After reading the codes of ethics posted to the USAOnline site please do the following (when you are asked to compare, consider the following: the length and details in each one, the topics covered, what are your thoughts on what is included in each): 1) Compare the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (Alabama BELS) with your primary engineering societies Code of Ethics (i.e. if you are a civil it is ASCE, if you are an Electrical it is IEEE, etc.) 2) Compare your primary engineering societies Code of Ethics with ASCE\'s Code of Ethics (if you are a civil compare ASCE with any of the other societies) Solution 1) First topic in Alabama BELS says about conflict of interest and is as follows- This topic is also present in ASCE ethics and is as follows - Now, this is present (highlighted in bold below) in Engineering council of India - code of ethics under article 3 titled Obligation to Maintain High Standard of Personal Behaviour in a Responsible Manner which is as follows - The second article in Alabama BELS is tiltled Qualified by Education and/or Experience. Details as follows: The engineer or land surveyor shall act competently and use proper care in performing engineering or land surveying services for clients or employers and shall act only in fields in which qualified by education or experience as follows: This is present in ASCE under canon 2 tiltles service with competence which says that Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence. This is covered in Engineering Council of India ethics code under article 2 named Responsibility to Maintain High Standards of Professional Quality which include the following- Third part in Alabama Bels is related to safeguarding and preservation of the confidences and private information of clients and employers which is not present in ASCE but present in Engineeering council of india(ECI) ethics code. Cannon iii of Alabama BELS is named Confidences of Clients and Employers and is as follows - This is present in ECI code of ethics as under article 3 as 3.9 (Employers’ Business Secrets) which says that Engineers shall not disclose by any means, confidential information of the employer or client, unless otherwise authorized Next in Alabama Bels is titled practice; The engineer or land surveyor shall endeavor to build a practice and professional reputation on the merit of his or her services as follows: (a) The engineer or land surveyor shall not offer, or promise to pay or deliver, directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, favor, gratuity, benefit or reward as an inducement to secure any specific professional engineering or professional land surveying work or assignment; providing and excepting, however, that an engineer or land surveyor may pay a duly licensed employment agency its fee or commission for securing engineering or land surveying employment in a salaried position. (b) The engineer or land surveyo.

1. After reading the codes of ethics posted to the USAOnline site please do the following (when
you are asked to compare, consider the following: the length and details in each one, the topics
covered, what are your thoughts on what is included in each): 1) Compare the Alabama Board of
Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (Alabama BELS) with
your primary engineering societies Code of Ethics (i.e. if you are a civil it is ASCE, if you are an
Electrical it is IEEE, etc.) 2) Compare your primary engineering societies Code of Ethics with
ASCE's Code of Ethics (if you are a civil compare ASCE with any of the other societies)
Solution
1) First topic in Alabama BELS says about conflict of interest and is as follows-
This topic is also present in ASCE ethics and is as follows -
Now, this is present (highlighted in bold below) in Engineering council of India - code of ethics
under article 3 titled Obligation to Maintain High Standard of Personal Behaviour in a
Responsible Manner which is as follows -
The second article in Alabama BELS is tiltled Qualified by Education and/or Experience. Details
as follows:
The engineer or land surveyor shall act competently and use proper care in performing
engineering or land surveying services for clients or employers and shall act only in fields in
which qualified by education or experience as follows:
This is present in ASCE under canon 2 tiltles service with competence which says that
Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
This is covered in Engineering Council of India ethics code under article 2 named Responsibility
to Maintain High Standards of Professional Quality which include the following-
Third part in Alabama Bels is related to safeguarding and preservation of the confidences and
private information of clients and employers which is not present in ASCE but present in
Engineeering council of india(ECI) ethics code.
Cannon iii of Alabama BELS is named Confidences of Clients and Employers and is as follows -
This is present in ECI code of ethics as under article 3 as 3.9 (Employers’ Business Secrets)
which says that Engineers shall not disclose by any means, confidential information of the
employer or client, unless otherwise authorized
Next in Alabama Bels is titled practice;
The engineer or land surveyor shall endeavor to build a practice and professional reputation on
the merit of his or her services as follows:
(a) The engineer or land surveyor shall not offer, or promise to pay or deliver, directly or
indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, favor, gratuity, benefit or reward as an

