Terms & Conditions
Last updated: September 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing, browsing, or using the Exterior Hardwood Certification Institute (EHCI) platform, website, mobile-optimized interfaces, and all related services (collectively, the "Services"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Services. Your continued access to or use of the Services following any modifications to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.
2. Description of Services
EHCI provides a comprehensive online certification platform designed for exterior hardwood professionals, including but not limited to: structured learning modules and educational content; standardized certification examinations with weighted scoring; digital credential issuance and verifiable badge generation; a public verification system for credential authentication; a searchable professional directory of certified individuals and companies; AI-powered study assistance tools; manufacturer-sponsored educational content; and bundle enrollment links for group or sponsored access. All services are provided subject to availability and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued by EHCI at its sole discretion with reasonable notice to active users.
3. User Accounts and Registration
To access certain features of the Services, you must create a user account. During registration, you agree to: (a) provide accurate, current, and complete information; (b) maintain and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate, current, and complete; (c) maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials; (d) accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account; and (e) immediately notify EHCI of any unauthorized use of your account. EHCI reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that provide false information, violate these Terms, or remain inactive for extended periods. You may not transfer or assign your account to any other person or entity without EHCI's prior written consent.
4. Certification and Examinations
EHCI certifications are awarded based on demonstrated knowledge through standardized examinations. The following policies apply to all examinations: (a) All exam results are final and are not subject to appeal based on disagreement with scoring; (b) A mandatory cooldown period of 7 calendar days applies between consecutive exam attempts for the same certification; (c) Correct answers are never disclosed after any examination attempt to preserve exam integrity; (d) EHCI reserves the right to invalidate exam results obtained through dishonest means, including but not limited to unauthorized assistance, screen sharing, copying, or use of external reference materials during the exam; (e) Credential validity is defined by the expiration date recorded for the issued credential; verify the date and current status in the public credential record; (f) Renewal of expired certifications requires re-examination or completion of continuing education requirements as determined by EHCI; (g) EHCI may update examination content at any time to reflect current industry standards and best practices.
5. Credential Use and Badge Display
Certified professionals may display EHCI digital badges and certification marks on their business materials, websites, proposals, social media profiles, and marketing collateral, subject to the following conditions: (a) Badges must accurately represent the specific credential(s) currently held and in active status; (b) Badge designs may not be modified, altered, recolored, or distorted in any way; (c) Badges must be removed immediately upon credential expiration, suspension, or revocation; (d) Misrepresentation of certification status constitutes a material violation of these Terms and may result in immediate credential revocation and permanent disqualification from future EHCI certification; (e) EHCI provides official badge files in approved formats — use of recreated or unofficial badge graphics is prohibited.
6. Intellectual Property
All content on the EHCI platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, certification badge designs, examination questions, answer explanations, learning module content, video materials, course structures, scoring algorithms, brand guidelines, and underlying software code, is the exclusive property of EHCI or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws, including copyright, trademark, and trade secret protections. You may not: (a) reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any EHCI content without prior written consent; (b) use EHCI trademarks, service marks, or trade dress in any manner that creates confusion or implies endorsement; (c) reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any EHCI software or technology; (d) share, reproduce, screenshot, record, or distribute examination questions or answers by any means.
7. Payment, Pricing, and Refunds
Fees for certification services, course enrollments, and examination access are due at the time of registration or purchase. Payment is processed through Stripe, our third-party payment processor. All fees are quoted and charged in United States Dollars (USD). EHCI's refund policy is as follows: (a) Course access fees are non-refundable once course content has been accessed; (b) Examination fees are non-refundable once an exam attempt has been initiated; (c) Bundle enrollments processed through manufacturer-sponsored links are governed by the terms of the sponsoring arrangement; (d) EHCI reserves the right to modify pricing at any time, with 30 days' notice provided to registered users for price increases on existing services; (e) Promotional pricing, discounts, or sponsored access may be offered at EHCI's discretion and do not establish a precedent for future pricing.
8. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (a) EHCI provides its Services on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement; (b) EHCI shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, business opportunities, or goodwill, arising out of or relating to your use of the Services; (c) EHCI's total aggregate liability for any claims arising under these Terms shall not exceed the total amount paid by you to EHCI during the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim; (d) EHCI does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the platform.
9. Directory Listing and Public Profile
Certified professionals who opt into the EHCI public directory agree to the following: (a) Company name, credential type(s), certification status, verification link, and general location will be displayed publicly; (b) Additional contact information (email, phone, website) will only be displayed if the user explicitly enables contact visibility in their profile settings; (c) EHCI does not guarantee any business outcomes, leads, referrals, or revenue from directory visibility; (d) Directory listings are automatically removed upon credential expiration, suspension, or revocation; (e) Professionals may opt out of the public directory at any time through their account settings; (f) EHCI reserves the right to remove any directory listing that does not comply with the Code of Conduct.
10. Prohibited Conduct
In using the Services, you agree not to: (a) use the Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws or regulations; (b) impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; (c) interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Services; (d) attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the platform, related systems, or networks; (e) collect or harvest any personally identifiable information from the Services; (f) use automated means (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access the Services without EHCI's express written permission; (g) share account credentials with third parties; (h) assist others in cheating on examinations.
11. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless EHCI, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your use of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third-party rights; (d) any content you submit or transmit through the Services; or (e) your professional work performed after obtaining EHCI certification.
12. Modifications to Terms
EHCI reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email to registered users and/or posted prominently on the platform at least 30 days before taking effect. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any modifications constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you disagree with the revised Terms, you must discontinue use of the Services.
13. Termination
EHCI may terminate or suspend your access to the Services immediately, without prior notice, for any reason, including but not limited to a breach of these Terms. Upon termination: (a) your right to use the Services ceases immediately; (b) you must cease all use of EHCI badges and certification marks; (c) any fees paid are non-refundable unless otherwise required by law; (d) provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution sections.
14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, United States, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall first be submitted to good-faith mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful, the dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Denver, Colorado. Each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees, unless the arbitrator determines otherwise.
15. Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or notices related to these Terms and Conditions, please contact the Exterior Hardwood Certification Institute at: Email: [email protected]. All notices to EHCI should be sent in writing and will be deemed received upon confirmation of delivery.