Overview
This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP" or "Policy") establishes the rules and standards governing the use of all digital platforms, credential marks, and services provided by the ICONIC Board of Holistic Health ("ICONIC Board," "the Board," "we," or "us").
The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that all users of ICONIC Board services can do so in a safe, professional, and productive environment. The Board maintains digital platforms to support credential verification, professional development, community engagement, and institutional partnerships. Misuse of these platforms undermines their value to all stakeholders.
This Policy supplements, and does not replace, the ICONIC Board Terms of Service, Code of Ethics, and other applicable governance documents. In the event of a conflict between this Policy and another Board document, the more restrictive provision shall control.
Scope
This Acceptable Use Policy applies to all individuals and entities that access or use any digital service provided or operated by the ICONIC Board, including but not limited to:
- The ICONIC Board public website at iconicboard.health and all associated subdomains.
- The credential holder portal, including account management, application submission, and renewal services.
- The ICONIC Board Credential Verification API and developer platform.
- The public practitioner directory, including search and verification features.
- Community forums, discussion boards, and professional networking features.
- Email communications, newsletters, and notification services operated by the Board.
- Any mobile applications, embedded widgets, or third-party integrations that access ICONIC Board data or services.
This Policy applies equally to credential holders, applicants, institutional partners, API developers, members of the public, and any other user of Board services ("Users" or "you"). Certain provisions of this Policy apply specifically to credential holders and are noted as such.
Permitted Use
ICONIC Board digital platforms are provided for the following legitimate purposes. Users are expected to use Board services in good faith and in a manner consistent with these intended purposes.
- Credential verification and information: Accessing the practitioner directory and credential verification services to confirm the status and authenticity of ICONIC Board credentials.
- Application and renewal: Submitting credential applications, renewal documentation, continuing education records, and other materials required for the credentialing process.
- Professional directory use: Using the practitioner directory for its intended purpose of locating qualified holistic health practitioners and verifying their credential status.
- Community participation: Engaging in community forums, professional discussions, and collaborative learning opportunities provided through Board platforms.
- Continuing education: Accessing educational resources, training materials, webinar recordings, and other continuing education content made available through the Board.
- API integration: Accessing the ICONIC Board Credential Verification API within the agreed-upon rate limits and in accordance with the API & Developer Terms.
- Institutional partnership: Submitting and managing school recognition applications, Verified Partner documentation, and institutional reporting through partner portals.
Prohibited Conduct
The following activities are strictly prohibited when using ICONIC Board platforms and services. Violations may result in enforcement actions as described in Section 7 of this Policy.
Misrepresentation
- Misrepresenting your credentials, qualifications, professional affiliations, or relationship with the ICONIC Board.
- Claiming or implying ICONIC Board certification or endorsement when you do not hold an active credential.
- Creating fake accounts, impersonating other users, or assuming the identity of another credential holder or Board representative.
- Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any application, form, or communication submitted through Board platforms.
Data Misuse
- Scraping, harvesting, or systematically downloading practitioner directory data, credential information, or any other Board content through automated means.
- Using data obtained from Board platforms for commercial solicitation, marketing, or any purpose not authorized by the Board.
- Compiling, redistributing, or reselling data obtained from the practitioner directory or credential verification services.
- Accessing, collecting, or storing personal information of other users beyond what is publicly displayed and intended for public consumption.
Security Violations
- Attempting unauthorized access to user accounts, administrative systems, databases, or any restricted area of Board platforms.
- Circumventing, disabling, or interfering with security features, access controls, authentication mechanisms, or rate limiting measures.
- Distributing malware, viruses, trojans, ransomware, or any other malicious code through Board platforms.
- Conducting port scans, vulnerability assessments, penetration tests, or other security testing without prior written authorization from the Board.
- Interfering with or disrupting the normal operation of Board services, including denial-of-service attacks or resource exhaustion.
Abusive Behavior
- Harassing, threatening, bullying, intimidating, or discriminating against other users on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.
- Posting, transmitting, or distributing spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or promotional content without Board authorization.
- Using Board platforms for commercial solicitation, advertising, or marketing of products or services without express written approval.
- Engaging in any conduct that violates applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation.
Intellectual Property Violations
- Infringing on the intellectual property rights of the ICONIC Board, including unauthorized use of Board trademarks, logos, credential designations, or copyrighted materials.
- Infringing on the intellectual property rights of other users, third parties, or content creators.
- Posting or distributing content that you do not have the right to share, including copyrighted materials, trade secrets, or confidential information.
Note: This list of prohibited conduct is not exhaustive. The Board reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether any conduct violates the spirit or intent of this Policy, even if the specific conduct is not explicitly listed above.
Credential Mark Usage
ICONIC Board credential marks, including the Board seal, post-nominal designations (IBC-HHA™, IBC-HHP™, IBC-HHE™, IBC-HHM™), and associated logos, are registered trademarks of the ICONIC Board of Holistic Health. The following rules govern the use of these marks.
Permitted Mark Usage
- Active credential holders in good standing may display their earned credential designation on professional websites, business cards, practice letterhead, email signatures, and professional directories.
- Credential marks must be used in their official form as provided by the Board and in accordance with the Board's published brand usage guidelines.
- The credential designation must accurately reflect the specific tier held by the credential holder. Use of a higher-tier designation than the one actually held is prohibited.
Prohibited Mark Usage
- Modifying, altering, distorting, or creating derivative versions of any ICONIC Board mark, logo, or credential designation.
- Using any ICONIC Board mark after the credential has lapsed, been suspended, or been revoked. The license to use Board marks terminates immediately upon any change in credential status.
- Using Board marks to imply Board endorsement of specific products, services, treatments, methodologies, or commercial ventures.
