(a)

1. (1) Geology is a profession, and the privilege of professional practice requires responsibility as well as professional knowledge on the part of each practitioner.
2. (2) Each registered professional geologist shall be guided by the highest standards of business ethics.

(b) With high regard for the geological profession and recognizing in the code of ethics a set of dynamic principles to guide his or her services to his or her fellow men and women and to his or her profession, with full knowledge of the responsibility of geologists to safeguard health, safety, and public welfare, a registered professional geologist:

1. (1) Shall protect to the fullest extent the public welfare and safety;
2. (2) Shall not act in any manner which will tend to bring discredit to the honor and dignity of his or her profession;
3. (3) Shall not undertake any type of work with which he or she is not competent unless he or she makes full disclosure of his or her lack of training and/or experience to the appropriate parties prior to undertaking the work;
4. (4) Shall not act for his or her client or employer other than as a faithful agent or trustee and shall protect to the fullest the interest of his or her employer and/or client so far as is consistent with the law and his or her professional obligations and ethics;
5. (5) Shall not use undue influence or offer commissions or otherwise solicit professional work improperly;
6. (6) Shall not voluntarily disclose information concerning the lawful business affairs or technical processes of a client or employer without his or her consent, provided that this article does not operate to the detriment of public safety;
7. (7) Shall not express an opinion which is not founded upon knowledge and honest conviction nor yield to undue and improper pressure;
8. (8) Shall not advertise his or her work or merit in any manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession;
9. (9) Will freely give credit for work done by others to whom credit is due and will refrain from plagiarism in oral and written communications, and not knowingly accept credit rightfully due another geologist;

(c)

1. (1) It shall be the duty and professional responsibility of every registered geologist to uphold these standards of ethics and to encourage other geologists by example and counsel to adhere to this code.
2. (2) A registered geologist found by the State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists to be in violation of this code of ethics shall be subject to loss of registration.