Standards of Conduct

Overview

Certification Testing Service (CTS) has established an ethical code, known as the Standards of Conduct or "Standards," governing the professional behavior of Certified Technical Writing Specialists (CTWS). Every CTWS should be familiar with the Standards and should adhere to them at all times. Any failure to meet the Standards should be immediately reported to supervisors. It is important for a CTWS to remember that the Standards have been created not only to protect clients, employers, and colleagues, but also to protect the interests of the technical writers themselves. By learning a clearly defined set of standards, technical writers avoid endangering their own careers through inadvertent, unethical behavior.

The Standards created by CTS apply to all prospective and practicing Certified Technical Writing Specialists. CTS considers the promotion of professional standards to be part of its function. In order to receive and maintain CTWS certification, professionals must adhere to the Standards. The purpose of the Standards is to establish criteria for ethical performance, and to make technical writers aware of their professional responsibilities. It is important for a CTWS to understand that he or she has a responsibility not only to his or her clients and colleagues, but also to society at large. These responsibilities are delineated in these Standards. Any CTWS who violates the letter or the spirit of the Standards is subject to punishment and loss of certification. Further punishment or disciplinary action is determined by the CTS and any other relevant authority.

A CTWS has a number of responsibilities with respect to his or her clients. The basis of an ethical relationship between technical writer and client is trust. Indeed, all ethical responsibilities outlined in the Standards derive from the concept of trust. In general, a technical writer must obey all of the local laws and regulations relevant to his or her practice, and must always be honest with his or her clients. These are just the first of many steps necessary to build trust with clients.

Responsibilities to the Client

A CTWS must always honor his or her clients by maintaining strict confidentiality. A CTWS should not share any information about a client with a third party unless he or she has received specific permission from the client. In many cases, the benign nature of the writer’s content may persuade him or her that sharing it with a third party will be harmless. However, this decision does not belong to the writer. Only the client can give permission for professional information to be disseminated by the technical writer. The only possible exception to this arrangement is in the case of a court order. When a technical writer is directed by law to divulge information about a client, he or she should fully comply with the request.

A CTWS must also honor the trust of his or her clients by charging a fair price for his or her services. The price should be commensurate with the common cost of the service in the area. In other words, it is unethical for a technical writer to overcharge an unwitting client. Furthermore, a technical writer should not misrepresent his or her work in order to obtain better compensation. Any false statements made by a technical writer to increase his or her fees are in violation of the Standards of Conduct.

Moreover, a CTWS must fulfill his or her professional obligations to the best of his or her abilities. A technical writer should only agree to provide services within his or her professional capability. It is considered unethical by the CTS for a CTWS to accept payment for work for which he or she is unqualified. In addition, a CTWS is not allowed to delegate work to unqualified individuals. When a CTWS is unsure of the qualification of a colleague, he or she must either ascertain that the colleague is qualified or personally do the work in question. When a technical writer does delegate, he or she must supervise the work performed by others.

The CTS Standards of Conduct outline specific rules for promotion and public relations. A CTWS is not allowed to make false or fraudulent statements in advertising or other public relations materials. In addition, certified technical writers are forbidden from giving any special treatment to members of the media in exchange for favorable publicity. Any advertisements for a technical writer should be easily identifiable as such, either explicitly or from context. The general purpose of these ethical guidelines related to promotion is that a technical writer should make an honest and accurate presentation of his or her services in all dealings with the public.

Responsibilities to the Profession

A CTWS also has ethical responsibilities to his or her colleagues and to the profession as a whole. The conduct of each technical writer reflects upon the profession as a whole, and so a CTWS must maintain the highest standard both at work and elsewhere. A technical writer is not allowed to slander or libel colleagues or citizens. He or she must never use harsh language, even in private, to describe former employers or employees. This sort of behavior degrades the reputation of technical writing as a profession.

Furthermore, a CTWS must never use threats, intimidation, or other coercive measures in his or her dealings with colleagues. Sexual and verbal harassment are strictly prohibited. At all times, a CTWS should treat his or her colleagues as he or she would wish to be treated. This entails respecting the dignity of every person, particularly those over whom the technical writer has authority. A CTWS should always be mindful of his or her conduct to ensure that it meets the highest ethical standards.

With respect to the Certified Technical Writing Specialist credentialing process and examination, a CTWS should maintain a strict policy of secrecy. It is a violation of the Standards to discuss the content of the examination or the process of credentialing in detail. It is important that the CTWS credentialing process be the same for every applicant. This confidentiality helps to maintain the integrity of certification, and is therefore in the best interest of every CTWS.

All of the ethical responsibilities outlined in the Standards apply to applicants and certificate-holders alike. Violations of the Standards can prevent an applicant from ever obtaining certification. However, even though he or she is already governed by the Standards, an applicant cannot claim CTWS certification until he or she has fulfilled all of the requirements and passed the examination. Falsely claiming certification is a violation of the Standards.

Any violation of the Standards of Conduct should be immediately reported to CTS and to any other relevant authorities. Certified Technical Writing Specialists are required not only to report their own violations, but any violations of other applicants or certificate-holders. Failure to report the unethical behavior of a colleague is a punishable offense in its own right. When a technical writer is confronted with morally dubious behavior, he or she should consult CTS before taking action.