Professional and Ethical Agreements

Certified Professionals and those seeking certification are required to uphold our Professional and Ethical Agreements and engage in the corresponding Accountability Process.

These standards set IDC professionals apart as industry leaders in both integrity and artistry. Further, this process enhances the value of certification by illustrating to the public and industry that those certified with IDC are to abide by these Agreements in order to maintain their status with IDC. 

If you feel that you have experienced a violation in these agreements from anyone who holds an active or pending certification with IDC or who is actively seeking certification with IDC, please see the instructions for submitting a complaint below.  

The Professional and Ethical Agreements

1. IDC Certified Professionals have an obligation to their profession to uphold the high ideals and level of professional knowledge as evidenced by the Certificate held. In alignment with the IDC Mission and Vision, they should also encourage the dissemination of knowledge pertaining to creating a culture of consent.  

2. IDC Certified Professionals must not engage in any conduct or commit any act which is a discredit to the reputation or integrity of IDC or the intimacy direction/coordination profession.

3. IDC Certified Professionals have an obligation to serve the interests of both their employers and the artists whose safety is their responsibility, and must conduct themselves with respect, honesty, and integrity. 

4. IDC Certified Professionals are prohibited from engaging in harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law, and must appropriately manage their own bias. 

   1. Discriminatory behavior includes unjust or prejudicial treatment, microaggressions, undue expectations of labor, or any other behavior that causes harm. 

   2. Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is shared in-person, by email, phone (including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites or other means. 

5. IDC Certified Professionals cannot have sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, or reported to have been involved in any non-consensual activity at any point in their life.

   1. Sexual harassment may include unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; commentary about an individual’s body, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies; leering, whistling or touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; and other physical, verbal or visual conduct of a sexual nature. 

6. IDC Certified Professionals may not begin a sexual or romantic relationship with an individual they are working with until their contract or project is entirely over. This includes Teacher/Participant, Certified Professional and Clients (cast member, company members, etc.), and any time the IDC Certified Professional has a responsibility for the safety of an individual. 

7. IDC Certified Professionals may not be intoxicated in any way while working. 

8. IDC Certified Professionals may not misrepresent their legal ability to work on any project.

9. IDC Certified Professionals may not misuse, inappropriately share or discuss with outside parties explicitly confidential and proprietary information or communications given by IDC to the certified professional community.

10. IDC Certified Professionals may not retaliate against any individual who reports a violation of the Professional and Ethical Agreements or participates in an investigation of such reports.