Code of Ethics for Engineers

Preamble b. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any they lack competence, nor to any plan or document not
Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members plans or documents dealing with subject prepared under their direction and control.
of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the highest matter in which c. Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility
standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct and for coordination of an entire project and sign and seal the
vital impact on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the engineering documents for the entire project, provided that
services provided by engineers require honesty, impartiality, each technical segment is signed and sealed only by the
fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated to the protection qualified engineers who prepared the segment.
of the public health, safety, and welfare. Engineers must
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective
perform under a standard of professional behavior that requires
and truthful manner.
adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct.
a. Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional
reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include
I. Fundamental Canons
all relevant and pertinent information in such reports,
Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:
statements, or testimony, which should bear the date
1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
indicating when it was current.
public.
b. Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
are founded upon knowledge of the facts and
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful
competence in the subject matter.
manner.
c. Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees. on technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested
5. Avoid deceptive acts. parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, explicitly identifying the interested parties on whose behalf
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any
and usefulness of the profession. interest the engineers may have in the matters.
4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful
II. Rules of Practice agents or trustees.
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and a. Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of
welfare of the public. interest that could influence or appear to influence their
a. If engineers’ judgment is overruled under judgment or the quality of their services.
circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall b. Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or
notify their employer or client and such other authority otherwise, from more than one party for services on
as may be appropriate. the same project, or for services pertaining to the same
b. Engineers shall approve only those engineering project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and
documents that are in conformity with applicable agreed to by all interested parties.
standards. c. Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable
c. Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in
without the prior consent of the client or employer except connection with the work for which they are responsible.
as authorized or required by law or this Code. d. Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or
d. Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or employees of a governmental or quasi-governmental
associate in business ventures with any person or firm body or department shall not participate in decisions with
that they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest respect to services solicited or provided by them or their
enterprise. organizations in private or public engineering practice.
e. Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice e. Engineers shall not solicit or accept a contract from a
of engineering by a person or firm. governmental body on which a principal or officer of their
f. Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of organization serves as a member.
this Code shall report thereon to appropriate
professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public 5. Engineers shall avoid deceptive acts.
authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in a. Engineers shall not falsify their qualifications or permit
furnishing such information or assistance as may be misrepresentation of their or their associates’ qualifications.
required. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility
in or for the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their other presentations incident
competence.
a. Engineers shall undertake assignments only when
qualified by education or experience in the specific
technical fields involved.

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RESERVED.
 to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent
pertinent facts concerning employers, employees,
associates, joint venturers, or past accomplishments.
b. Engineers shall not offer, give, solicit, or receive, either
directly or indirectly, any contribution to influence the
award of a contract by public authority, or which may be
reasonably construed by the public as having the effect
or intent of influencing the awarding of a contract. They
shall not offer any gift or other valuable consideration in
order to secure work. They shall not pay a commission,
percentage, or brokerage fee in order to secure work,
except to a bona fide employee or bona fide established
commercial or marketing agencies retained by them.

III. Professional Obligations

1. Engineers shall be guided in all their relations by the
highest standards of honesty and integrity.
a. Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall
not distort or alter the facts.
b. Engineers shall advise their clients or employers when
they believe a project will not be successful.
c. Engineers shall not accept outside employment to
the detriment of their regular work or interest. Before
accepting any outside engineering employment, they will
notify their employers.
d. Engineers shall not attempt to attract an engineer
from another employer by false or misleading
pretenses.
e. Engineers shall not promote their own interest at the
expense of the dignity and integrity of the profession.
f. Engineers shall treat all persons with dignity,
respect, fairness, and without discrimination.
2. Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public
interest.
a. Engineers are encouraged to participate in civic affairs;
career guidance for youths; and work for the
advancement of the safety, health, and well-being of their
community.
b. Engineers shall not complete, sign, or seal plans
and/or specifications that are not in conformity with
applicable engineering standards. If the client or
employer insists on such unprofessional conduct, they
shall notify the proper authorities and withdraw from
further service on the project.
c. Engineers are encouraged to extend public knowledge
and appreciation of engineering and its achievements.
d. Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the
principles of sustainable development1 in order to
protect the environment for future generations.
e. Engineers shall continue their professional development
throughout their careers and should keep current in their
specialty fields by engaging in professional practice,
participating in continuing education courses, reading
in the technical literature, and attending
professional meetings and seminar.

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