Article I. Preamble

1. The privilege of professional practice imposes obligations of responsibility as well as professional knowledge. The ICCA program certifies the credentials of individuals through state/provincial certification boards.

2. The ICCA program will award the title of Certified to individuals who meet the experience, testing requirements and the continuing education requirements of the International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) program. The ICCA program does not require college level education. A college education will substitute for part of the ICCA work experience requirement as provided for in the ICCA guidelines.

3. Registrants, at the request of a client or employer, must disclose the information used to gain certification. Registrants who knowingly misrepresent their credentials will face disciplinary action.

Article II. Relation of Professional to the Public

1. An Applicant shall avoid and discourage sensational, exaggerated, or unwarranted statements that might induce participation in unsound enterprises.

2. An Applicant shall not give professional opinion, or make a recommendation, without being as thoroughly informed as might reasonably be expected considering the purpose for which the opinion or recommendation is desired; and the degree of completeness of information upon which it is based should be clear.

3. An Applicant shall not issue a false statement or false information even if directed to do so by employer or client.

Article III. Relation of professional to Employer and Client

1. An Applicant shall protect, to the fullest extent possible, the interest of the employer or client insofar as such interest is consistent with the law and professional obligations and ethics.

2. An Applicant who finds that obligations to the employer or client conflict with their professional obligation or ethics should work to have such objectionable conditions corrected.

3. An Applicant shall not use, directly or indirectly, employer or client's information in any way that would violate their confidentiality.

4. An Applicant shall not divulge information given in confidence.

5. An Applicant retained by one client shall not accept without the client's written consent, an engagement by another if the interests of the two are in any manner conflicting.

6. An Applicant who has made an investigation for any employer or client shall not seek to profit economically from the information gained, unless written permission to do so is granted, or until it is clear that there can no longer be a conflict of interest with the original employer or client.

7. An Applicant shall engage, or advise employer or client to engage and cooperate with, other experts and specialists as appropriate.

8. An Applicant protects the interest of a client by recommending only products and services that are in the best interest of the client and public.

9. An Applicant protects his/her credibility by disclosing to clients how he/she will be compensated for providing recommendations to the client.

Article IV. Relation of Professionals to Each Other

1. An Applicant shall not falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation of another.

2. An Applicant shall freely give credit for work done by others, to whom the credit is due, and shall refrain from plagiarism of oral and written communications and shall not knowingly accept credit rightfully due another person.

3. An Applicant shall not use the advantage of public employment (e.g. university, government) to compete unfairly with other certified professions.

4. An Applicant shall endeavor to cooperate with others in the profession and encourage the ethical dissemination of technical knowledge.

Article V. Duty to the Profession

1. An Applicant shall aid in exclusion from certification, those who have not followed this Code of Ethics or who do not have the required education and experience.

2. An Applicant shall uphold this Code of Ethics by precept and example and encourage, by counsel and advice, other Registrants to do the same.

3. An Applicant having positive knowledge of deviation from this Code by another Registrant shall bring such deviation to the attention of the Registrant's local Board.

Approved by International CCA Board of Directors/ARCPACS/ASA 07/97