Rehabilitation counselors provide services within the Scope of Practice for Rehabilitation Counseling (See the Scope of Practice document). They possess knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work collaboratively with diverse groups of individuals, including clients as well as with programs, institutions, employers, and service delivery systems and provide both direct (e.g., counseling) and indirect (e.g., case review, feasibility evaluation) services. Regardless of the specific tasks or work settings, rehabilitation counselors demonstrate adherence to ethical standards and ensure the standards are vigorously enforced. The Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, henceforth referred to as the Code, is designed to provide guidance for the ethical practice of rehabilitation counselors.

The primary obligation of rehabilitation counselors is to the client, defined as an individual with, or directly affected by, a disability, functional limitation(s), or medical condition and who receives services from a rehabilitation counselor. At times, rehabilitation counseling services may be provided to an individual other than one with a disability. (In some settings a client may be referred to as a consumer.)  In all instances, the primary obligation remains to the client and adherence to the Code is required.

The basic objectives of the Code are to: (1) promote public welfare by specifying ethical behavior expected of rehabilitation counselors; (2) establish principles that define ethical behavior and best practices of rehabilitation counselors; (3) serve as an ethical guide designed to assist rehabilitation counselors in constructing a professional course of action that best serves those utilizing rehabilitation services; and, (4) serve as the basis for the processing of alleged Code violations by certified rehabilitation counselors.

Rehabilitation counselors are committed to facilitating the personal, social, and economic independence of individuals with disabilities. In fulfilling this commitment, rehabilitation counselors recognize diversity and embrace a cultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural context. They look to professional values as an important way of living out an ethical commitment. The primary values that serve as a foundation for this Code include a commitment to:

• Respecting human rights and dignity
• Ensuring the integrity of all professional relationships
• Alleviating personal distress and suffering
• Enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application to increase professional and personal effectiveness
• Appreciating the diversity of human experience and culture
• Striving for the fair and adequate provision of rehabilitation services

Values, in turn, inform principles. They represent an important way of expressing a general ethical commitment that becomes more precisely defined and action-oriented when expressed as a principle. The fundamental spirit of caring and respect with which the Code is written is based upon six principles of ethical behavior:

Autonomy: To respect the rights of the client to be self-governing within their social and cultural framework.
Beneficence: To do good to others; to promote the well-being of clients.   
Nonmaleficence: To do no harm to others.
Justice: To be fair in the treatment of all clients; to provide appropriate services to all.
Veracity: To be honest.
Fidelity: To be faithful; to keep promises and honor the trust placed in rehabilitation counselors.

Although the Code provides guidance for ethical practice, it is impossible to address every possible ethical dilemma that rehabilitation counselors may face. When faced with ethical dilemmas that are difficult to resolve, they are expected to engage in a carefully considered ethical decision-making process. Reasonable differences of opinion can and do exist among rehabilitation counselors with respect to the ways in which values, ethical principles, and ethical standards would be applied when they conflict. While there is no specific ethical decision-making model that is most effective, rehabilitation counselors are expected to be familiar with and apply a credible model of decision-making that can bear public scrutiny.

The Enforceable Standards within the Code are the exacting standards intended to provide guidance in specific circumstances and serve as the basis for processing complaints initiated against certified rehabilitation counselors.

A brief glossary is located after Section K to provide readers with a concise description of some of the terms used in the Code.