Topic outline

  • Ethics, Professionalism, and Disciplinary Actions: Case Studies

    Credits: 1 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    Codes of ethics for engineers typically describe standards for professional behavior. The enforcement of those ethical standards that are inscribed into law lies with licensing boards of state governments.

    In this course, ten case studies of actual enforcement actions by a state licensing board are presented. The cases have been selected to be representative of situations likely to exist in many states.

    Board procedures and the types of enforcement action available are shown by a variety of cases ranging from a geotechnical engineer who produced (within one hour and without visiting the site) a soils report, to an engineer who was unable to document his PDH’s during a board audit. The importance of being very careful about when to put “P.E.” after one’s name on a document also will become apparent.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
    • format of enforcement decrees issued by a state licensing board.
    • ten different types of licensing violations.
    • investigative process of the board, as it attempts to determine the validity of complaints brought before it.
    • types of enforcement actions available to the board.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion


    Intended Audience: for any engineers seeking to deepen their understanding of what constitutes ethical and professional engineering behavior and how such behavior is enforced by a licensing board.
    Publication Source: Mark Rossow, PhD, PE


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)
  • Topic 1