ACA Code of Ethics Test Questions with
Verified Answers
Question 1
James, a student counselor, has been seeing Mary for individual counseling. He
decides that family therapy may now be best for Mary and intends to provide that
service for her and her family. James should:
a. Do nothing as he is already seeing Mary in counseling
b. Obtain a new signed informed consent form
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
b. Obtain a new signed informed consent form
Question 2
Andy, a student counselor, is starting a grief recovery group at his internship site. He
is approached by Guy who, though he has not experienced any loss, would like to join
the group because he is new to the community and would like to "meet and make
friends." Andy should:
a. Refuse to allow Guy to join the group as Guy's goals are incongruent with the
purpose of the group
b. Allow Guy to join the group as the group could help Guy with his loneliness
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
a. Refuse to allow Guy to join the group as Guy's goals are incongruent with the
purpose of the group
Page 1 of 185
,Question 3
Nancy, a counseling intern, is working at a site that does not require counselors to
document client sessions. This would be considered a violation of which ethic code?
a. G.2.a
b. C.6.e
c. A.1.b
d. none of the above as counselors are not required to document sessions
Correct Answer
c. A.1.b
Question 4
Carl, a student in internship, is having problems with his supervisor. Carl decides to
quit his internship site and find another site so, one day, he leaves a letter of
resignation on his supervisor's desk and quits without notice. Carl is in violation of
ethical code:
a. A.10.e
b. A.11.c
c. Carl is not in violation of any ethics code as it is his prerogative to decide where to
complete his internship.
d. F.4.d
Correct Answer
d. F.4.d
Page 2 of 185
,Question 5
Lance has been seeing Pam a client who is suffering from an eating disorder.
Although Lance has seen Pam for 3 sessions, he recognizes that Pam's condition
requires more expertise than he possesses. During session 4, Lance announces to Pam
that he will no longer see her as he cannot help her with her eating disorder and she
will need to find another therapist. This is an example of:
a. an appropriate termination because Lance recognizes his limitations.
b. an inappropriate termination because Lance does not provide pretermination
counseling or recommend other service providers
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
b. an inappropriate termination because Lance does not provide pretermination
counseling or recommend other service providers
Question 6
According to the ACA code of ethics, exceptions to maintaining confidentiality with
clients include:
a. client disclosure of serious and foreseeable harm to self
b. client disclosure of serious and foreseeable harm to another
c. when subpoenaed to release information to the court
d. all of the above
Correct Answer
d. all of the above
Page 3 of 185
, Question 7
Kelli, a student counselor, is starting a process group at her site. She is approached by
Jim, a client being seen in individual counseling by another counselor, about joining
the group. Kelli should:
a. Do nothing as group and individual counseling are very different
b. refuse to see Jim as seeing a client for group that is being seen by another
counselor for individual is not ethical
c. Request a release from Jim to inform and obtain permission from his individual
counselor before allowing Jim in the group.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
c. Request a release from Jim to inform and obtain permission from his individual
counselor before allowing Jim in the group.
Question 8
John, a counseling intern, has been seeing Ann, a client for several months. Both
begin to develop feelings for each other so John terminates his counseling
relationship with Ann and refers her to another counselor. He then begins pursuing a
romantic relationship with Ann. This would be considered:
a. a violation of the ACA code of ethics
b. not a violation of the ethics code because John terminated the professional
relationship with Ann and provided her with a referral to another professional
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
a. a violation of the ACA code of ethics
Page 4 of 185
Verified Answers
Question 1
James, a student counselor, has been seeing Mary for individual counseling. He
decides that family therapy may now be best for Mary and intends to provide that
service for her and her family. James should:
a. Do nothing as he is already seeing Mary in counseling
b. Obtain a new signed informed consent form
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
b. Obtain a new signed informed consent form
Question 2
Andy, a student counselor, is starting a grief recovery group at his internship site. He
is approached by Guy who, though he has not experienced any loss, would like to join
the group because he is new to the community and would like to "meet and make
friends." Andy should:
a. Refuse to allow Guy to join the group as Guy's goals are incongruent with the
purpose of the group
b. Allow Guy to join the group as the group could help Guy with his loneliness
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
a. Refuse to allow Guy to join the group as Guy's goals are incongruent with the
purpose of the group
Page 1 of 185
,Question 3
Nancy, a counseling intern, is working at a site that does not require counselors to
document client sessions. This would be considered a violation of which ethic code?
a. G.2.a
b. C.6.e
c. A.1.b
d. none of the above as counselors are not required to document sessions
Correct Answer
c. A.1.b
Question 4
Carl, a student in internship, is having problems with his supervisor. Carl decides to
quit his internship site and find another site so, one day, he leaves a letter of
resignation on his supervisor's desk and quits without notice. Carl is in violation of
ethical code:
a. A.10.e
b. A.11.c
c. Carl is not in violation of any ethics code as it is his prerogative to decide where to
complete his internship.
d. F.4.d
Correct Answer
d. F.4.d
Page 2 of 185
,Question 5
Lance has been seeing Pam a client who is suffering from an eating disorder.
Although Lance has seen Pam for 3 sessions, he recognizes that Pam's condition
requires more expertise than he possesses. During session 4, Lance announces to Pam
that he will no longer see her as he cannot help her with her eating disorder and she
will need to find another therapist. This is an example of:
a. an appropriate termination because Lance recognizes his limitations.
b. an inappropriate termination because Lance does not provide pretermination
counseling or recommend other service providers
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
b. an inappropriate termination because Lance does not provide pretermination
counseling or recommend other service providers
Question 6
According to the ACA code of ethics, exceptions to maintaining confidentiality with
clients include:
a. client disclosure of serious and foreseeable harm to self
b. client disclosure of serious and foreseeable harm to another
c. when subpoenaed to release information to the court
d. all of the above
Correct Answer
d. all of the above
Page 3 of 185
, Question 7
Kelli, a student counselor, is starting a process group at her site. She is approached by
Jim, a client being seen in individual counseling by another counselor, about joining
the group. Kelli should:
a. Do nothing as group and individual counseling are very different
b. refuse to see Jim as seeing a client for group that is being seen by another
counselor for individual is not ethical
c. Request a release from Jim to inform and obtain permission from his individual
counselor before allowing Jim in the group.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
c. Request a release from Jim to inform and obtain permission from his individual
counselor before allowing Jim in the group.
Question 8
John, a counseling intern, has been seeing Ann, a client for several months. Both
begin to develop feelings for each other so John terminates his counseling
relationship with Ann and refers her to another counselor. He then begins pursuing a
romantic relationship with Ann. This would be considered:
a. a violation of the ACA code of ethics
b. not a violation of the ethics code because John terminated the professional
relationship with Ann and provided her with a referral to another professional
c. No answer text provided.
d. No answer text provided.
Correct Answer
a. a violation of the ACA code of ethics
Page 4 of 185
