Code of Conduct

All persons holding a QA Assessor certification are required to comply with this Code of Conduct throughout the period of their certification. Reference: QA-CB-GOV-005 | Applies to: all certified persons and applicants | Enforcement: Suspension and Withdrawal Policy (QA-CB-POL-005) | Version: 3.0 | Last reviewed: September 2026

1. Professional integrity

Certified persons shall act with integrity, honesty and professionalism at all times. They shall not engage in any conduct that could bring discredit to themselves, the profession or QA Assessor. They shall accurately represent their qualifications, competence and the scope of their certification, including in their profile headline and community posts: a headline must not imply certification on a scheme or at a grade the person does not hold.

2. Competence and continuing development

Certified persons shall maintain and develop the competence required for their certification through ongoing professional development. They shall complete the CPD requirement of their certification scheme (at least three CPD records in each calendar year, each recorded as a Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle in the CPD Log), keep their Audit Log up to date, and only undertake work for which they are competent.

3. Impartiality and objectivity

Certified persons shall act impartially and objectively in all professional activities. They shall identify and declare any conflicts of interest in accordance with the Conflict of Interest Policy. They shall not allow personal, financial or other interests to compromise their professional judgement.

4. Confidentiality

Certified persons shall respect the confidentiality of all information obtained during the course of their professional activities. They shall not disclose confidential information without proper authorisation, and shall handle all data in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws. Evidence uploaded to QA Assessor must have confidential client details removed.

5. Use of certification and certification mark

Certified persons shall: only claim certification for the specific scheme and grade for which they are certified; not misrepresent the scope, status or validity of their certification; immediately cease using the certification, certificate, digital card and certification mark if their certification is lapsed, suspended or withdrawn; use the QA Assessor certification mark only in accordance with the Certificate and Mark Use Policy; and not use the certification in a misleading manner or in a way that could damage the reputation of QA Assessor.

6. Compliance with laws and regulations

Certified persons shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards relevant to their professional activities. They shall not engage in any activity that is illegal, unethical or contrary to the principles of the management system standard for which they are certified.

7. Notification obligations

Certified persons must notify QA Assessor promptly of: any material change in their employment, role or professional status; any legal proceedings, disciplinary actions or investigations related to their professional conduct; any circumstances that may affect their ability to fulfil the requirements of their certification; and any conflicts of interest that arise after certification.

8. Conduct in the member community

The community, jobs board and messaging are professional spaces. Certified persons and members shall be respectful, shall not post content that is unlawful, harassing, discriminatory or misleading, shall not solicit or offer anything that would compromise an audit, and shall not present training, consultancy or other services as endorsed by QA Assessor. Posts that breach this Code are removed; any member can report a post from its menu.

9. Enforcement

Breach of this Code of Conduct may result in investigation and, depending on the severity, may lead to a warning, a requirement for additional CPD, suspension, reduction of scope or withdrawal of certification in accordance with the Suspension and Withdrawal Policy. Complaints about certified persons can be submitted using the complaints process. All complaints are treated confidentially and investigated impartially, and the certified person has the right to respond and to appeal.

By holding a QA Assessor certification, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.