ABSTRACT
ACA/NBCC ethical standards are stressed on the National Counselor Examination. In 2005 ACA created a new Code of Ethics that is radically different from anything in the past. The revision took place over a three-year period and was the first in a decade. Needless to say, it has numerous updates. All ACA members are expected to adhere to the guidelines and over 20 state licensing boards now use this document for adjudicating complaints of an ethical nature. It is imperative that you peruse this code prior to your exam. Professional counselors studying for exams other than counselor licensure or certification should consult ethics guidelines in their areas of expertise (e.g., psychologists should use the APA’s “Ethical Principles of Psychologists”; social workers, NASW’s “Code of Ethics” ). Readers must note that ethical standards are updated routinely and some states
have exams predicated on state ethics guidelines not covered in this text. You should contact your state licensing committee prior to your exam to ascertain if this is the case.
