What is professional ethics?

• A. A set of professional fees.
• B. A code requiring licenses to maintain practice.
• C. A set of standards governing honest, fair, and responsible behavior in practice.
• D. A list of disciplinary sanctions.

Answer: (C)

Professional ethics are the standards that govern honest, fair, and responsible behavior in professional practice. This goes beyond what is required by law or by licenses and focuses on how professionals ought to conduct themselves toward clients, colleagues, and the public. It covers acting with integrity, maintaining confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, being truthful in communications, and taking accountability for one’s actions. The other choices describe fees, licensing requirements, or penalties, none of which specify the normative conduct that ethics establish for daily practice.