Fly Casting Education Program

I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

This Code of Conduct provides guidelines for the professional conduct of all members of the Fly Casting Education Program (FCEP) and the Casting Instructor Certification Program (CICP.) Compliance with the Code of Conduct is mandatory. The purpose is to ensure that a member of the public who interfaces with the FCEP will have a positive experience.

II. RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY

A. Respect

Respect for students and candidates for certification examinations is fundamental to professional conduct. A member of the FCEP must show self-respect by performing the role of instructor, examiner, or mentor in a professional way, and respect for others and FFI. A member demonstrates respect by:

1. preparing for a casting lesson, be it a class or an individual student, so that it will be a positive experience,
2. refraining from showcasing personal casting skills except for demonstration purposes,
3. wearing attire appropriate to providing professional services in an outdoor activity,
4. carrying or displaying certification credentials in all CICP activities,
5. treating every person equally regardless of their gender age, race, language, socioeconomic status, ethnic origin, disability, or religion,
6. refraining from comments or actions which allude to gender, age, race, language, socioeconomic status, ethnic origin, disability, or religion in a manner that is negative or implies a negative meaning,
7. refraining from harsh or unkind criticism,
8. courteously requesting permission before making any physical contact for the purpose of kinesthetic teaching,
9. refraining completely from any offensive or inappropriate physical contact.

B. Responsibility

All FCEP and CICP members have the responsibility to:

1. maintain casting skill sufficient to demonstrate good technique to students,
2. maintain teaching skill sufficient to successfully impart knowledge to a variety of ability levels and learning patterns,
3. take positive action when witnessing unprofessional conduct by another member in either a testing or teaching situation to bring an end to that conduct by privately communicating the inappropriateness of the conduct to the colleague or taking other appropriate action,
4. cooperate with any effort by the FCEP Leadership Team and the Professional Conduct Team to address incidents of unprofessional conduct.

C. Integrity

Members demonstrate integrity when they are forthright in their professional activities by:

1. explaining the fees for services in advance of a fee generating activity such as a casting lesson or mentoring,
2. seeking advice, prospectively or retrospectively, of the Professional Conduct Team (“PCT”) of the FCEP on any issue that raises potential conflicts or the appearance of unprofessionalism that may not be specifically addressed in this Code,
3. disclosing the existence of any personal, professional, social or financial relationship with a candidate for a certification examination to the PCT for its decision as to whether a conflict exists prior to agreeing to serve on an examination team for that candidate,
4. not serving on an examination team for any person to whom he or she administered a practice test (a.k.a. pre-test) or established a long-term relationship to provide casting instruction, coaching or mentoring, whether or not compensated, within four months prior to the date of the examination, unless expressly authorized to do so by the PCT.
5. declining to examine a Candidate when they feel they cannot be objective.
6. refraining from using the name of the FCEP, CICP or the FFI, or credentials issued by them, in a manner that is detrimental to the FCEP, CICP and FFI.

III. VIOLATIONS

An allegation that the Code of Conduct has been violated by a member of the FCEP is subject to review and adjudication by the PCT and may result in disciplinary action with respect to membership in the FCEP and CICP and the privileges of membership. The adjudication by the PCT will be conducted in compliance with the FCEP Adjudication Policy.

Fly Fishers International
Fly Casting Education Program
Approved by FCEP Leadership Team
25 November, 2024