INTRODUCTION AND APPLICABILITY
e American Psychological Association’s (APA’s)
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
(hereinaer referred to as the Ethics Code) consists of an
Introduction, a Preamble, ve General Principles (A-E),
and specic Ethical Standards. e Introduction discusses
the intent, organization, procedural considerations, and
scope of application of the Ethics Code. e Preamble and
General Principles are aspirational goals to guide psycholo-
gists toward the highest ideals of psychology. Although the
Preamble and General Principles are not themselves en-
forceable rules, they should be considered by psychologists
in arriving at an ethical course of action. e Ethical Stan-
dards set forth enforceable rules for conduct as psycholo-
gists. Most of the Ethical Standards are wrien broadly, in
order to apply to psychologists in varied roles, although the
application of an Ethical Standard may vary depending on
the context. e Ethical Standards are not exhaustive. e
fact that a given conduct is not specically addressed by an
Ethical Standard does not mean that it is necessarily either
ethical or unethical.
is Ethics Code applies only to psychologists’ ac-
tivities that are part of their scientic, educational, or profes-
sional roles as psychologists. Areas covered include but are
not limited to the clinical, counseling, and school practice
of psychology; research; teaching; supervision of trainees;
public service; policy development; social intervention;
development of assessment instruments; conducting as-
sessments; educational counseling; organizational consult-
ing; forensic activities; program design and evaluation; and
administration. is Ethics Code applies to these activities
across a variety of contexts, such as in person, postal, tele-
phone, Internet, and other electronic transmissions. ese
activities shall be distinguished from the purely private con-
duct of psychologists, which is not within the purview of the
Ethics Code.
Membership in the APA commits members and stu-
dent aliates to comply with the standards of the APA Ethics
Code and to the rules and procedures used to enforce them.
Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an Ethical Stan-
dard is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct.
e procedures for ling, investigating, and resolving
complaints of unethical conduct are described in the current
Rules and Procedures of the APA Ethics Commiee. APA
may impose sanctions on its members for violations of the
standards of the Ethics Code, including termination of APA
membership, and may notify other bodies and individuals of
its actions. Actions that violate the standards of the Ethics
Code may also lead to the imposition of sanctions on psy-
chologists or students whether or not they are APA mem-
bers by bodies other than APA, including state psychological
associations, other professional groups, psychology boards,
other state or federal agencies, and payors for health services.
In addition, APA may take action against a member aer his
or her conviction of a felony, expulsion or suspension from
an aliated state psychological association, or suspension or
loss of licensure. When the sanction to be imposed by APA
is less than expulsion, the 2001 Rules and Procedures do not
guarantee an opportunity for an in-person hearing, but gen-
erally provide that complaints will be resolved only on the
basis of a submied record.
e Ethics Code is intended to provide guidance for
psychologists and standards of professional conduct that can
be applied by the APA and by other bodies that choose to
adopt them. e Ethics Code is not intended to be a basis of
civil liability. Whether a psychologist has violated the Eth-
ics Code standards does not by itself determine whether
the psychologist is legally liable in a court action, whether a
contract is enforceable, or whether other legal consequences
occur.
2 Introduction and Applicability Eective January 1, 2017
e American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives ad-
opted this version of the APA Ethics Code during its meeting on August 21,
2002. e Code became eective on June 1, 2003. e Council of Represen-
tatives amended this version of the Ethics Code on February 20, 2010, eec-
tive June 1, 2010, and on August 3, 2016, eective January 1, 2017. (see p. 16
of this pamphlet). Inquiries concerning the substance or interpretation of
the APA Ethics Code should be addressed to the Oce of Ethics, American
Psychological Association, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.
is Ethics Code and information regarding the Code can be found on the
APA website, hp://www.apa.org/ethics. e standards in this Ethics Code
will be used to adjudicate complaints brought concerning alleged conduct
occurring on or aer the eective date. Complaints will be adjudicated on
the basis of the version of the Ethics Code that was in eect at the time the
conduct occurred.
e APA has previously published its Ethics Code, or amendments there-
to, as follows:
American Psychological Association. (1953). Ethical standards of psycholo-
gists. Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychological Association. (1959). Ethical standards of psycholo-
gists. American Psychologist, 14, 279-282.
American Psychological Association. (1963). Ethical standards of psycholo-
gists. American Psychologist, 18, 56-60.
American Psychological Association. (1968). Ethical standards of psycholo-
gists. American Psychologist, 23, 357-361.
American Psychological Association. (1977, March). Ethical standards of
psychologists. APA Monitor, 22-23.
American Psychological Association. (1979). Ethical standards of psycholo-
gists. Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychological Association. (1981). Ethical principles of psycholo-
gists. American Psychologist, 36, 633-638.
American Psychological Association. (1990). Ethical principles of psycholo-
gists (Amended June 2, 1989). American Psychologist, 45, 390-395.
American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical principles of psycholo-
gists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611.
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psycholo-
gists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073.
American Psychological Association. (2010). 2010 amendments to the 2002
“Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.” American Psycholo-
gist, 65, 493.
American Psychological Association. (2016). Revision of ethical standard
3.04 of the “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” (2002,
as amended 2010). American Psychologist, 71, 900.
Request copies of the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code
of Conduct from the APA Order Department, 750 First St. NE, Washington,
DC 20002-4242, or phone (202) 336-5510.