Iowa Admin. Code r. 193C-8.2

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

Rule 193C-8.2 - Code of professional conduct

All persons licensed under Iowa Code chapter 542B are charged with having knowledge of the existence of this code of professional conduct and are expected to be familiar with its provisions, to understand them, and to abide by them. Such knowledge includes the understanding that the practices of engineering and land surveying are a privilege, as opposed to a right, and the licensee shall be forthright and candid in statements or written response to the board or its representatives on matters pertaining to professional conduct.

(1)Responsibility to the public. Licensees will conduct their professional practices in a manner that will protect life, health and property and enhance the public welfare. If their professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, they shall inform their employer or client of the possible consequences, notify such other proper authority as may be appropriate, and withdraw from further services on the project.

Licensees may neither approve nor certify engineering or land surveying documents that may be harmful to the public health and welfare and that are not in conformity with accepted engineering or land surveying standards.

(2)Competency for assignments. Licensees may perform engineering or land surveying assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the specific technical field of professional engineering or professional land surveying involved. Licensees shall engage experts or advise that experts and specialists be engaged whenever the client's or employer's interests are best served by such service.

Licensees may accept an assignment on a project requiring education or experience outside their field of competence, but only to the extent that their services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified.

(3)Truth in reports and testimony. Licensees, when serving as expert or technical witnesses before any court, commission, or other tribunal, may express an opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the facts in issue, upon a background of technical competence in the subject matter, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy and propriety of their testimony. Under these circumstances, the licensee must disclose inadequate knowledge.

Licensees shall be objective and truthful in all professional reports, statements or testimony. All relevant and pertinent information shall be included in such reports, statements or testimony. Licensees shall avoid the use of statements containing a material misrepresentation of fact or omitting a material fact.

(4)Conflict of interest. Licensees shall:

a. Not issue statements, criticisms or arguments on engineering or land surveying matters connected with public policy that are influenced or paid for by an interested party, or parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying themselves, by disclosing the identities of the party or parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest.

b. Avoid all known conflicts of interest with their employers or clients and, when unforeseen conflicts arise, shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business association, interest, or circumstances that could influence judgment or the quality of services.

c. Not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

d. Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees and maintain full confidentiality on all matters in which the welfare of the public is not endangered.

(5)Ethics. Licensees shall conduct their business and professional practices of engineering and land surveying in an ethical manner. In addition to the provisions of this chapter, the board will consider, although not necessarily be bound by, the ethical standards that address public protection issues adopted by a recognized state or national engineering or land surveying organization, such as the National Society of Professional Engineers or the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

(6)Unethical or illegal conduct.

a.Business practices. Licensees shall not:

(1) Pay or offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, percentage, brokerage fee, political contribution, gift, or other consideration to secure work, except to a bona fide employee or bona fide, established commercial or marketing agency retained by them or to secure positions through employment agencies.

(2) Engage in any discriminatory practice prohibited by law and shall, in the conduct of their business, employ personnel upon the basis of merit.

(3) Solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with their clients or employers in connection with work for which they are responsible.

(4) Solicit or accept an engineering or land surveying contract from a governmental body when a principal or officer of the licensee's organization serves as an elected, appointed, voting or nonvoting member of the same governmental body that is letting the contract. For purposes of this subparagraph, "governmental body" means a board, council, commission, or similar multimembered body. A licensee would not violate this provision, however, if the principal or officer of the licensee's organization who serves as a member of the governmental body plays no role in the solicitation or acceptance of the contract, and the contract would be legally permissible under applicable Iowa law, including but not limited to Iowa Code sections 68B.3, 279.7A, 331.342, and 362.5.

(5) Associate with, or permit the use of their names or firms in a business venture by, any person or firm that they know, or have reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practice of a fraudulent or dishonest nature.

(6) Misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, firms, joint ventures, or past accomplishments in brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment.

b.Individual professional conduct. Licensees shall not:

(1) Use association with nonengineers, corporations or partnerships as "cloaks" for unethical acts.

(2) Violate any local, state or federal criminal law in the conduct of professional practice.

(3) Violate licensure laws of any state or territory.

(4) Affix their signatures or seals to any plans, plats or documents dealing with subject matter in which those licensees lack competence, nor to any plan, plat or document not prepared under their direct personal direction and control.

(5) Falsify their qualifications or permit misrepresentation of their or their associates' qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments.

c.Real property inspection reports. Licensees shall not:

(1) Represent themselves as licensed professional land surveyors or professional engineers on real property inspection reports (e.g., mortgage surveys).

(2) Place their firm names, logos, or title blocks on real property inspection reports (e.g., mortgage surveys).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 193C-8.2

ARC 0362C, IAB 10/3/12, effective 11/7/12; ARC 0470C, IAB 11/28/12, effective 1/2/2013; ARC 1084C, IAB 10/2/2013, effective 11/6/2013

Amended by IAB August 20, 2014/Volume XXXVII, Number 4, effective 9/24/2014

Adopted by IAB March 6, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 18, effective 4/10/2024