Certification Ethics

New NACE Institute Ethics Requirement

Ethics is the foundation of any certification program and reinforces the principles set forth by the NACE Institute. Starting January 1, 2021 all new certification applicants and certification renewal applicants will be required to meet the new Ethics Requirement passed by the NACE Institute Certification Commission. A course is offered by NACE International that meets this requirement, but 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 corrosion field
  • Factors that may lead to unethical decision making in the field of corrosion
  • Ethical decision-making best practices or processes
  • Impacts of unethical decisions or unethical behavior
  • How to report unethical behavior

The ethics requirement course or an equivalent training must be completed every 3 years to meet certification requirements.

If you have questions related to course equivalency, please view the FAQ document for topics required and our step-by-step guide for submitting your 3rd party training. For additional questions, please contact ethicsquestions@nace.org.

Hear from members on the benefits of ethics training:

Jon Cavallo, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE committee member, NACE member, NACE Instructor

Laura Cardenas, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE member

Jose Caprarulo, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE committee member, NACE member

Mario Moreno, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE committee member, NACE member

Washington Nyoni, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE General Education Committee member, NACE member

Stephen Foster, NACE Institute certification holder, NACE member

Certification Ethics

Understanding your Certification Ethics Responsibilities

When you follow the rules of ethics associated with NACE International Institute (NII) 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 NACE International Institute certification holder?

  • Keep confidential any questions that appear on your certification exam
  • Give first consideration in your corrosion control work to public safety, welfare, and protection of the environment
  • Apply yourself with diligence and responsibility to the corrosion control 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 of corrosion work 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 judgement
View Attestations

Ethics frequently asked questions

What are some examples of ethics violations?

  • Claiming to be NACE Institute Certified when you are not
  • Advertising yourself to be certified at a higher level than you actually are
  • Having a conflict of interest on the job and failing to report it
  • Disclosing any exam questions or exam content to another individual

How could an ethics violation affect my career?

  • Potential loss of job
  • Your employer's project could be put in jeopardy
  • You could be putting your coworkers at risk
  • Your customers lose faith in the quality of your products and services
  • Your reputation could be tarnished, which will affect future career endeavors

What are the implications of getting caught not following the rules of ethics?

  • If a complaint is filed against a certification holder, an investigation is opened through the NACE International Institute Policy and Practices Committee. The Committee reviews the case and asks for a response from the person being complained against.
  • If the person with the complaint filed against them is found to be “guilty” of violating NII ethics, the Committee is then able to act upon disciplinary actions, which may include revoking an active certification, up to banning the person from holding any NACE International Institute certifications in the future.

Why does NACE International Institute care about ethics?

  • Ethics violations hurt the integrity of the program, the industry, and customer perception
  • Lack of ethics by certification holders decreases the value of your certification and can impact people’s lives, the environment, and customer ROI

How can you file a complaint against someone in violation of the ethics rules?

As an employer, how can you check to ensure your employees are actively certified?

Visit Find a Certified Professional to validate an active certification.