Ethics for the professional is a new requirement for all of our certifications. Ethics is central to any industry we serve and it is our goal to equip all certification holders with tools and information they need to be successful in the field and avoid potential violations.

To satisfy this requirement and maintain your certification, you must take an Ethics Professional course of your choice or equivalent training which covers all or some of the described syllabus. To read more on what an equivalent training must cover, see the Certification Requirements section below.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of upholding ethical standards across your industry.
• Differentiate between ethics, morals and values.
• Discuss how the Six Pillars of Character embody the ethical values of a professional.
• Explain why ethics is important within professional settings.
• Describe the consequences of engaging in unethical behavior.
• Apply an ethical decision-making framework to solve ethical dilemmas.

Learning Objectives

Section 1 | Introduction

• Recognize the importance of upholding ethical standards across your industry.

Section 2 | Professional Ethics

• Differentiate between ethics, morals and values.
• Discuss how the Six Pillars of Character embody the ethical values of a professional.
• Explain why ethics is important within professional settings.

Section 3 | Factors that Lead to Unethical Decision Making

• Describe what an unethical decision is.
• Describe how rationalizations are used to justify unethical decisions in a professional setting.
• Recognize the factors that can lead an individual to make an unethical decision.

Section 4 | Types of Unethical Behavior

• Identify types of unethical behavior seen when working in your industry.
• Describe the consequences of engaging in unethical behavior.

Section 5 | A Framework for Ethical Decision Making

• Explain what ethical dilemmas are and why they occur within professional environments.
• Apply an ethical decision-making framework to solve ethical dilemmas.

New Certification Ethics Requirement

Ethics is the foundation of any certification program and reinforces the principles set forth during the certification process. Starting January 1, 2022 all new certification applicants and certification renewal applicants will be required to meet the new Ethics Requirement. This can be met by participating in any ethics course or training that meets the below criteria:

Equivalent training must cover at least 3 of the 5 topics listed below. Proof of completion will need to be submitted as part of the new or renewal application process.

• Types of unethical behavior commonly encountered in the field
• Factors that may lead to unethical decision making in the field
• Ethical decision-making best practices or processes
• Impacts of unethical decisions or unethical behavior
• How to report unethical behavior

Understanding your Certification Ethics Responsibilities

When you follow the rules of ethics associated with your certification, you show your dedication to the integrity of the program. This helps maintain the customer’s confidence in the services and ensures the continued quality of the program.

What are some of the principles you should follow as a certification holder?

• Keep confidential any questions that appear on your certification exam
• Give first consideration in your exam integrity and reputation
• Apply yourself with diligence and responsibility to the work that lies within your area of competence
• Pursue your work with fairness, honesty, integrity, and courtesy, ever mindful of the best interest of the public, your employer and your fellow workers
• Represent yourself to be proficient only in areas in which you are qualified by knowledge and experience
• Avoid and discourage untrue, sensational, exaggerated, and/or unwarranted statements regarding your work in oral presentation, written text, and/or advertising media
• Inform clients or employers of any conflicts of interest that might influence your judgment