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Code of Ethics for Engineers

Preamble they lack competence, nor to any plan or document not to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent
Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members of prepared under their direction and control. pertinent facts concerning employers, employees,
this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the highest c. Engineers may accept assignments and assume associates, joint venturers, or past accomplishments.
standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct and vital responsibility for coordination of an entire project and sign b. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, or receive, either
impact on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the services and seal the engineering documents for the entire project, directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the
provided by engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and provided that each technical segment is signed and sealed award of a contract by public authority, or which may be
equity, and must be dedicated to the protection of the public only by the qualified engineers who prepared the segment. reasonably constructed by the public as having the effect or
health, safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform under a intent of influencing the awarding of to contract. They shall
3.Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective
standard of professional behavior that requires adherence to the and truthful manner. not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in order to
highest principles of ethical conduct. secure work. They shall not pay a commission, percentage,
to. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional
or brokerage fee in order to secure work, except to a
reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all
I. Fundamental Canons relevant and pertinent information in such reports,
bona fide employee or bona fide established commercial or
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: marketing agencies retained by them.
statements, or testimony, which should bear the date
1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. indicating when it was current.
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence. b. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that
III. Professional Obligations
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful 1.Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the
are founded upon knowledge of the facts and
manner. highest standards of honesty and integrity.
competence in the subject matter.
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. to. Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall not
c. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or distort or alter the facts.
5. Avoid deceptive acts. arguments on technical matters that are inspired or paid for
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, b. Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when they
by interested parties, unless they have prefaced their
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and believe a project will not be successful.
comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on
usefulness of the profession. c. Engineers shall not accept outside employment to
whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the
the detriment of their regular work or interest. Before
existence of any interest the engineers may have in the
II. Rules of Practice matters. accepting any outside engineering employment, they will
1.Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and notify their employers.
welfare of the public. 4.Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful d. Engineers shall not attempt to attract an engineer from
to. If engineers' judgment is overruled under agents or trustees. another employer by false or misleading pretenses.
circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify to. Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of and. Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the
their employer or client and such other authority as may be interest that could influence or appear to influence their expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.
appropriate. judgment or the quality of their services. F. Engineers shall treat all persons with dignity, respect,
b. Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents b. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or fairness, and without discrimination.
that are in conformity with applicable standards. otherwise, from more than one party for services on the
2.Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public interest.
c. Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information same project, or for services pertaining to the same project,
to. Engineers are encouraged to participate in civic affairs;
without the prior consent of the client or employer except as unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to
career guidance for youths; and work for the advancement of
authorized or required by law or this Code. by all interested parties.
the safety, health, and well-being of their community.
d. Engineers shall not allow the use of their name or c. Engineers shall not request or accept financial or other
b. Engineers shall not complete, sign, or seal plans and/or
associate in business ventures with any person or firm that valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside
specifications that are not in conformity with applicable
they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise. agents in connection with the work for which they are
engineering standards. If the client or employer insists on
responsible.
such unprofessional conduct, they must notify the proper
and. Engineers shall not aid or bet on the illegal practice of d. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or
authorities and withdraw from further service on the project.
engineering by a person or firm. employees of a governmental or quasi-governmental
F. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of body or department shall not participate in decisions with
c. Engineers are encouraged to extend public knowledge and
This Code shall report thereon to appropriate professional respect to services requested or provided by them or their
appreciation of engineering and its achievements.
bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and organizations in private or public engineering practice.
d. Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of
cooperate with the proper authorities in providing such and. Engineers shall not request or accept a contract from a
sustainable development1 in order to protect the
information or assistance as may be required. governmental body on which a principal or officer of their
environment for future generations.
organization serves as a member.
2.Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their and. Engineers shall continue their professional development
competence. 5.Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts. throughout their careers and should remain current in their
to. Engineers shall undertake assignments only when to. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or specialty fields by engaging in professional practice,
qualified by education or experience in the specific permit misrepresentation of their or their associates' participating in continuing education courses, reading in
technical fields involved. qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate the technical literature, and attending professional
b. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or their responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior meetings and seminars.
documents dealing with subject matter in which assignments. Brochures or other presentations incident

