ACA Code of Ethics Section C: Professional Responsibility,
Competence & Scope of Practice|Latest Updated 2026
C.1. Knowledge of and Compliance With Standards
Counselors have a responsibility to
read, understand, and follow the ACA
Code of Ethics and adhere to applicable
laws and regulations.
C.2.a. Boundaries of
Competence
Counselors practice only within the
boundaries of their competence, based
on their education, training, supervised
experience, state and national
professional credentials, and appropriate
professional experience. Whereas
multicultural counseling competency is
required across all counseling specialties,
counselors gain knowledge, personal
awareness, sensitivity, dispositions, and
skills pertinent to being a culturally
competent counselor in working with a
diverse client population.
C.2.b. New Specialty Areas
of Practice
Counselors practice in specialty areas
new to them only after appropriate
education, training, and supervised
experience. While developing skills
in new specialty areas, counselors
take steps to ensure the competence
of their work and protect others from
possible harm.
C.2.c. Qualified for Employment
, Counselors accept employment only
for positions for which they are qualified
given their education, training,
supervised experience, state and
national professional credentials, and
appropriate professional experience.
Counselors hire for professional counseling
positions only individuals who
are qualified and competent for those
positions
C.2.d. Monitor Effectiveness
Counselors continually monitor their effectiveness
as professionals and take steps to
improve when necessary. Counselors take
reasonable steps to seek peer supervision
to evaluate their efficacy as counselors.
C.2.e. Consultations on
Ethical Obligations
Counselors take reasonable steps to
consult with other counselors, the
ACA Ethics and Professional Standards
Department, or related professionals
when they have questions regarding
their ethical obligations or professional
practice.
C.2.f. Continuing Education
Counselors recognize the need for continuing
education to acquire and maintain
a reasonable level of awareness
of current scientific and professional
information in their fields of activity.
Counselors maintain their competence
in the skills they use, are open to new
procedures, and remain informed regarding
Competence & Scope of Practice|Latest Updated 2026
C.1. Knowledge of and Compliance With Standards
Counselors have a responsibility to
read, understand, and follow the ACA
Code of Ethics and adhere to applicable
laws and regulations.
C.2.a. Boundaries of
Competence
Counselors practice only within the
boundaries of their competence, based
on their education, training, supervised
experience, state and national
professional credentials, and appropriate
professional experience. Whereas
multicultural counseling competency is
required across all counseling specialties,
counselors gain knowledge, personal
awareness, sensitivity, dispositions, and
skills pertinent to being a culturally
competent counselor in working with a
diverse client population.
C.2.b. New Specialty Areas
of Practice
Counselors practice in specialty areas
new to them only after appropriate
education, training, and supervised
experience. While developing skills
in new specialty areas, counselors
take steps to ensure the competence
of their work and protect others from
possible harm.
C.2.c. Qualified for Employment
, Counselors accept employment only
for positions for which they are qualified
given their education, training,
supervised experience, state and
national professional credentials, and
appropriate professional experience.
Counselors hire for professional counseling
positions only individuals who
are qualified and competent for those
positions
C.2.d. Monitor Effectiveness
Counselors continually monitor their effectiveness
as professionals and take steps to
improve when necessary. Counselors take
reasonable steps to seek peer supervision
to evaluate their efficacy as counselors.
C.2.e. Consultations on
Ethical Obligations
Counselors take reasonable steps to
consult with other counselors, the
ACA Ethics and Professional Standards
Department, or related professionals
when they have questions regarding
their ethical obligations or professional
practice.
C.2.f. Continuing Education
Counselors recognize the need for continuing
education to acquire and maintain
a reasonable level of awareness
of current scientific and professional
information in their fields of activity.
Counselors maintain their competence
in the skills they use, are open to new
procedures, and remain informed regarding
