The terms and conditions governing credential applications, issuance, and the ongoing obligations of ICONIC Board credential holders.
Effective January 1, 2025These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Applicant," "Credential Holder," or "you") and the ICONIC Board of Holistic Health ("ICONIC Board," "the Board," "we," or "us"). By submitting a credential application, renewing a credential, or using any services provided by the ICONIC Board, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety.
If you are applying for or holding an ICONIC Board credential on behalf of a professional entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and "you" shall refer to both you individually and that entity.
These Terms apply to all ICONIC Board credential tiers, including the IBC-HHA™ (ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Associate), IBC-HHP™ (ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner), IBC-HHE™ (ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Educator), and IBC-HHM™ (ICONIC Board Certified Holistic Health Master Practitioner), as well as any institutional programs including Verified Partner status and School Recognition.
If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not apply for or hold an ICONIC Board credential. Use of the ICONIC Board seal, post-nominal letters, or directory listing following the effective date of these Terms constitutes your ongoing acceptance.
Applications for ICONIC Board credentials are subject to the following terms. By submitting an application, you represent that all information provided is true, accurate, complete, and current to the best of your knowledge.
Application Fees. All application fees are non-refundable except in the following specific circumstances:
Important: Application fees are not refundable on the basis of application denial, failure to meet eligibility requirements, or a change of mind after the 72-hour withdrawal window. The Board reserves the right to deny any application that does not meet published eligibility standards, without obligation to refund the application fee.
Eligibility Representations. By submitting an application, you affirm that you meet all published eligibility requirements for the credential tier sought, that any training or education credentials submitted are authentic and accurately represented, and that you have not been subject to disciplinary action, license revocation, or formal censure in any health-related profession within the past five (5) years without disclosing such history in your application.
Review Process. The Board conducts a good-faith review of all submitted applications. Review timelines are estimates only and are not guarantees. The Board may request additional documentation at any stage of the review process. Failure to respond to documentation requests within 30 days may result in application withdrawal without refund.
Renewal Applications. Credential renewal applications are subject to these same terms. Renewal fees are non-refundable once the renewal period has been initiated. Failure to renew by the published deadline will result in credential lapse; lapsed credentials may be reinstated subject to reinstatement fees and policies in effect at the time of reinstatement.
Issuance. Upon approval of an application, the Board will issue the appropriate credential designation, post-nominal letters, and digital credential materials as applicable to the approved tier. Credentials are personal and non-transferable. The credential belongs to the individual or entity named on the certificate and may not be assigned, licensed, or otherwise transferred to any other party.
Credential Validity. Credentials are valid for the period specified at issuance, subject to continued compliance with these Terms, the Code of Professional Conduct, and all continuing education requirements. The Board reserves the right to modify renewal periods with reasonable advance notice to credential holders.
Grounds for Revocation. The Board may suspend or permanently revoke any credential, at its sole discretion and following applicable due process procedures, on the following grounds:
Revocation Procedure. Prior to revocation, the Board will provide written notice of the grounds for proposed revocation and an opportunity for the credential holder to respond in writing within 30 days. The Board will consider the response before rendering a final decision. In cases involving imminent harm to the public, the Board may impose an immediate interim suspension pending a full review.
Effect of Revocation. Upon revocation, the credential holder must immediately cease use of the credential designation, post-nominal letters, ICONIC Board seal, and any claim of ICONIC Board credentialing in professional materials, websites, directories, or marketing. Revoked credentials are noted in the Board's records and, where applicable, in the public directory for a period of seven (7) years.
By submitting an application for an ICONIC Board credential, you provide your informed and express consent to the following directory terms.
Public Listing. Active credential holders will be listed in the ICONIC Board public practitioner directory. The directory is publicly accessible and is intended to allow members of the public to verify credentials and locate qualified holistic health practitioners. By applying, you consent to the public listing of:
Information Not Listed. Personal contact information, including personal email addresses, home addresses, and personal phone numbers, will not be listed in the public directory without separate explicit consent. Only a professional website or professional contact method provided voluntarily by the credential holder may appear in the directory.
