Every AICA credential carries an obligation. Holders certify not only that they meet a published standard of competence, but that they will practice to a published standard of conduct. This Code sets out that standard, who it binds, and how it is enforced.
This Code of Professional Conduct defines the ethical obligations that accompany an AICA credential. Its purpose is to protect the people and organizations who rely on certified professionals, and to preserve the meaning of the credential itself.
The Code binds:
Agreement to this Code is a condition of certification. Candidates confirm their agreement at registration, and continued adherence is a condition of holding and renewing the credential. The Code applies alongside, and does not replace, any legal, regulatory, or employer obligation that applies to the professional in their own jurisdiction and role.
This Code governs conduct. The rules that govern the examination itself, including proctoring, retakes, appeals, renewal, and revocation, are published on the exam policies page.
A certified professional is expected to uphold the following principles in the practice of their work. These are the standards against which conduct is assessed when a concern is raised.
Act honestly and truthfully. Represent your credentials, your competence, and your work without exaggeration or deception. Do not falsify results, misstate qualifications, or take credit for work you did not perform.
Practice within the limits of your competence, and represent the credential accurately. State plainly what an AICA credential does and does not confer. Do not imply endorsement, accreditation, or funding eligibility that AICA has not granted, and do not present the credential as a guarantee of any outcome.
Apply AI with due regard for safety, fairness, accountability, and human oversight. Consider the effect of your work on the people it reaches. Where an AI system carries material limitations or foreseeable risks, make them known to those who depend on the outcome rather than concealing them.
Disclose conflicts of interest that could reasonably affect your professional judgment. Disclose the material use of AI where a reasonable stakeholder would expect to know, including where an AI system has materially shaped a decision, recommendation, or deliverable that others will rely on.
Protect confidential and personal information entrusted to you. Handle data lawfully and only for the purposes for which it was provided, and apply reasonable safeguards appropriate to its sensitivity.
Comply with the laws and regulations that apply to your work. Do not use the credential, or the skills it certifies, to enable unlawful, harmful, or deceptive activity.
Uphold the integrity of assessment. Do not cheat, do not assist another candidate to cheat, and do not share, reproduce, or solicit examination content. Cooperate honestly with any review of a certification concern.
Misconduct is conduct that breaches a principle in Section 2, or that undermines the integrity of the certification. It includes misrepresentation of the credential, falsification of professional work, examination fraud, serious breaches of confidentiality or data responsibility, and unlawful use of certified skills.
Where a breach is established, the Certification and Standards Authority may apply a measure proportionate to its seriousness. Available measures are:
A revoked credential is recorded in the AICA registry and its verification record is updated so that any check returns its revoked status. Because the registry is backed by a hash-chained transparency log, a revocation is publicly evident and cannot be quietly reversed. A revoked credential fails verification at aicauthority.org/verify.
A measure under this Code is a certification decision. It does not itself impose any legal penalty, and it does not replace the authority of a court, regulator, or employer acting under its own powers.
Anyone may report a suspected breach of this Code. Reports are received and investigated by the AICA Certification and Standards Authority, the same independent body that owns the standard and makes certification decisions, separate from training delivery.
A professional subject to a measure under this Code may appeal the decision. Appeals follow the route published on the exam policies page and are considered by the Certification and Standards Authority. An appeal is decided on the record and the evidence, not on the identity or standing of the parties.
This is version 1.0 of the AICA Code of Professional Conduct, effective 10 July 2026. It is owned and maintained by the Certification and Standards Authority and reviewed annually. Where the Code is revised, the version and effective date on this page are updated, and the obligations of a certified professional are those in force at the time of the conduct in question.
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