sessions) and an ethics Community of Practice.
Translations
A Traditional Chinese version is available ("ICF 道德規範", first page dated 11 April 2026). At the time of checking there was no Simplified Chinese download. Other downloads: Arabic, Armenian, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian; Danish is marked Coming Soon. ICF does not state how translations relate to the English text in authority.
The Code and the credential exams
- ACC Exam: based on the 2020 Code. ICF does not say whether or when it will move to the 2025 Code.
- Current ICF Credentialing Exam (PCC/MCC): based on the 2020 Code; ICF notes "the exam does not yet reflect the newer version of these core documents".
- New PCC-MCC Exam: launched on 10 November 2026, based on the 2025 Core Competencies and 2025 Code of Ethics. From 10 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 PCC and MCC candidates may choose either exam; 31 March 2027 is the last date for the current exam.
Sources:
- ICF: Code of Ethics page
- ICF: 2025 Code of Ethics (PDF)
- ICF: Code of Ethics resource page and translations
- ICF: Traditional Chinese 2025 Code (PDF)
- ICF: 2020 Code of Ethics resource page
- ICF: Overview of Changes resource page
- ICF: Overview of Changes (PDF)
- ICF: Core Values (PDF)
- ICF: complaint processes
- ICF: Elements of the Ethical Conduct Review Process
- ICF: Elements of the ECR Process (PDF)
- ICF: Ethical Conduct Review flow chart
- ICF: Ethical Conduct Review flow chart (PDF)
- ICF: Ethics Course
- ICF: Insights and Considerations for Ethics
- ICF: Ethics Assist Line
- ICF: ethical resources
- ICF: ACC Exam
- ICF: ICF Credentialing Exam (PCC/MCC)
- ICF: PCC Candidate Guide (PDF)