Accuracy of Listing Information. You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of your directory listing. You may update your listed information through your credential holder account portal. The Board is not liable for outdated information that you have not updated.
Removal Upon Lapse or Revocation. Active directory listings will be removed or updated to reflect "Lapsed" or "Revoked" status upon credential lapse or revocation. A notation of revocation may remain in the directory for seven (7) years as a matter of public record, consistent with the Board's obligation to protect public safety and the integrity of the credential.
Continuing education (CE) is a condition of credential renewal for all active ICONIC Board credential holders. CE requirements are established by tier and are published in the Board's current Credential Maintenance Handbook, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.
General Requirements. Credential holders are responsible for completing the required number of continuing education hours within each renewal period, maintaining documentation of completed CE activities, submitting CE attestations in the credential renewal application, and retaining supporting documentation for a minimum of four (4) years following the renewal period in which the CE was completed.
Approved CE Activities. CE activities must fall within categories approved by the Board, which may include workshops, seminars, online courses, conferences, teaching, published research, mentorship hours, and other activities as published and updated by the Board. The Board reserves the right to audit CE submissions and to require documentation of completed activities at any time during or after the renewal period.
CE Requirement Updates. The Board may update CE requirements with no less than twelve (12) months' advance notice to credential holders. Updates will be communicated via the credential holder portal and by email to the address on file.
CE Deficiencies. Credential holders who do not meet CE requirements by the renewal deadline will be notified in writing. A 90-day cure period may be granted at the Board's discretion for credential holders who can demonstrate substantial compliance and a credible plan for completing outstanding hours. Failure to cure a CE deficiency within the applicable period will result in credential lapse.
ICONIC Board credential holders represent not only their individual practice but the holistic health profession as a whole. The ICONIC Board credential is a mark of professional excellence, ethical practice, and commitment to client welfare. All credential holders are bound by the following principles of professional conduct.
Client Welfare. Credential holders shall at all times prioritize the health, safety, and dignity of their clients. This includes practicing within the scope of their training, providing accurate representations of their qualifications and the nature of the services offered, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, and referring clients to other qualified professionals when their needs exceed the credential holder's scope of practice.
Truthful Representation. Credential holders shall not make false, misleading, or exaggerated claims regarding the effectiveness of their services, their credentials, or ICONIC Board recognition. The credential designation and ICONIC Board affiliation must be represented accurately and in accordance with the tier held.
Non-Discrimination. Credential holders shall serve all clients without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.
Confidentiality. Credential holders shall protect the confidentiality of client information and communications in accordance with applicable law and professional ethics standards. This obligation survives the termination of any client relationship.
Professional Responsibility. Credential holders shall maintain professional competence through continuing education, conduct themselves with integrity in all professional and public dealings, and cooperate fully with any Board inquiry or investigation. A credential holder's conduct in any professional or public context reflects on the ICONIC Board and the profession and may be grounds for credential review.
The full ICONIC Board Code of Professional Conduct, including complaint procedures and disciplinary processes, is published separately and is incorporated by reference into these Terms. Credential holders are responsible for reviewing the Code upon initial credentialing and following any updates.
ICONIC Board Marks. The ICONIC Board name, logo, seal, credential designations (IBC-HHA™, IBC-HHP™, IBC-HHE™, IBC-HHM™), and all associated graphic marks are the exclusive intellectual property of the ICONIC Board of Holistic Health. These marks are protected under applicable trademark and intellectual property law.
License to Active Credential Holders. Active credential holders in good standing are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the ICONIC Board seal and the credential designation(s) corresponding to their approved tier(s) solely in connection with their professional practice and in accordance with the Board's published usage guidelines.
Permitted Uses. The ICONIC Board seal and credential designations may be used on professional websites, business cards, practice letterhead, professional directories, and marketing materials that accurately represent the credential held and do not imply Board endorsement of specific services, products, or claims beyond credentialed practitioner status.