2. inducement to secure any specific professional engineering or professional land surveying work
or assignment; providing and excepting, however, that an engineer or land surveyor may pay a
duly licensed employment agency its fee or commission for securing engineering or land
surveying employment in a salaried position.
(b) The engineer or land surveyor shall not solicit professional employment by self-laudatory
advertising, or in any manner contrary to high professional standards.
(c) Licensees shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their, or their associates, academic
or professional qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degree of
responsibility in prior assignments nor the complexity of said assignments. Presentations incident
to the solicitation of employment or business shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning
employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, or past accomplishments.
(d) The engineer or land surveyor shall not supplant, nor attempt to supplant, directly or
indirectly, another engineer or land surveyor in an ongoing engineering or land surveying
project, after contracts have been awarded to such other engineer or land surveyor.
(e) The engineer or land surveyor shall not attempt to compete with another engineer or land
surveyor for employment by reducing his or her usual charges or by the use of unethical
practices.
(f) The engineer or land surveyor shall not participate in or implement procurement practices
(bid submittals) which do not first determine the qualifications of the engineer or land surveyor
prior to entering into fee negotiations for services being sought. An engineer or land surveyor
having submitted a statement of qualification and performance data, and having first been judged
as the qualified individual or firm to provide the services required for the proposed project, may
proceed to negotiate a contract with a client and establish compensation or fees for the required
services. Should the engineer or land surveyor be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with
the client for any reason, the engineer or land surveyor shall withdraw from further consideration
for the engineering or land surveying services. Another engineer or land surveyor may then be
selected for negotiations of a contract for the services on the stated project. Examples include but
are not limited to, simultaneous negotiations or solicitation of fee proposals by the client from
two or more engineers or land surveyors constitutes “bidding” and participation by a licensee is
prohibited.
(g) The engineer or land surveyor shall perform his or her work in accordance with approved
standards of practice and care and shall endeavor to adhere to all laws in effect in the jurisdiction
in which he or she is practicing.
(h) Should the engineer or land surveyor be presented with a Certification to be signed, sealed,
and dated as summarized in Rule 330-X-11-.04 and defined in Rule 330-X-2-.01(7), he or she
should carefully evaluate that Certification to determine if any of the circumstances set forth

3. below would apply. The engineer or land surveyor who signs, seals, and dates Certifications
which: (a) relate to matters which are beyond the engineer’s or land surveyor’s technical
competence, or (b) involve matters which are beyond the engineer’s or land surveyor’s scope of
services actually provided, or (c) relate to matters which were not prepared under the engineer’s
or land surveyor’s responsible supervision, direction or control are subject to disciplinary action
pursuant to Rule 330-X-16. If any of these circumstances would apply, the engineer or land
surveyor shall either: (a) modify the Certification to limit its scope to those matters which the
engineer or land surveyor can properly sign, seal, and date, or (b) decline to sign the
Certification.
(i) The engineer or land surveyor shall be completely objective, truthful, and shall include all
relevant and pertinent information in all professional reports, statements or testimony.
(j) The engineer or land surveyor shall issue no statements, or criticisms or arguments on matters
connected with public policy which are inspired or paid for by an interested party, or parties,
unless he or she has prefaced his or her comments by explicitly identifying himself or herself, by
disclosing the identities of the party, or parties, on whose behalf he or she is speaking, and by
revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest he or she may have in the instant matter.
(k) Licensees shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate
when their professional judgment or covenants of this Code of Ethics are overruled under
circumstances where life, health, property, or welfare of the public is endangered
This is present in ASCE code under canon 5 - Reputation by merit -
Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not
compete unfairly with others
a. Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any political
contribution, gratuity, or unlawful consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing
salaried positions through employment agencies.
b. Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the basis of
demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required.
c. Engineers may request, propose or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis only
under circumstances in which their professional judgments would not be compromised.
d. Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or professional
qualifications or experience.
e. Engineers shall give proper credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due, and
shall recognize the proprietary interests of others. Whenever possible, they shall name the person
or persons who may be responsible for designs, inventions, writings or other accomplishments.
f. Engineers may advertise professional services in a way that does not contain misleading
language or is in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the profession. Examples of

