Code of Conduct
Last updated: September 2026
1. Professional Integrity
EHCI-certified professionals commit to the highest standards of honesty and professional integrity. You shall: (a) accurately represent your credentials, qualifications, and experience at all times; (b) never claim credentials you have not earned or misrepresent the scope of your certification; (c) clearly distinguish between certified and non-certified areas of your work when communicating with clients; (d) provide honest assessments and recommendations, even when they may conflict with a client's initial preferences; (e) disclose any conflicts of interest, including manufacturer affiliations or sponsorships, that may influence your recommendations.
2. Badge and Mark Usage
EHCI digital badges and certification marks are proprietary assets that represent the credibility of the entire certification program. You may only use EHCI badges and marks: (a) in accordance with official EHCI brand guidelines (available upon request); (b) to accurately represent the specific credential(s) currently held and in active status; (c) in their original, unmodified form — alteration of badge designs, colors, proportions, or text is prohibited; (d) in contexts that do not imply endorsement of products, services, or companies by EHCI itself; (e) for the duration of your active credential — all badge usage must cease immediately upon expiration, suspension, or revocation.
3. Adherence to Best Practices
Certified professionals agree to: (a) adhere to EHCI-established best practices within their certified domains on every project; (b) stay current with evolving standards through the annual renewal process and recommended continuing education; (c) use appropriate materials, fasteners, and techniques as specified in EHCI training for the given application; (d) properly document installation methods, materials used, and maintenance recommendations for every project; (e) provide clients with written maintenance guidelines and realistic expectations for the installed product.
4. Client Communication and Transparency
Certified professionals commit to transparent and honest communication with clients: (a) clearly explain the scope of work, expected outcomes, and realistic timelines before beginning any project; (b) provide honest assessments of material options, including trade-offs between cost, durability, and aesthetics; (c) disclose maintenance requirements and costs upfront, before the contract is signed; (d) communicate any issues or unexpected conditions discovered during installation promptly and honestly; (e) provide complete documentation at project completion, including material specifications, fastener types, finish products, and warranty information.
5. Safety and Environmental Responsibility
EHCI-certified professionals are expected to: (a) maintain a safe work environment for all workers, clients, and bystanders; (b) use appropriate personal protective equipment, especially respiratory protection when cutting tropical hardwoods; (c) comply with all applicable local, state, and federal safety regulations; (d) properly dispose of wood waste, chemical products, and construction debris; (e) prioritize responsibly sourced materials and be able to communicate sourcing information to clients when requested.
6. Reporting Violations
EHCI-certified professionals are encouraged to report suspected violations of this Code of Conduct. The reporting process: (a) Reports can be submitted to [email protected]; (b) All reports are treated confidentially to the extent possible; (c) EHCI will investigate all credible reports within 30 business days; (d) Appropriate action will be taken based on the severity and nature of the violation, which may include formal warning, mandatory re-certification, credential suspension (temporary), or credential revocation (permanent); (e) The accused professional will be notified and given an opportunity to respond before any adverse action is taken; (f) Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation in good faith is itself a violation of this Code.
7. Examination Conduct
Candidates must complete examinations with complete honesty and integrity: (a) All exam work must be completed independently without unauthorized assistance; (b) Use of external reference materials, notes, or other aids during the exam is prohibited unless expressly authorized; (c) Sharing, reproducing, photographing, recording, or distributing exam content in any form is strictly prohibited and constitutes grounds for permanent disqualification; (d) Communication with other individuals about exam content during or after the examination is prohibited; (e) Any attempt to manipulate exam timing, scoring, or submission processes is prohibited; (f) Violations of examination conduct standards may result in immediate invalidation of results and permanent ban from future EHCI examinations.