Ethics & Professional Standards

Have an ethical or professional dilemma?

Need to consult with professionals regarding options?

Ethical dilemmas, revisions and professional standards are all around us these days… from our political leaders in Washington D.C. to our own profession of counseling. Assistance with these issues is at hand. An ACA member receives as a benefit FREE confidential ethical/professional standards consultation five days a week between 8:30 and 4:30 EST. Most inquiries are answered within 24 hours (it may take up to three business days during very busy times, or when inquiries require specific research). The Professional Affairs staff values the opportunity to provide you with this much needed service. Professional assistance is only an e-mail/letter and phone call away. Contact ACA Ethics and Professional Standards Department at 1-800-347-6647, ext. 314 or e-mail: ethics@counseling.org.

2005 ACA Code of Ethics.

2005 ACA Code of Ethics (PDF)
Highlights of the ACA Code of Ethics

The ACA Graduate Student Ethics Competition is closed. The competition runs annually from mid-October through the end of January. For rules, registration, and other details, visit the the Graduate Student Ethics Competition page.

To cite the ACA Code of Ethics as a resource for an academic work, use:
"American Counseling Association (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author."

Please click here to access archives of older versions of the ACA Code of Ethics.

Ethics Update

(Ten Interviews highlighting major changes in the revised code of ethics)

• Part 1 - The end of 'clear and imminent danger'
• Part 2 - Romantic/sexual relationships
• Part 3 - Allowing dual relationships
• Part 4 - End-of-life care for terminally ill clients
• Part 5 - A new focus on cultural sensitivity
• Part 6 - Permission to refrain from making a diagnosis
• Part 7 - New mandates for selecting interventions
• Part 8 - New requirement to have a transfer plan
• Part 9 - Ethical use of technology in counseling
• Part 10 - Obligations for protecting the confidentiality of the deceased

More Ethics Resources

• A Practitioner's Guide to Ethical Decision Making
• State Licensure Boards that have Adopted the ACA Code of Ethics (PDF) (2010)
• Ethical issues related to conversion or reparative therapy

Policy And Procedures For Processing Complaints Of Ethical Violations

Ethics Committee Reports

• Ethics Committee Summary - FY 10 (75.01 KB)