Ethics in professional practice
Ethics is the backbone of licensure: the paramount duty of every licensed professional is to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. Many states require a dedicated portion of your continuing education in ethics or laws and rules each cycle.
The NSPE Code of Ethics
The NSPE Code of Ethics is the profession’s touchstone. Its fundamental canons require engineers to hold public safety paramount, perform services only in areas of competence, issue objective and truthful public statements, act as faithful agents avoiding conflicts of interest, and conduct themselves honorably. The NSPE Board of Ethical Review publishes hundreds of real case studies that illustrate how these canons apply in practice.
How much ethics CE do you need?
It varies widely — some states require one ethics PDH per year, some a set number per cycle, some a specific laws-and-rules course, and some none at all. Use the requirement calculator to see your state’s rule, or compare states on the at-a-glance table.
Earn your ethics hours
PDH Options offers ethics and professional-conduct courses, plus state laws-and-rules courses for jurisdictions that require them — see the Ethics & Professional Conduct category. New here? Start with our free state ethics course.
This information is general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm current rules with your state licensing board.
