Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 1, 2026

The Independent National Board for Grief Coaching ("INBGC," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

If you have questions, contact us at [email protected].

1. Who We Are

INBGC is an independent credentialing body for grief coaches. We publish a professional standard, review candidate education and verified practice hours, administer examinations, issue and maintain credentials, and review training programs against published criteria. We are located at 670 Meridian Way, Suite 284, Westerville, OH 43082.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in three ways: information you give us, information collected automatically, and information from third parties.

Information You Provide

  • Account and application data: name, email, mailing address, phone number, professional background, documentation of grief-specific education, and verified practice hours documentation.
  • Identity verification data: government-issued photo identification presented at the start of a proctored examination, and examination session monitoring data collected by our proctoring provider.
  • Payment information: processed by our payment provider, Stripe. We do not store full payment card numbers on our servers.
  • Communications: emails, support requests, and survey responses.
  • Certification records: examination results, verified practice hours, continuing education, renewals, ethics attestations, and any record of an ethics complaint or its outcome.
  • Provider review submissions: where an organization submits a training program for review, the curriculum, objectives, instructor qualifications, and instructional material provided.

Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage data: pages visited, links clicked, time on site, referring URL.
  • Device data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers.
  • Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 6.

Information From Third Parties

  • Supervisors, employers, mentors, or colleagues who provide a signed confirmation of your grief coaching practice, where you name them as your supporting record.
  • An employer or other organization that funds your certification fee, limited to information necessary to invoice and confirm candidacy status.
  • Our proctoring provider, which returns examination session data and identity verification results.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Review applications and issue, maintain, suspend, or revoke certifications.
  • Review documented education and verified practice hours against the published standard.
  • Administer examinations and verify the identity of the person testing.
  • Process payments and manage your account.
  • Communicate about your certification status, renewals, and continuing education.
  • Confirm your credential status to anyone who presents your credential number, and provide written verification to institutions on request.
  • Review training programs submitted for recognition, and maintain the public list of recognized programs.
  • Receive and review ethics complaints and administer the published outcomes and appeals process.
  • Send program updates and educational content, where you have asked to receive them. You can unsubscribe at any time.
  • Operate, improve, and secure our website and services.
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our policies.

We do not sell your personal information.

4. How We Share Your Information

We share information only when necessary:

  • Service providers that help us operate, including payment processing (Stripe), email delivery (ActiveCampaign and Google Workspace), website hosting, our learning and examination platforms, our proctoring provider, and analytics. They are contractually required to protect your information and to use it only to provide services to us.
  • Program Administration, which reviews individual candidate files and applies the published standard. The Advisory Board sets the standard and does not review individual candidate files or receive candidate information.
  • Credential verification: if you become board certified, anyone who presents your credential number can confirm the name on the credential and whether it is active, expired, or revoked. Institutions can request written verification of the same information. The verification tool is not searchable by name and does not display your address, contact details, or location. Verification of credential status is a condition of holding the credential and is not optional, because a credential that cannot be checked serves no purpose.
  • Ethics complaints: where a complaint is submitted about a certificant, information necessary to review it may be shared with that certificant. If you submit a complaint, we will ask whether your name may be shared before any part of your report is put to the certificant.
  • Employer funding: where an employer pays your fee, we confirm candidacy and payment status to that employer. We do not share your application contents, examination results, or account access.
  • Legal and safety: when required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of members of the public, certificants, or others.
  • Business transfers: if INBGC is acquired, merges, or transfers operations, your information may transfer with appropriate notice.

5. How Long We Keep Your Information

  • Active certification records: for the duration of your certification plus seven (7) years, for accountability and verification purposes.
  • Application records where certification was not awarded: up to three (3) years.
  • Examination session monitoring data: retained for the period necessary to resolve examination integrity questions, in accordance with our proctoring provider's retention terms.
  • Provider review submissions: for the duration of recognition plus three (3) years, or three (3) years from the determination date where a program is not recognized.
  • Financial records: as required by tax and accounting law, typically seven (7) years.
  • Marketing contacts: until you unsubscribe or request deletion.

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, measure performance, and improve content. Categories include:

  • Essential cookies required for the site to function
  • Analytics cookies used to understand how visitors interact with our website
  • Marketing cookies, only if you consent

You can control cookies through your browser settings or our cookie banner.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correct inaccurate information.
  • Request deletion of your information, subject to certification recordkeeping requirements.
  • Object to or restrict certain processing.
  • Receive a portable copy of your information.
  • Withdraw consent at any time.
  • Opt out of marketing emails using the unsubscribe link.

Certification records are retained and credential status remains verifiable for as long as required for accountability, and those obligations may limit a deletion request. Where that applies, we will tell you what we are able to delete and what we are required to keep.

To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.

Region-Specific Rights

California residents (CCPA/CPRA): You have the right to know, delete, correct, and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

EU/UK residents (GDPR/UK GDPR): Our lawful bases for processing include contract, consent, legal obligation, and legitimate interests in operating a credentialing body and protecting the people who rely on it. You may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. INBGC does not specifically target EU or UK residents. If you are located in the EU or UK and have privacy questions, contact us at [email protected].

Canadian residents (PIPEDA): You may contact us with any concern about how your information is handled.

8. Data Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including encryption in transit, access controls, and vendor security reviews. No system is fully secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach affects your information, we will notify you as required by law.

9. International Data Transfers

INBGC operates primarily in the United States. If you access our services from outside the US, your information will be transferred to and processed in the US, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

10. Children's Privacy

INBGC services are intended for adults pursuing professional certification, and candidates must be 18 or older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

11. Client Confidentiality

INBGC does not collect information about the clients of the coaches it certifies. No client session is recorded, submitted, or reviewed at any point in the certification process, and no client is contacted. Where a candidate submits a supporting record that contains client names or identifying details, those details may be redacted before submission and INBGC does not require them.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may link to third-party sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before sharing information.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as our services, technology, or legal requirements change. We will post the updated version with a new "Last Updated" date. For material changes, we will notify certificants and candidates by email.

14. Contact Us

Questions, requests, or complaints about privacy?

Independent National Board for Grief Coaching
670 Meridian Way, Suite 284
Westerville, OH 43082
[email protected]