4. permissible advertising are as follows:
Professional cards in recognized, dignified publications, and listings in rosters or directories
published by responsible organizations, provided that the cards or listings are consistent in size
and content and are in a section of the publication regularly devoted to such professional cards.
Brochures which factually describe experience, facilities, personnel and capacity to render
service, providing they are not misleading with respect to the engineer's participation in projects
described.
Display advertising in recognized dignified business and professional publications, providing it
is factual and is not misleading with respect to the engineer's extent of participation in projects
described.
A statement of the engineers' names or the name of the firm and statement of the type of service
posted on projects for which they render services.
Preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press, which are
factual and dignified. Such articles shall not imply anything more than direct participation in the
project described.
Permission by engineers for their names to be used in commercial advertisements, such as may
be published by contractors, material suppliers, etc., only by means of a modest, dignified
notation acknowledging the engineers' participation in the project described. Such permission
shall not include public endorsement of proprietary products.
g. Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional
reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another engineer or indiscriminately criticize
another's work.
h. Engineers shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory or office facilities of their employers
to carry on outside private practice without the consent of their employers.
This is covered in ECI code under article 3 in 3.7 (self promotion) saying Engineers shall build
their reputation based on the merits of services to the customers and shall not falsify or
misrepresent their contribution.
Canon 5 in Alabama Bels is titled Ethics saying The engineer or land surveyor shall contribute to
the maintenance, integrity, independence and competency of the engineering or land surveying
profession as follows:
Many of these are present in ASCE code under cannon 6,7 and 8 which are as follows:
Canon 6 : Uphold Professional Honor-
Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity
of the engineering profession and shall act with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption.
a. Engineers shall not knowingly engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent,
dishonest or unethical nature.

5. b. Engineers shall be scrupulously honest in their control and spending of monies, and promote
effective use of resources through open, honest and impartial service with fidelity to the public,
employers, associates and clients.
c. Engineers shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption in all engineering or
construction activities in which they are engaged.
d. Engineers should be especially vigilant to maintain appropriate ethical behavior where
payments of gratuities or bribes are institutionalized practices.
e. Engineers should strive for transparency in the procurement and execution of projects.
Transparency includes disclosure of names, addresses, purposes, and fees or commissions paid
for all agents facilitating projects.
f. Engineers should encourage the use of certifications specifying zerotolerance for bribery,
fraud, and corruption in all contracts.
Canon 7 : Continue professional development
Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision.
a. Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice,
participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending
professional meetings and seminars.
b. Engineers should encourage their engineering employees to become registered at the earliest
possible date.
c. Engineers should encourage engineering employees to attend and present papers at
professional and technical society meetings.
d. Engineers shall uphold the principle of mutually satisfying relationships between employers
and employees with respect to terms of employment including professional grade descriptions,
salary ranges, and fringe benefits.
Canon 8 : Treat all persons fairly
Engineers shall, in all matters related to their profession, treat all persons fairly and encourage
equitable participation without regard to gender or gender identity, race, national origin,
ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or family, marital, or
economic status .
a. Engineers shall conduct themselves in a manner in which all persons are treated with dignity,
respect, and fairness.
b. Engineers shall not engage in discrimination or harassment in connection with their
professional activities.
c. Engineers shall consider the diversity of the community, and shall endeavor in good faith to

6. include diverse perspectives, in the planning and performance of their professional services.
In ECI code, some of these(not all) are covered under article 1.2 (compliance with social order)
which says Engineers shall abide by the laws of the land in which the work is performed, respect
the local customs, uphold the human rights, safeguard public property; abjure violence and acts
of terrorism; under article 1.3 (impartiality and fairness) which says Engineers shall treat fairly
all persons regardless of such factors as race, caste, religion, state, gender or national origin; 3.6
(Mutual Obligation & Trust) saying Engineers shall not, maliciously or falsely, injure the
professional reputation of another engineer or organisation; 3.4 (Professional Relationship with
the Employer) which says Engineers shall act faithfully as trustee of the employer / client on
professional matters; and 3.1 (Honesty and Integrity in Professional Dealing) which
says Engineers shall maintain high degree of honesty and personal integrity in all their
professional dealings. They shall conduct themselves in a fair, honest and respectable manner.
Alabama Bels doesn't say anything about safety and environmental protection which is the very
first part in ASCE and ECI codes. Cannon 1 of ASCE is titled Hold Safety Paramount -
Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to
comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional
duties-
a. Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public are
dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated into structures,
machines, products, processes and devices.
b. Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or prepared by them,
which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted
engineering standards.
c. Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety,
health and welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of sustainable development
ignored, shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences.
d. Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in
violation of any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information to the proper
authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further
information or assistance as may be required.
e. Engineers should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for
the advancement of the safety, health and well-being of their communities, and the protection of
the environment through the practice of sustainable development.
f. Engineers should be committed to improving the environment by adherence to the principles
of sustainable development so as to enhance the quality of life of the general public.
In ECI this is present under article1 in 1.1 (Public Safety) saying Engineers shall ensure the

7. safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties. Safety of
the people must always come first. They should promptly disclose to all concerned the factors
that might endanger the public safety or the environment and 1.4 (Environmental protection and
improvement) saying Engineers shall strive to protect and maintain clean, healthy and safe
environments and comply with the statutory requirements.