Curious about Actual ICF ACC Certification (ICF-ACC) Exam Questions?

Correct : A

ICF Coaching Boundaries exclude mental health treatment, and the ICF Code of Ethics (Section 2.5) requires referral when issues exceed coaching's scope. The key indicator is the impact on daily functioning, suggesting a clinical need. Let's analyze:

A . How much the client's symptoms interfere with their daily functioning: Significant interference indicates a mental health issue (e.g., depression), warranting therapy (ICF Coaching Boundaries).

B . Whether the client lacks direction and purpose in their life: This is coachable (Competency 8), not inherently a therapy issue.

C . The extent to which self-limiting beliefs may be holding the client back: This is within coaching's scope (Competency 7), not requiring referral.

D . Whether the client feels stuck and unable to make further progress: Feeling stuck is coachable unless linked to mental health symptoms (Competency 8).

Option A is the most important indicator, per ICF boundaries.

Correct : C

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 2.5) mandates referral when client needs fall outside coaching's scope, such as mental health conditions (ICF Coaching Boundaries). Mood swings disrupting life suggest a clinical issue. Let's review:

A . The coach feels like their guidance has not been helping the client's professional development: This may require coaching adjustments, not therapy (Competency 8).

B . The coach notices the client often seems distracted during sessions: Distraction alone doesn't indicate therapy unless tied to mental health (Competency 6).

C . The client says their frequent and intense mood swings are disrupting their life: This suggests a potential disorder (e.g., bipolar), requiring therapeutic intervention (Section 2.5).

D . The client explains that they have been feeling nervous about an upcoming change at work: Situational nervousness is coachable (Competency 7), not requiring therapy.

Option C justifies a therapy recommendation, per ICF ethics and boundaries.

Correct : A

The ICF Code of Ethics outlines explicit standards, but the underlying norms, values, and beliefs (e.g., integrity, respect, client autonomy) are often implicit, shaping ethical conduct beyond written rules. These are embedded in the ICF Definition of Coaching and competencies. Let's evaluate:

A . They are often unspoken: Values like trust and empowerment are foundational to ICF's approach (Competency 5: 'Cultivates Trust and Safety') but aren't always explicitly stated in every interaction, making this true.

B . They are consistent across organizations: While ICF provides a standard, norms and values vary across coaching bodies or cultures, so this is false.

C . They are a higher standard than laws: Ethics may exceed legal requirements (e.g., confidentiality beyond legal mandates), but this isn't universally true and isn't the best fit.

D . They are frequently hard to learn: ICF makes ethics accessible through training and the Code, so this is inaccurate.

Option A is true, reflecting the implicit nature of ethical norms in ICF coaching.

Correct : C

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 3.1) defines a conflict of interest as a situation where a coach's personal interest could influence their professional objectivity. Financial gain tied to recommendations is a clear example (Section 3.2 requires disclosure). Let's analyze:

A . Offering a business card to a former classmate who may benefit from coaching: This is marketing, not a conflict unless personal gain overrides client needs, which isn't implied.

B . Recommending a psychological assessment that will result in financial gain for a former colleague: This benefits a third party, not the coach directly, so it's less clearly a conflict under ICF's definition.

C . Advising a client to purchase a training program for which the coach will receive financial compensation: This directly ties the coach's financial interest to their advice, creating a potential conflict (Section 3.1).

D . Suggesting that a client take a learning course developed by a respected psychologist: Without personal gain, this is a neutral recommendation, not a conflict.

Option C most clearly represents a conflict of interest, per ICF ethics.

Correct : A

The ICF Code of Ethics (Section 1.2) requires coaches to 'clarify roles and responsibilities' in multi-party agreements, and Section 3.2 mandates disclosing conflicts of interest. Dual contracts (sponsor and personal) risk overlapping interests or confidentiality issues (Section 4). Let's assess:

A . Clarify the implications of both contracts to avoid possible conflicts of interest: This ensures transparency and alignment (Competency 3), addressing potential conflicts ethically.

B . Accept to deliver the same type of coaching between the two contracts: This ignores potential conflicts or confidentiality breaches between sponsor and personal goals.

C . Ensure that the sponsor does not pay for the director's personal coaching: Payment source is secondary; the ethical issue is role clarity and conflicts, not just funding.

D . Decline the request for the personal coaching contract due to the limits of confidentiality: Declining isn't required if boundaries are clear; ICF allows multiple roles with disclosure (Section 1.2).

Option A fulfills the coach's ethical responsibility, per ICF standards.