ICF PCC Markers Questions and Answers
Section 1: Demonstrates Ethical Practice (PCC Markers 1.1–1.5)
1. A client shares confidential information about illegal activity but asks the coach
not to report it. What should the coach do first?
A) Immediately report the activity to authorities
B) Explain the limits of confidentiality and explore options
C) Continue coaching without addressing it
D) Terminate the coaching relationship
Answer: B
Rationale: Coaches must clarify confidentiality boundaries per ICF ethics. This
respects autonomy while upholding legal/ethical duties.
2. Which behavior best demonstrates the coach’s role as distinct from therapy?
A) Diagnosing a client’s anxiety disorder
B) Exploring past trauma in depth
C) Focusing on goal-setting and action plans
D) Prescribing medication for depression
,Answer: C
Rationale: Coaching focuses on forward-moving, action-oriented goals, not
diagnosis or treatment of psychological disorders.
3. A client offers the coach a expensive gift after a breakthrough session.
According to ICF ethics, the coach should:
A) Accept it graciously to strengthen rapport
B) Refuse only if monetary value exceeds $100
C) Consider the context and potential conflict of interest before accepting
D) Immediately report the client to the ICF
Answer: C
Rationale: ICF Code of Ethics advises coaches to avoid conflicts of interest and
assess gift-giving norms, power dynamics, and policies.
4. The coach notices they feel competitive with a client’s success. This is a sign the
coach needs to:
A) End the coaching engagement
B) Refer the client to another coach
,C) Engage in supervision or reflective practice
D) Ignore the feeling as irrelevant
Answer: C
Rationale: PCC Marker 1.4 requires coaches to manage personal biases and
limitations through supervision, mentoring, or self-reflection.
5. When entering a coaching agreement, the coach must ensure:
A) Client signs a lifelong contract
B) Verbal agreement is sufficient without documentation
C) Roles, confidentiality, fees, and duration are clear and documented
D) Client commits to a minimum number of sessions
Answer: C
Rationale: Marker 1.1 requires clear agreements on logistics, confidentiality, and
roles to align expectations.
6. A coach finds that a client’s goal requires a licensed professional’s input (e.g.,
suicide ideation). The coach should:
A) Continue coaching but avoid the topic
, B) Refer to an appropriate professional and pause coaching if needed
C) Give advice based on personal experience
D) Keep it confidential and proceed
Answer: B
Rationale: ICF ethics require coaches to refer when issues exceed coaching scope,
protecting client welfare.
7. Which statement aligns with the ICF definition of coaching?
A) “I will advise you on the best career path based on my expertise.”
B) “I will help you uncover your own answers through thought-provoking
questions.”
C) “I will analyze your unconscious patterns.”
D) “I will guarantee you achieve your goals.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Coaching is about facilitating client-generated insights and solutions,
not advising or clinical analysis.
Section 1: Demonstrates Ethical Practice (PCC Markers 1.1–1.5)
1. A client shares confidential information about illegal activity but asks the coach
not to report it. What should the coach do first?
A) Immediately report the activity to authorities
B) Explain the limits of confidentiality and explore options
C) Continue coaching without addressing it
D) Terminate the coaching relationship
Answer: B
Rationale: Coaches must clarify confidentiality boundaries per ICF ethics. This
respects autonomy while upholding legal/ethical duties.
2. Which behavior best demonstrates the coach’s role as distinct from therapy?
A) Diagnosing a client’s anxiety disorder
B) Exploring past trauma in depth
C) Focusing on goal-setting and action plans
D) Prescribing medication for depression
,Answer: C
Rationale: Coaching focuses on forward-moving, action-oriented goals, not
diagnosis or treatment of psychological disorders.
3. A client offers the coach a expensive gift after a breakthrough session.
According to ICF ethics, the coach should:
A) Accept it graciously to strengthen rapport
B) Refuse only if monetary value exceeds $100
C) Consider the context and potential conflict of interest before accepting
D) Immediately report the client to the ICF
Answer: C
Rationale: ICF Code of Ethics advises coaches to avoid conflicts of interest and
assess gift-giving norms, power dynamics, and policies.
4. The coach notices they feel competitive with a client’s success. This is a sign the
coach needs to:
A) End the coaching engagement
B) Refer the client to another coach
,C) Engage in supervision or reflective practice
D) Ignore the feeling as irrelevant
Answer: C
Rationale: PCC Marker 1.4 requires coaches to manage personal biases and
limitations through supervision, mentoring, or self-reflection.
5. When entering a coaching agreement, the coach must ensure:
A) Client signs a lifelong contract
B) Verbal agreement is sufficient without documentation
C) Roles, confidentiality, fees, and duration are clear and documented
D) Client commits to a minimum number of sessions
Answer: C
Rationale: Marker 1.1 requires clear agreements on logistics, confidentiality, and
roles to align expectations.
6. A coach finds that a client’s goal requires a licensed professional’s input (e.g.,
suicide ideation). The coach should:
A) Continue coaching but avoid the topic
, B) Refer to an appropriate professional and pause coaching if needed
C) Give advice based on personal experience
D) Keep it confidential and proceed
Answer: B
Rationale: ICF ethics require coaches to refer when issues exceed coaching scope,
protecting client welfare.
7. Which statement aligns with the ICF definition of coaching?
A) “I will advise you on the best career path based on my expertise.”
B) “I will help you uncover your own answers through thought-provoking
questions.”
C) “I will analyze your unconscious patterns.”
D) “I will guarantee you achieve your goals.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Coaching is about facilitating client-generated insights and solutions,
not advising or clinical analysis.
