Code of Conduct

The following Code of Conduct applies to all individuals who hold any CSEP Certifications or CSEP Specializations. It does not give guidance on how to act in every situation, rather it provides a standard on making ethically responsible decisions. CSEP Certified members and CSEP Specialists must also keep in mind relevant provincial and federal regulations. If a situation presents and you are unclear on how to proceed, reach out to your colleagues or CSEP for clarification.

CSEP Certified Members and CSEP Specialists shall recognize that professional ethics are founded upon integrity, competence, devotion to service, and to the advancement of human welfare. This concept shall guide their conduct at all times. In this way, each professional’s actions will enhance the dignity and status of the profession. Through their practice, individuals are charged with extending public understanding of the profession and offering their knowledge, skills, and abilities when it may be of benefit to the public.

As a CSEP Certified Member or CSEP Specialist, you are required to represent yourself as a qualified exercise professional that adheres to evidence-informed best practices and scientific knowledge within your CSEP Certification/Specialization. When you do so, you are indicating to the public, employers, other healthcare providers, business associates, etc. that you act with integrity, accountability, and use your best judgement at all times, both within and outside of the workplace. Even when you may not be providing direct services to a client, there is an expectation that your conduct is always professional and of a high standard.

Responsibilities to the Client

CSEP Certified Members and CSEP Specialists have a responsibility to:

  1. Act in a respectful manner and provide services without discrimination as specified in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the CSEP statement of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
  2. Practice in a professional, competent, and responsible manner during the provision of all services and take every reasonable precaution to ensure the client’s safety.
  3. Respect and support the client’s right to self-determination by obtaining free and informed consent from the client or their surrogate prior to providing any services.
  4. Protect the confidentiality, privacy, and security of a client’s personal information in all forms of communication (including social media) and only disclose personal information when consent is provided by the client or if legally obligated to do so.
  5. Practice within their respective Scope of Practice and only in areas that they have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do so, referring clients to other appropriate healthcare providers as necessary.
  6. Apply only accepted evidence-informed principles and professional practices when providing services.
  7. Maintain professional boundaries at all times by not taking physical, psychological, sexual, and/or financial advantage of clients.
  8. Conduct themself with fairness, respect, and good faith towards clients, colleagues, and the profession at all times and in all forms of communication (including on social media).
  9. Avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest with a client and if one exists, notify the client immediately and obtain their consent to proceed if there is no reasonable alternative.
  10. Provide virtual services only when the same professional standards can be safely met as they do in-person.
  11. Inform clients in advance of any fees to be charged ensuring fees are transparent and appropriate given the services provided.
  12. Continue professional development to maintain a high level of competence.

Responsibilities to the Profession and Society

CSEP Certified Members and CSEP Specialists have an ethical responsibility to:

  1. Share only evidence-informed best practices and scientific knowledge to clients, students/mentees, the public, and to other healthcare providers. When opinion is given which is contrary to the general scientific opinion, it must be indicated as such and cannot be used to forward their own professional reputation.
  2. Develop their reputation on the basis of merit of the service performed or offered, and not by engaging in anti-competitive practices.
  3. Accurately, and without exaggeration, represent qualifications and competence, including when advertising professional services offered.
  4. Refrain from offering or accepting covert payment for the purpose of securing work.
  5. Sign and/or seal only programs, reports, or documents that they have prepared or have directly supervised and controlled throughout their preparation.
  6. Contribute to the development of the profession through volunteering, research, mentoring, and student supervision.
  7. Act in a way that is beyond reproach and report to the appropriate authorities any practicing CSEP Certified Member or CSEP Specialist who appears to be incompetent or whose conduct appears to be unethical, illegal, or, in general, unbecoming to the profession and in violation of this Code of Conduct.