Professional Conduct

Each Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor has an ethical duty to the public, the profession, and his or her clients. In order to protect the health, property, and welfare of the public and to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity and practice in the professions of engineering and land surveying, the following Rules of Professional Conduct and all other applicable provisions of 250 CMR shall be binding on every Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor. Failure to comply with 250 CMR, including the rules of professional responsibility in 250 CMR 5.02(1) through (5), or M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 61 through 65E and §§ 81D through 81T may constitute grounds for disciplinary action against the Registrant. (1) Responsibility. A Registrant shall hold paramount the health, property and welfare of the public in the performance of the Registrant's professional duties. (a) If the professional judgment of any Registrant is overruled under circumstances where the health, property or welfare of the public may be endangered, that Registrant shall notify the Registrant's employer, client or such other authority as may be appropriate. (Mass. Register #1568, 02/27/2026) (b) A Registrant shall provide professional services that are truthful, based upon independent professional judgment, founded upon adequate knowledge of the issues, and based upon competence in the subject matter. (c) A Registrant shall approve, sign or seal only those Instruments of Service that conform to 250 CMR and generally accepted engineering and land surveying standards. (d) A Registrant shall not reveal facts, data or information obtained in a professional capacity, without the prior consent of the Registrant's employer except as authorized or required by law or regulation. (e) A Registrant shall not permit the use of the Registrant's name or firm name nor associate in business ventures with any person or firm which the Registrant may have reason to believe is engaging in fraudulent or dishonest business or professional practices. (f) A Registrant shall provide the Board with any information and assistance the Board may deem necessary for the investigation/prosecution of complaints filed with the Board. (g) A Registrant shall provide the Board with honest and objective responses on Reference Questionnaires regarding an applicant's qualifications for registration. (h) A Registrant shall provide written notification to other Registrants in the event of substantial disagreement with the work of the other. When appropriate, both Registrants shall investigate and attempt to resolve the disagreement collaboratively. The notified Registrant is required to respond in a timely manner to the Registrant giving notice. (i) A Registrant shall not act in a manner or engage in a practice that brings discredit on the honor or dignity of the profession of engineering or land surveying. (2) Competency. (a) A Registrant shall practice only in areas of competence for which the Registrant is qualified by education and experience. (b) A Registrant may accept work outside of his or her Licensed Branch of practice only to the extent that such services are restricted to areas of expertise for which the Registrant is qualified by education and experience to perform. (c) A Registrant shall not take responsibility for work the Registrant is not competent by education or experience to perform, even if such work generally falls within a Branch in which said Registrant is registered. (d) In the event that a Registrant practices outside his or her Licensed Branch of practice, the Registrant must be prepared to demonstrate to the Board's satisfaction his or her competence in that additional Branch of practice. Demonstration of competence to the Board shall include at a minimum records of specific education and experience obtained by the Registrant in that additional Branch of practice. (e) A Registrant may affix the Registrant's Signature or seal only on Instruments of Service prepared by the Registrant or prepared under the Registrant's Direct Charge and Supervision. (f) A Registrant shall stay current with theoretical, technological and practical developments within the Registrant's profession and maintain personal competency for acceptable practice throughout the Registrant's career. (3) Public Statements. A Registrant shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. (a) A Registrant shall issue no professional testimony that is inspired or paid for by interested parties unless the Registrant explicitly identifies the interested parties on whose behalf the Registrant is speaking and reveals any interest such parties have in the matters. (b) A Registrant shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of other Registrants. (4) Conflicts of Interest. A Registrant shall act professionally for each employer or client as a faithful agent and shall avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interests. (a) A Registrant shall make full prior disclosures to the Registrant's employers or clients of potential conflicts of interest or other circumstances which could influence or appear to influence the Registrant's judgment or the quality of their services. The Registrant bears responsibility for maintaining documentation of compliance with this requirement. (b) A Registrant shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for concurrent services on the same project unless the circumstances are fully disclosed in writing to all interested parties. (c) A Registrant shall not solicit or accept compensation, financial or otherwise, directly or indirectly, from contractors, vendors or other parties in connection with work for employers or clients for which the Registrant is responsible. (5) Solicitation and Compensation. A Registrant shall avoid improper solicitation of professional employment. (a) A Registrant shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of the Registrant's own academic or professional qualifications, or those of the Registrant's associates. (b) A Registrant may be disciplined for being found in violation of the state ethics law by the State Ethics Commission. (c) A Registrant may request, propose or accept contracts for professional services on a contingent basis only under circumstances in which the Registrant's professional judgment would not be compromised and the contingency agreement is in writing and complies with 250 CMR 5.02(5)(e). (d) Regardless of the negotiated compensation, the Registrant must provide services that comply with accepted professional standards. (e) A Registrant shall establish clear and unambiguous contractual arrangements with clients. At a minimum, contractual arrangements must state a description of the proposed work, fees and expenses to be paid, and schedule for completion.