Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct
The National Healthcare Workers Certification Association (NHWCA®) establishes this Code to protect patients, uphold public trust, and ensure the integrity of our credentials. Adherence is required for all candidates and certificants, supervisors attesting to experience, and Approved Training Partners.
Core Principles: Patient Safety • Competence • Integrity • Accountability • Respect • Equity • Confidentiality • Professionalism
1) Duties to Patients & the Public
- Safety first: Act to prevent harm; escalate concerns promptly.
- Competence: Practice within scope, training, and supervision; seek help when needed.
- Informed care: Support clear communication, consent processes, and patient dignity.
- Equity: Provide unbiased care regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, disability, religion, nationality, or socioeconomic status.
- Confidentiality: Protect PHI; follow HIPAA/organizational privacy rules.
2) Professional Conduct
- Maintain respectful, non-abusive communication with patients, colleagues, and the public.
- Follow sterile technique, infection prevention, radiation/med safety, and device policies.
- Document accurately, timely, and truthfully; never falsify records.
- Avoid impairment at work (e.g., substances, fatigue that jeopardizes safety); report impairment per policy.
- Use social media responsibly; never disclose PHI or misrepresent credentials.
3) Workplace Standards
- No harassment, bullying, or retaliation.
- Follow lawful supervisor direction and organizational policy.
- Protect property, equipment, and access credentials.
- Comply with reporting duties for safety events, near misses, or suspected abuse/neglect.
- Cooperate with audits, credential verification, and investigations.
4) Scope, Delegation & Boundaries
- Perform only tasks authorized by role, state law, and institutional policy.
- Accept delegation only when competent and conditions are safe.
- Maintain professional boundaries; avoid exploitation, gifts that create obligation, or dual relationships that create risk.
5) Conflicts of Interest & Integrity
- Disclose and manage conflicts that could influence clinical or administrative judgment.
- No fraud, waste, or abuse (e.g., upcoding, kickbacks, falsified time/competency).
- No misrepresentation of training, certification, or renewal status.
6) Examination & Credential Integrity
- Follow all test security rules, identity verification, and proctor instructions.
- No cheating, proxy testing, content harvesting, or item exposure.
- No sharing of secure exam materials or reconstructing test content.
- Respect NHWCA® certification marks; use titles and abbreviations only while in good standing and exactly as issued.
- Truthfully represent CEU, CPR (if applicable), and renewal status; comply with no-lapse policies.
7) Reporting & Cooperation
- Report suspected violations of this Code, exam security, or credential misuse.
- Cooperate with NHWCA® inquiries; provide truthful information and documentation.
- NHWCA® may coordinate with employers, schools, regulators, or law enforcement as permitted by policy and law.
8) Sanctions & Appeals
- Possible actions include education/warning, exam invalidation, suspension, revocation, eligibility bar, and notation in the registry.
- Notice of findings and appeal procedures are provided per NHWCA® policy and timelines.
- Reinstatement may require remediation, retesting, or other conditions.
9) Acknowledgment & Compliance
Candidates and certificants agree to this Code when registering, testing, renewing, or using NHWCA® titles. Approved Training Partners must uphold these standards in instruction, skills validation, and candidate attestations.