Certified Master Coaches accredited by the ICC are committed to maintaining good practice. This Code of Ethics and Good Practice sets out the essential elements of sound ethical practice, competency and effective practice. For the purposes of this code, the person receiving coaching is called the client.

1. Coaches should hold themselves accountable to the highest level of integrity in all their associations with clients and colleagues.

2. Coaches are required to recognise both personal and professional limitations is appropriate to meet the client’s requirements. When this is not the case, clients should be referred to other appropriate services, e.g. more experienced coaches, counsellors, psychotherapists or other specialist services. In particular, Coaches are required to be sensitive to the possibility that some clients will require more psychological support than is normally available within the coaching remit. In these cases, referral should be made to an appropriate source of care, e.g. the client’s GP, a counsellor or psychotherapist, psychological support services and/or agencies.

3. Coaches are responsible for ensuring that clients are fully informed of the coaching contract, terms and conditions, prior to or at the initial session. These matters include confidentiality, sessional costs, and frequency of sessions. All claims made by the Coach should be honest, accurate and consistent with maintaining the Coaching profession’s good standing.

4. Coaches will respect the client's right to terminate coaching at any point during the process. They should be alert to indications that the client is no longer benefiting from their coaching relationship.

5. Coaches are required to be frank and willing to respond to their Client’s requests for information about the methods, techniques and ways in which the coaching process will be conducted.This should be done both prior to contract agreement and during the full term of the contract.

6. Coaches must be sensitive to issues of culture, religion, gender and race.

7. Coaches must respect the Client’s right to terminate coaching at any point during the coaching process.

8. Coaches are required to maintain appropriate records of their work with Clients, ensuring that any such records are accurate and that reasonable security precautions are taken to protect against third party disclosure. Attention must be given to the coachee’s rights under any current legislation, e.g. data protection act.

9. Coaches are required to monitor the quality of their work and to seek feedback wherever possible from Clients and other professionals as appropriate.

10. Coaches are expected to have regular consultative support for their work.

11. A coach should aim to undertake continuing professional development in the theory and practice of coaching on an annual basis.

12. Coaches are required to keep themselves informed of any statutory or legal requirements that may affect their work.

14. Coaches are required to consider the impact of any dual relationships they may hold with regards to their clients and/or any sponsoring organisations.

15. Coaches must act in a manner that does not bring the profession of coaching into disrepute.

16. Coaches will be clear with their clients about the nature of the coaching relationship, including structure, fees, refunds, expectations and guarantees.

17. Coaches will give credit where credit is due for materials supplied by other sources, respecting copyrights, trademarks and intellectual property.

18. Coaches will accurately identify my qualifications, expertise and experience as a coach.

21. Coaches will respect the confidentiality of their client's information, except as otherwise authorized by their client, or as required by law. Coaches will obtain agreement from their clients before releasing their names as clients or references, or any other client identifying information. And, they will obtain agreement from the person being coached before releasing information to another person compensating them.

22. Coaches will seek to avoid conflicts between their interests and the interests of their clients. Whenever any actual conflict of interest or the potential for a conflict of interest arises, they will openly disclose it and fully discuss with their client how to deal with it in whatever way best serves their client. They will disclose to their client all anticipated compensation from third parties that they may receive for referrals of that client. And they will only barter for services, goods or other non-monetary remuneration when it will not impair the coaching relationship.