1420 KING STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22314-2794 • 888-285-NSPE (6773) • [email protected] • WWW.NSPE.ORG • PUBLICATION DATE AS REVISED JULY 2019 • PUBLICATION #1102 ©NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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3.Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that 7.Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or “By order of the United States District Court for the
deceives the public. falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, District of Columbia, former Section 11(c) of the NSPE
to. Engineers shall avoid the use of statements containing a prospects, practice, or employment of other engineers.
material misrepresentation of fact or omitting a Engineers who believe others are guilty of unethical or Code of Ethics prohibiting competitive bidding, and all
material fact. illegal practice shall present such information to the policy statements, opinions, rulings or other guidelines
b. Consistent with the foregoing, engineers may advertise proper authority for action. interpreting its scope, have been rescinded as unlawfully
for recruitment of personnel. to. Engineers in private practice shall not review the work of
interfering with the legal right of engineers, protected
c. Consistent with the foregoing, engineers may prepare another engineer for the same client, except with the
articles for the lay or technical press, but such articles shall knowledge of such engineer, or unless the connection of under the antitrust laws, to provide price information to
not imply credit to the author for work performed by others. such engineer with the work has been terminated. prospective clients; Accordingly, nothing contained in the
b. Engineers in governmental, industrial, or educational
NSPE Code of Ethics, policy statements, opinions, rulings
employ are entitled to review and evaluate the work of other
4.Engineers shall not disclose, without consent, confidential or other guidelines prohibits the submission of price
engineers when so required by their employment duties.
information concerning the business affairs or technical
c. Engineers in sales or industrial employ are entitled to quotations or competitive bids for engineering services at
processes of any present or former client or employer, or
make engineering comparisons of represented products any time or in any amount.”
public body on which they serve.
with products of other suppliers.
to. Engineers shall not, without the consent of all
interested parties, promote or arrange for new 8.Engineers shall accept personal responsibility for their Statement by NSPE Executive Committee
employment or practice in connection with a specific professional activities, provided, however, that engineers In order to correct misunderstandings which have been
project for which the engineer has gained particular and may seek indemnification for services arising out of indicated in some instances since the issuance of the
specialized knowledge. their practice for other than gross negligence, where the Supreme Court decision and the entry of the Final Judgment, it
b. Engineers shall not, without the consent of all engineer's interests cannot otherwise be protected. is noted that in its decision of April 25, 1978, the Supreme Court
interested parties, participate in or represent an to. Engineers shall comply with state registration laws in of the United States declared: “The Sherman Act does not
adversary interest in connection with a specific project or the practice of engineering. require competitive bidding.”
proceeding in which the engineer has gained b. Engineers shall not use association with a nonengineer, a
particular specialized knowledge on behalf of a former corporation, or partnership as a “cloak” for unethical acts. It is further noted that as made clear in the Supreme Court
client or employer. decision:
9.Engineers shall give credit for engineering work to those
1. Engineers and firms may individually refuse to bid for
5.Engineers shall not be influenced in their professional to whom credit is due, and will recognize the owner
interests of others. engineering services.
duties by conflicting interests.
2. Clients are not required to seek bids for engineering
to. Engineers shall not accept financial or other to. Engineers shall, whenever possible, name the person or services.
considerations, including free engineering designs, persons who may be individually responsible for designs,
3. Federal, state, and local laws governing procedures
from material or equipment suppliers for specifying their inventions, writings, or other accomplishments.
to procure engineering services are not affected, and
product. b. Engineers using designs supplied by a client recognize remain in full force and effect.
b. Engineers shall not accept commissions or allowances, that the designs remain the property of the client and
4. State societies and local chapters are free to actively
directly or indirectly, from contractors or other parties may not be duplicated by the engineer for others without
and aggressively seek legislation for professional
dealing with clients or employers of the engineer in express permission.
selection and negotiation procedures by public
connection with work for which the engineer is c. Engineers, before undertaking work for others in
agencies.
responsible. connection with which the engineer may make
5. State registration board rules of professional conduct,
improvements, plans, designs, inventions, or other
6.Engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or including rules prohibiting competitive bidding for
records that may justify copyrights or patents, should
advancement or professional engagements by untruthfully engineering services, are not affected and remain in
enter into a positive agreement regarding ownership.
criticizing other engineers, or by other expletives or full force and effect. State registration boards with
d. Engineers' designs, data, records, and notes referring
questionable methods. authority to adopt rules of professional conduct may
exclusively to an employer's work are the employer's
to. Engineers shall not request, propose, or accept a adopt rules governing procedures to obtain engineering
property. The employer should indemnify the engineer services.
commission on a contingent basis under circumstances in
for use of the information for any purpose other than the
which their judgment may be compromised. 6. As noted by the Supreme Court, “nothing in the
original purpose.
b. Engineers in salaried positions shall accept part-time judgment prevents NSPE and its members from
engineering work only to the extent consistent with Footnote 1 “Sustainable development” is the challenge of meeting human
attempting to influence governmental action. . .”
policies of the employer and in accordance with ethical needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food,
considerations. transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving Note: In regard to the question of application of the Code to
c. Engineers shall not, without consent, use equipment, and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base corporations vis-a-vis real persons, business form or type should not
essential for future development. negate nor influence conformity of individuals to the Code.
supplies, laboratory, or office facilities of an employer to
The Code deals with professional services, which services must be
carry on outside private practice. performed by real persons. Real persons in turn establish and implement
policies within business structures. The Code is clearly written to apply to
the Engineer, and it is incumbent on members of NSPE to endeavor to
live up to its provisions. This applies to all relevant sections of the Code.

1420 KING STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22314-2794 • 888-285-NSPE (6773) • [email protected] • WWW.NSPE.ORG • PUBLICATION DATE AS REVISED JULY 2019 • PUBLICATION #1102 ©NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.