Prohibited Uses. The following uses are expressly prohibited:
Credential Lapse Notice: Upon lapse, suspension, or revocation of an ICONIC Board credential, the license to use all associated marks terminates immediately and automatically. Continued use of the seal or credential designation after this point constitutes trademark infringement and may result in legal action.
Website and Publication Content. All content published on the ICONIC Board website, including credential standards, policy documents, educational materials, and board publications, is the property of the ICONIC Board and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.
Governing Law. These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to ICONIC Board credentialing, the application process, or the credential holder relationship shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state in which the ICONIC Board maintains its principal office, without regard to conflicts of law principles.
Informal Resolution. Before initiating any formal dispute process, the parties agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve any dispute through direct communication. A party seeking resolution must provide written notice of the dispute with a description of the issue and proposed resolution. The parties will have 30 days from the date of notice to reach an informal resolution before proceeding to formal dispute processes.
Binding Arbitration for Smaller Disputes. For disputes involving a claimed amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or less, the parties agree that the dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by a mutually agreed-upon arbitration provider, or if no agreement is reached within 15 days, by an arbitration provider selected by the Board. Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the arbitration provider's applicable rules and procedures. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party shall bear its own costs and fees, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Disputes Exceeding Arbitration Threshold. For disputes involving amounts exceeding $10,000, or for disputes involving injunctive or equitable relief, either party may pursue litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction in the state of the Board's principal office. Both parties expressly consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection to venue or jurisdiction.
Credential Revocation Appeals. Appeals of credential revocation decisions are governed by the Board's published Appeal and Review Procedures and are not subject to external arbitration until all internal appeal procedures have been exhausted. Internal appeal procedures do not constitute a waiver of any rights under applicable law.
Class Action Waiver. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all disputes shall be resolved on an individual basis. You waive any right to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or representative proceeding with respect to any dispute arising under these Terms.
The ICONIC Board collects and processes personal information in connection with credential applications, renewal, maintenance, and the public practitioner directory. The collection, use, storage, and sharing of personal information is governed by the ICONIC Board Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.
By applying for or holding an ICONIC Board credential, you acknowledge and agree to the data practices described in the Privacy Policy, including the collection of application and practice information, payment processing through third-party payment processors, public directory listing of credential information, and communications related to credential status and renewal.
Please review the ICONIC Board Privacy Policy for complete information about how your data is collected, used, and protected.
The ICONIC Board reserves the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting of the revised Terms to the ICONIC Board website, with the updated effective date noted at the top of the document.
For material changes that significantly affect credential holder obligations, the Board will provide advance notice via email to the address on file and through the credential holder portal no less than 30 days prior to the effective date of the change. Non-material clarifications or corrections may be made without advance notice.
Continued use of your credential designation, the ICONIC Board seal, or your directory listing following the effective date of any revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to revised Terms, you must notify the Board in writing and may surrender your credential; no refunds of previously paid fees will be issued in connection with disagreement with Terms updates.
The Board will maintain an archive of prior versions of these Terms, which will be available upon written request.
For questions about these Terms of Service, credential applications, the credential holder agreement, or related matters, please contact the ICONIC Board using the following channels.
General Inquiries and Terms Questions
ICONIC Board of Holistic Health
Contact Form at iconicboard.org/support
Credential Disputes and Appeals
Written correspondence regarding credential disputes or formal appeals should be submitted through the credential holder portal or mailed to the address on record with the Board.
Intellectual Property Concerns
Reports of unauthorized use of ICONIC Board marks or credential designations may be submitted through the contact form with "IP Concern" in the subject line.
These Terms of Service are effective as of January 1, 2025. The ICONIC Board of Holistic Health is a professional credentialing body. Nothing in these Terms constitutes legal, medical, or professional advice.
ICONIC Board — Standards & Credentialing Division
Standards & Credentialing Division, ICONIC Board