ASHA Code of Ethics

Four Principles of Ethics

Principle I: Welfare of Persons Served

Core idea: Hold paramount the welfare of persons served professionally and of research participants.

Key Rules:

• Provide all clinical services and scientific activities competently
• Use every resource, including referral and interprofessional collaboration when appropriate, to ensure quality service
• Do not discriminate on the basis of age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin (including culture, language, dialect, and accent), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status
• Delegate tasks to aides, assistants, technicians, or students only if they are adequately prepared and appropriately supervised; responsibility for the person served stays with the certified SLP. Do not delegate to aides, assistants, or technicians the tasks that require the SLP's unique skills, knowledge, and judgment. (SLPAs work only under SLP supervision.)
• Obtain informed consent about the nature, possible risks, and effects of services, including the possible effects of not treating; if decision-making ability seems diminished, seek authorization from a legally authorized representative
• Protect the confidentiality of information and records; disclose only when legally authorized or required (HIPAA, FERPA)
• Keep timely records and bill accurately; do not bill for services not rendered or misrepresent services
• Evaluate the effectiveness of services and products, and provide them only when benefit can reasonably be expected
• Do not guarantee treatment results; a reasonable statement of prognosis is allowed
• Do not let personal hardship, distress, substance use, or a health condition interfere with safe, skilled service; seek help if practice is affected
• Report a colleague who cannot practice with reasonable skill and safety to the appropriate authority (through an internal mechanism if one exists and, when appropriate, to an external licensing or regulatory body)
• Give reasonable notice and information about alternatives when ending services, so care can continue
• Deliver services by telepractice only when it meets the person's needs and the same standard of care

Principle II: Professional Competence

Core idea: Achieve and maintain the highest level of professional competence and performance.

Key Rules:

• Practice only within your scope and competence, considering certification status, education, training, and experience
• Engage in lifelong learning
• Supervisors and administrators must not require or permit staff to work beyond their competence or against their independent professional judgment
• Use technology and instrumentation consistent with professional guidelines, keep it in working order and calibrated, and refer when needed technology is unavailable
• Follow institutional, state, and federal regulations that govern research

Principle III: Responsibility to the Public

Core idea: Act with honesty and integrity when engaging with the public, and provide accurate information about the professions.

Key Rules:

• Do not misrepresent credentials, competence, education, training, experience, or scholarly contributions
• Avoid conflicts of interest; if one cannot be avoided, disclose and manage it
• Do not misrepresent diagnostic information, services, results, products, or research
• Do not defraud or engage in illegal or negligent conduct to obtain payment or reimbursement (billing and insurance fraud)
• Keep public statements and advertising accurate and free of misrepresentation

Principle IV: Professional Relationships

Core idea: Uphold the dignity and autonomy of the professions, maintain collaborative relationships within and across professions, and accept the professions' self-imposed standards.

Key Rules:

• Exercise independent professional judgment when an administrative directive, referral source, or prescription would prevent keeping the welfare of persons served paramount
• Do not engage in dishonesty, negligence, deceit, or misrepresentation
• Provide appropriate supervision to Clinical Fellows, students, assistants, and other staff; do not knowingly let a supervisee violate the Code
• Do not discriminate against colleagues, other professionals, or supervisees
• Do not engage in harassment or power abuse, or sexual activity with anyone over whom you hold professional authority
• Assign credit only to contributors, in proportion to their contribution; cite sources
• With evidence that the Code may have been violated, work collaboratively to resolve it where possible or inform the ASHA Board of Ethics; cooperate fully with its procedures
• Comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations; self-report to the ASHA Ethics Office in writing within 60 days a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or physical harm (conviction, guilty plea, or no-contest plea), and any public sanction or denial of a license or professional credential

Ethics Decision-Making Framework

When facing an ethical dilemma:

1. Identify all stakeholders
2. Gather relevant facts
3. Review applicable Principles and Rules
4. Consider possible courses of action
5. Evaluate consequences of each option
6. Act, and document your reasoning

Common Exam Scenarios

Sources to Know

• ASHA Code of Ethics (2023, effective March 1, 2023)
• U.S. Department of Education: FERPA
• HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR 164.502(g): personal representatives, including parents of minors

Reviewed: 2026-09