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CANONS OF ETHICS

It shall be considered unprofessional and Because of this unique situation in which the 5. The practitioner shall not give professional
inconsistent with honorable and dignified Land Surveyors are placed by virtue of their advice which does not fully reflect his or her
conduct and contrary to the public interest special knowledge and skill and, as it is with best professional judgment.
for any member of the New York State all professions, certain distinctive fundamental
Association of Professional Land Surveyors: qualities of conduct and decorum are assumed. 6. The practitioner shall not misrepresent his or
her qualifications to a client, to an employer, or
1. To act for the practitioner’s client or employer Only however, by the creation and application of to the profession.
otherwise than as a faithful agent or trustee. effective and realistic precepts and guide lines
within these areas can any profession hope to 7. The practitioner shall not knowingly accept
2. To accept remuneration for services survive and retain the public recognition and an assignment the results of which he or she
rendered other than from the practitioner’s support to which it aspires. will later act upon as a member of a public or
client or employer. quasi-public board.
It is important, therefore, that a Profession
3. To attempt to supplant another Land Association establish within its organizational 8. The practitioner shall act with fairness and
Surveyor in a particular engagement after framework the Fundamental Principles of justice to all parties when administering the
definite steps have been taken toward the Professional Conduct that will uphold and terms of any contract.
practitioner’s employment. advance the honor and dignity of the profession 9. The practitioner shall engage, or advise
in keeping with its highest standards of engaging, experts and specialists when in his
4. To attempt to injure, falsely or maliciously, devotion, competence, knowledge and skill
the professional reputation, business, or toward the discharge of the moral obligations or her judgment such services are to his or her
employment position of another Land Surveyor. client’s or employer’s best interests.
it has acknowledged to the public, to the
5. To review the work of another Land Surveyor profession, and to the fellow practitioner. Article 2: “It shall be considered unprofessional…
for the same client, except with the knowledge We believe the Canons of Ethics presented here To accept remuneration for services rendered other
of such Land Surveyor, unless such Land will serve the best interests of the New York State than from the practitioner’s client or employer.”
Surveyor’s engagement on the work which is Association of Professional Land Surveyors and 1. The practitioner shall not accept compensation
subject to review has been terminated.
its membership. from more than one interested party for the same
service, or for services pertaining to the same
6. To advertise Land Surveying services in self- Adopted September 24, 1966,
laudatory language, or in any other manner Latest revision, July 21, 2017 work under circumstances where there may
be conflict of interest without the consent of all
derogatory to the dignity of the profession. interested parties.
Guide to Professional Practice Under the
7. To use the advantages of a salaried position Canons of Ethics 2. The practitioner shall not accept any royalty
to compete unfairly with other Land Surveyors.
Article 1: “It shall be considered unprofessional… or commission on any work for which he or she
8. To exert undue influence or to offer, solicit or To act for the practitioner’s client or employer is responsible, without the consent of his or her
accept compensation for the purpose of affecting otherwise than as a faithful agent or trustee.” client or employer.
negotiation for any Land Surveying engagement. Article 3: “It shall be considered unprofessional…
1. The practitioner shall not undertake any
9. To act in any manner derogatory to the assignment which would create a potential To attempt to supplant another Land Surveyor in
a particular engagement after definite steps have
honor, integrity or dignity of the Land Surveying conflict of interest between the Land Surveyor
profession. and his or her client or employer. been taken toward his or her employment.”
1. The practitioner shall not continue to seek
10. To state on a map, plat or otherwise that the 2. The practitioner shall not disclose information employment on a specific engagement after
survey meets the minimum standards set forth in concerning the business affairs of his or her being advised that another Land Surveyor
the NYSAPLS Code of Practice, when it does not. clients or employer without their consent. has been selected subject to approval of

Foreword 3. The practitioner shall not use information coming detailed arrangements.
Land Surveying is your profession and, as to him or her confidentially in the course of his or 2. The practitioner shall not knowingly accept
Licensed Land Surveyors in New York State, the her assignment as a means of making personal employment from a client who already has a
Law has reserved to each of you exclusively profit if such action is adverse to the interest of his Land Surveyor under contract for the same work
the right to practice your profession. or her client or employer or the public. not yet completed or paid for.

You are presumed to have accepted this right 4. The practitioner shall not divulge any 3. The practitioner shall not, in the event that
along with the attendant obligations implied by confidential findings of studies or actions of a another Land Surveyor has made a study and
such a mandate which, in order of responsibility, Land Surveying commission or board of which report on a specific project, approach the
is first to the public, second to the profession he or she is a member, without official consent. prospective client regarding subsequent phases
and to your colleagues within the profession, of the project, unless such contact is initiated
and third to you, the individual practitioner. by the client.

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