- Sublicensing, transferring, or granting permission to any third party to use ICONIC Board marks.
- Displaying Board marks in a manner that could create confusion with other credentialing organizations or certifications.
Important: Unauthorized use of ICONIC Board credential marks may constitute trademark infringement under applicable law and will be addressed through the enforcement procedures described in Section 7, including potential referral to legal counsel for trademark enforcement action.
Forum and Community Guidelines
ICONIC Board community forums, discussion boards, and professional networking features are provided to facilitate professional discourse, peer learning, and collaborative engagement among holistic health practitioners. The following guidelines apply to all community interactions.
Expected Conduct
- Professional discourse: All forum interactions must maintain a professional, respectful, and constructive tone. Disagreements should be expressed through reasoned discussion, not personal attacks.
- Evidence-based contributions: When discussing health-related topics, contributors should reference established research, best practices, or evidence-based approaches where applicable.
- Disclosure of conflicts: Users who have a financial or professional interest in a topic under discussion should disclose that interest when participating in the conversation.
Prohibited Forum Content
- Medical claims and diagnoses: Forum participants must not provide specific medical diagnoses, prescriptive treatment advice, or claims that constitute the practice of medicine. Forums are for professional discussion, not client consultation.
- Confidential information: Sharing of confidential client information, patient data, case details that could identify specific individuals, or proprietary business information of other practitioners or organizations is strictly prohibited.
- Off-topic commercial promotion: Unsolicited promotion of products, services, events, or business opportunities is not permitted unless posted in designated areas approved by the Board for such purposes.
- Inflammatory content: Content designed to provoke, inflame, or disrupt constructive discussion, including but not limited to trolling, baiting, and deliberately misleading statements.
Moderation. ICONIC Board forum moderators may remove content that violates these guidelines, issue warnings to users, or restrict access to community features. Moderation decisions are made at the moderators' discretion and in accordance with the principles of this Policy. Persistent or severe violations will be escalated to the enforcement procedures described in Section 7.
Enforcement
The ICONIC Board takes violations of this Acceptable Use Policy seriously. Enforcement actions are proportional to the severity, frequency, and intent of the violation. The Board may take one or more of the following actions in response to a confirmed violation.
A formal notice identifying the violation and requiring immediate corrective action. First-time, minor violations will typically receive a warning with guidance on compliant behavior.
Temporary restriction of access to Board platforms and services for a specified period. Suspension may apply to specific features (e.g., forum access) or to all Board services.
Permanent revocation of access to all Board digital platforms and services. Permanent bans are reserved for severe violations, repeated offenses, or conduct that poses a threat to other users.
For credential holders, AUP violations may trigger a formal credential review under the Board's Disciplinary Procedures. This may result in credential suspension or revocation independent of platform access restrictions.
Illegal Activity. The Board may report suspected illegal activity to appropriate law enforcement authorities. This includes but is not limited to fraud, identity theft, unauthorized computer access, intellectual property theft, and threats of violence. The Board will cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations where required by law or where the safety of users is at risk.
Appeals. Users who believe an enforcement action was taken in error may appeal the decision through the Board's Grievance & Appeals procedures. Appeals must be submitted in writing within thirty (30) days of the enforcement action. The filing of an appeal does not stay the enforcement action during the appeals process.
Reporting Violations
The ICONIC Board encourages all users to report suspected violations of this Acceptable Use Policy. Timely reporting helps us maintain a safe and professional environment for all users.
How to Report. Suspected violations may be reported through any of the following channels:
- Online: Submit a report through our support page with "AUP Violation" in the subject line.
- Email: Send a detailed report to compliance@iconicboard.health with "AUP Violation" in the subject line.
- Forum flagging: Use the built-in content flagging feature within community forums to alert moderators to problematic posts or behavior.
What to Include. When reporting a violation, please provide as much detail as possible, including a description of the violation, the date and time it occurred, the URL or location where the violation was observed, any relevant screenshots or documentation, and the username or identifying information of the user involved.
Confidentiality. Reports of AUP violations are treated confidentially. The identity of the reporter will not be disclosed to the reported user except where required by law or where disclosure is necessary for a fair investigation. The Board prohibits retaliation against any user who reports a suspected violation in good faith.
Response Timeline. The Board will acknowledge receipt of violation reports within five (5) business days and will provide an initial assessment within fifteen (15) business days. Complex investigations may require additional time, and the Board will keep the reporter informed of significant developments where appropriate.
Changes to This Policy
The ICONIC Board reserves the right to modify this Acceptable Use Policy at any time. Changes may be made to reflect updates in Board services, changes in applicable law, evolving security threats, or improvements in governance practices.
When material changes are made to this Policy, the Board will provide notice through one or more of the following methods:
- Posting a notice on the ICONIC Board website for a minimum of thirty (30) days following the change.
- Updating the "Effective" date displayed at the top of this document.
- Sending notification to registered users and credential holders via email.
- Displaying a banner or notification within the credential holder portal upon next login.
Continued use of ICONIC Board digital platforms and services after the effective date of any revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you should discontinue use of Board services and contact us to discuss your concerns.
The Board will maintain an archive of prior versions of this Policy, which will be available upon written request to compliance@iconicboard.health.
Contact
For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, to report a violation, or to request clarification on whether a specific use is permitted, please contact us through any of the following channels.
Compliance Inquiries: compliance@iconicboard.health
General Support: iconicboard.health/support
When contacting us about compliance or AUP-related matters, please include "Acceptable Use Policy" or "AUP" in the subject line so we can route your inquiry to the appropriate team.
This Acceptable Use Policy is effective as of April 1, 2026. The ICONIC Board of Holistic Health is committed to maintaining professional, secure, and equitable access to all digital services.