The Association is dedicated to the education and professional development of its members. As professional writing consultants we must promote the highest standard of ethics in dealing with clients, other consultants, and the global community in which we live and work.
Members of the Association of Professional Communication Consultants have an obligation to maintain these standards of ethical conduct. In recognition of this obligation, members agree to abide by the following code of ethics in providing consulting services.
- The consultant agrees to strive always for the highest standards of service in all dealings with clients and their employees.
- In promoting consulting services to prospective clients, the consultant agrees to:
A. Represent all experience, education, and services honestly and
accurately.
B. Describe accurately the services being offered.
C. Avoid misrepresenting professional qualifications and
affiliations.
D. Maintain the highest integrity in obtaining prospective client lists and
contacting prospective clients.
- In conducting writing instruction, the consultant agrees to:
A. Provide instruction only in those areas of writing in which the consultant is well
qualified.
B. Base instructional techniques on the best and most recent research and informed
opinion.
C. Attempt to meet the specific writing needs of both the participants and the client organization.
- In dealing with materials written by participants in a consulting program, the consultant agrees to:
A. Consider all materials participants provide to be
confidential.
B. Request and receive written permission before using any participants' materials outside the consulting
situation.
C. Protect the anonymity of the client organization and of the specific writer when using any such materials for publication or for classroom instruction unless given prior permission to disclose the name of the organization or writer.
- In writing materials for a client, the consultant agrees to:
A. Provide clear, concise, readable copy which meets the needs of both client and intended
readers.
B. Write copy in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and professional
standards.
C. Be rigorously honest and accurate in representation of products or services when writing sales or promotional materials for any
client.
D. Advise the client when written materials and practices of the client are not consistent with the ethical standards of the professional community.
- In relating to other writing consultants, the consultant agrees to:
A. Maintain the highest integrity in obtaining prospective client lists and in contacting
them.
B. Give only honest and accurate references, or none at
all.
C. Compete openly and fairly for consulting work and clients.
- If affiliated with an educational institution, the consultant agrees to:
A. Meet all obligations to the educational institution and to the students of the
institution.
B. Meet the terms of any contract signed with the educational institution as they apply to consulting
work.
C. Use facilities and supplies of the educational institution for consulting work only if the institution approves of such use and is adequately recompensed for
it.
D. Avoid conflicts of interest and advise the client and the institution of any potential conflict.
