Code of Ethics and Conduct

7.1 Ethical Fitness as a Requirement for Designation

Holding a professional designation signifies both:

• Demonstrated professional competence, and
• Ethical fitness to practise or act as a designation holder.

Members must therefore maintain standards of personal and professional conduct consistent with this Code at all times.

7.2 Withdrawal of Designation for Ethical Breaches

Serious or repeated breaches of this Code may result in:

• Suspension or termination of membership, and/or
• Withdrawal of the professional designation, whether or not membership would otherwise remain current.

7.3 Independent Effect

Where conduct is incompatible with the trust, integrity, or reputation associated with the designation, the Institute reserves the right to withdraw or suspend a professional designation as a standalone sanction.

8.1 Possible Sanctions

Following investigation under the Disciplinary and Complaints Procedures of the Institute’s Continuing Professional Development Scheme (CPD Scheme) and/or Examination Regulations and/or this Code, sanctions may include one or more of the following:

• Formal warning or reprimand
• Requirement to complete additional CPD hours
• Conditions placed on practice, assessment, or examination roles
• Removal from assessor or examiner roles
• Withdrawal of professional designation(s)
• Suspension and/or Termination of membership.

8.2 Proportionality

Sanctions shall be proportionate to:

• The seriousness of the misconduct
• Any risk posed to learners, the public, or the integrity of professional designations
• Any relevant aggravating or mitigating factors

Persistent behaviour deemed inappropriate and/or incompatible with the trust, integrity, or reputation associated with the designation.

9.1 Prohibition on Use

Where a professional designation has been withdrawn or suspended, individuals shall:

• Immediately cease use of the designation, post‑nominals, or related titles
• Not represent themselves, directly or indirectly, as holding the designation.

Failure to comply may constitute further misconduct.  In addition, the Institute may inform the employer of the member (as noted on their Institute record) of the requirement to remove the individual from their Register of Accredited Persons.

Members shall be aware that:

• The professional designation awarded by the Institute exists to serve the public interest, including the promotion of trust, confidence, and high standards within the profession.
• Their conduct, whether in a professional, educational, or related context, may impact public confidence in the designation and in the standards upheld by the Institute.
• They undertake to act at all times in a manner that does not bring the profession, the designation, or the Institute into disrepute.

11.1  Independence and Objectivity

Assessors and examiners shall:

• Act independently and free from external pressure
• Base decisions solely on published criteria, evidence, and standards
• Apply standards consistently to all candidates.

11.2  Conflicts of Interest

Assessors and examiners must notassess or examine a student where there is:

• A personal, family, financial, or close professional relationship
• A current or recent supervisory, mentoring, or employment relationship
• Any circumstance that could reasonably be perceived as impairing impartiality.

All actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest shall be:

• Declared promptly and recorded appropriately
• Managed in accordance with the Institute’s procedures, including recusal where necessary.

11.3  Confidentiality of Assessment

Assessors and examiners shall:

• Protect the confidentiality of candidate information, materials, and results
• Not disclose, discuss, or use assessment information for personal or professional advantage
• Secure assessment materials in accordance with Institute requirements.

11.4  Professional Boundaries

Assessors and examiners shall:

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students
• Not seek or accept gifts, inducements, or favours
• Avoid behaviour that could be perceived as coercive or exploitative.

12.1  Members shall:

• Promote equality of opportunity in the Institute, the profession, in education and assessment
• Not discriminate on grounds including gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or socio‑economic background
• Support reasonable accommodations in assessment where required.

13.1  Members shall:

• Communicate professionally and respectfully
• Clearly distinguish personal views from official Institute positions
• Avoid public statements that undermine confidence in the credibility and reputation of the Institute, in professional standards, assessment outcomes or designation standards.

14.1  Members have an ethical duty to:

• Raise concerns about unfair, unethical, or improper assessment or conduct
• Report breaches of this Code in good faith.

14.2  The Institute shall:

• Treat reports confidentially and seriously
• Seek to protect individuals who raise genuine concerns from retaliation.

15.1  Breaches of this Code may result in action by the Institute resulting in the application of sanctions.

15.2  Sanctions may include:

• Guidance or formal warning
• Suspension or withdrawal of professional designation(s)
• Removal from assessor or examiner roles
• Termination of membership
• Notifying the employer (as noted on the member’s Institute record).

16.1  This Code shall be reviewed periodically to reflect best practice in professional education and assessment governance.

16.2  Interpretation and enforcement rest with the Board of the Institute, or to any standing committee appointed by the Board to which such authority has been delegated.

Last updated: 26 February 2026