Ethics Policies and Procedures

Credentialing through CCE represents to clients and members of the public that, among other things, a credential holder has met the criteria outlined in the application and that the credential holder’s conduct is consistent with the respective code of ethics and CCE policies and agreements. The director of ethics reviews all application disclosures on a case-by-case basis to determine whether an applicant or certificant has acted in accordance with CCE policies and agreements.

When CCE receives an application that includes an ethics disclosure, the application and all submitted information are sent to the CCE Ethics Department. Each disclosure is reviewed, and if additional information is necessary, a letter is sent to the address of record. The director of ethics issues a written decision to the applicant. Following resolution, the application is returned to CCE Credentialing Services, where staff members review the application to ensure that all other eligibility requirements have been met. CCE Credentialing Services informs the applicant if any other information is needed for the application review.

Depending on the type of matter and location, final disposition documentation may be titled differently. Examples of final court disposition documentation are provided in the menu tab (Sample documents) for general reference. Please note that if the disclosed matter relates to a professional disciplinary or state board complaint, the documentation will be different.

In most cases, the final disposition documentation should be issued by a judge or similar authority; thus, it will contain an authorizing signature. It should name and describe the charge(s) and identify the outcome as well as sanctions/requirements. Finally, the applicant or credential holder should also provide documentation showing completion of the required actions.

All ethics matters must be satisfactorily resolved in all respects before a final review decision can be made.

A code of ethics is a set of rules that identify minimal standards of conduct. Generally speaking, these policy documents are adopted by regulatory groups, such as credentialing organizations (e.g., CCE), state licensure boards and membership organizations. All CCE credential holders and applicants are required to abide by the respective CCE code of ethics. Not only do these codes guide decision making, they also provide an assurance for the ethical practice for all persons who use the services of CCE credential holders and applicants. The CCE ethics department is responsible for overseeing the process of reviewing grievances regarding CCE ethics policies and agreements.

Licensure laws are created by legislators or elected officials and adopted by governmental entities. The primary purpose of state licensure laws is to protect the public. This is done, in part, by legally defining who can use a particular title or who can provide certain services in a particular state. Laws are enforced by agents of government, such as state boards. State licensure boards are established by, and administered in accordance with, applicable legal requirements

All CCE credential codes of ethics are available to anyone free of charge. They may be downloaded from the menu on the left. You may also request hard copies by contacting ethics@cce-global.org.

The director of ethics reviews ethics-related matters to determine if credential holders or applicants have acted in accordance with the respective code of ethics. To do this, the ethics department adheres to the procedures identified in the CCE Ethics Case Procedures. These procedures also specify the disciplinary actions that CCE may impose with respect to a determination that a credential holder or applicant has violated the respective code of ethics. A copy of the Ethics Case Procedures is available free of charge from the menu on the left.