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BIAP Professional Standards and Code of Conduct

Introduction

The British Institute of Assessment Professionals (BIAP) is committed to upholding the highest standards of professional practice in assessment across education and vocational training. This Code of Conduct sets out the professional and ethical standards expected of all BIAP members.

As an assessment professional, you have significant influence over learners’ futures, qualifications, and career opportunities. This responsibility requires you to act with integrity, fairness, and professionalism at all times.

Purpose of This Code

This Code exists to:

  • Protect learners and maintain public confidence in assessment practices
  • Establish clear professional standards for assessment practitioners
  • Guide members in ethical decision-making
  • Maintain the reputation and credibility of the assessment profession
  • Provide a framework for professional conduct

Scope

This Code applies to all BIAP members regardless of membership grade, and covers all professional activities related to assessment practice, including:

  • Direct assessment of learners
  • Internal and external quality assurance
  • Assessment design and development
  • Training and mentoring of assessors
  • Management of assessment processes
  • Research and policy development in assessment

Core Professional Values

All BIAP members must uphold the following core values:

  1. Integrity

Act honestly, transparently, and ethically in all professional activities

  1. Fairness

Ensure all learners are treated equitably and without bias

  1. Competence

Maintain and develop the knowledge and skills required for effective practice

  1. Accountability

Take responsibility for your professional decisions and actions

  1. Respect

Value the dignity, rights, and diversity of all learners and colleagues

  1. Transparency

Be open about assessment processes, criteria, and decisions

Professional Standards

Standard 1: Professional Competence

You must:

1.1 Maintain current knowledge of:

  • Assessment methodologies and best practices
  • Relevant qualifications and standards you assess
  • Regulatory requirements (Ofqual, ESFA, awarding body rules)
  • Equality, diversity, and inclusion legislation
  • Safeguarding requirements

1.2 Only undertake assessment activities for which you are qualified and competent

1.3 Recognise the limits of your competence and seek guidance when necessary

1.4 Engage in continuous professional development (CPD):

  • Complete the minimum CPD hours as required for your membership grade
  • Keep accurate records of CPD activities
  • Reflect on how CPD improves your practice

1.5 Keep up to date with technological developments in assessment practice

1.6 Maintain valid occupational competence in your assessment sector(s) where required

You must not:

  • Undertake assessment work beyond your scope of competence
  • Make assessment decisions without proper training or authorisation
  • Allow your skills and knowledge to become outdated

Standard 2: Fairness and Equality

You must:

2.1 Apply assessment criteria consistently and objectively to all learners

2.2 Make reasonable adjustments for learners with additional needs while maintaining assessment validity

2.3 Recognise and challenge bias, discrimination, and unfair practices

2.4 Ensure assessment materials and processes are accessible and inclusive

2.5 Treat all learners with dignity and respect regardless of:

  • Age, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
  • Race, ethnicity, religion, or belief
  • Disability or learning difficulty
  • Social or economic background
  • Any other protected characteristic

2.6 Support learners’ right to confidentiality and data protection

2.7 Provide clear information about assessment requirements, processes, and appeals

You must not:

  • Discriminate against any learner or colleague
  • Allow personal relationships or bias to influence assessment decisions
  • Make assumptions about learner capability based on stereotypes
  • Breach learner confidentiality except where required by law or safeguarding duties

Standard 3: Assessment Integrity

You must:

3.1 Maintain the validity, reliability, and authenticity of all assessments

3.2 Ensure assessment decisions are based on sufficient, relevant evidence

3.3 Apply assessment criteria as specified by awarding bodies and regulatory requirements

3.4 Maintain accurate and complete records of assessment activities and decisions

3.5 Report suspected malpractice, maladministration, or irregularities promptly

3.6 Maintain the security and confidentiality of assessment materials

3.7 Ensure work submitted for assessment is the learner’s own authentic work

3.8 Follow organisational and regulatory procedures for suspected plagiarism or cheating

You must not:

  • Pass learners who have not met the required standards
  • Pre-judge assessment outcomes before gathering evidence
  • Compromise assessment security or confidentiality
  • Participate in or condone malpractice, fraud, or irregularities
  • Accept gifts, inducements, or favours that could influence assessment decisions
  • Disclose assessment content inappropriately

Standard 4: Professional Relationships

You must:

4.1 Build professional relationships based on trust and mutual respect

4.2 Communicate clearly, honestly, and professionally with:

  • Learners and their representatives
  • Colleagues and line managers
  • Employers and workplace supervisors
  • Awarding bodies and regulatory authorities

4.3 Provide constructive feedback that supports learner development

4.4 Collaborate effectively with colleagues to maintain quality standards

4.5 Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with learners

4.6 Respect confidentiality in professional relationships

4.7 Support and mentor colleagues where appropriate

4.8 Contribute positively to your organisation’s assessment culture

You must not:

  • Engage in inappropriate relationships with learners
  • Undermine colleagues or the reputation of your organisation
  • Share confidential information inappropriately
  • Harass, bully, or abuse learners or colleagues
  • Use your position for personal gain or advantage

Standard 5: Quality Assurance

You must:

5.1 Participate fully in quality assurance processes:

  • Internal verification/quality assurance
  • External verification/quality assurance
  • Standardisation activities
  • Moderation exercises

5.2 Implement feedback from quality assurance activities

5.3 Maintain assessment standards through regular standardisation

5.4 Keep assessment records that are:

  • Accurate and legible
  • Sufficiently detailed
  • Securely stored
  • Accessible for quality assurance purposes

5.5 Cooperate with audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews

5.6 Report quality issues or risks to appropriate personnel

5.7 Contribute to the continuous improvement of assessment processes

You must not:

  • Obstruct quality assurance processes
  • Falsify or manipulate assessment records
  • Ignore feedback from quality assurance activities
  • Compromise record-keeping requirements

Standard 6: Accountability and Responsibility

You must:

6.1 Take responsibility for your professional decisions and actions

6.2 Work within organisational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements

6.3 Understand and fulfil your specific roles and responsibilities

6.4 Escalate concerns about assessment practice appropriately

6.5 Cooperate with investigations into professional conduct

6.6 Admit mistakes promptly and take action to rectify them

6.7 Maintain professional indemnity insurance where appropriate

6.8 Declare any conflicts of interest that may affect your objectivity

You must not:

  • Blame others for your professional failings
  • Ignore or cover up mistakes or poor practice
  • Work outside your authorised role or responsibilities
  • Fail to declare conflicts of interest

Standard 7: Safeguarding

You must:

7.1 Prioritise the safety and well-being of learners, particularly those under 18 or vulnerable adults

7.2 Understand and follow safeguarding policies and procedures

7.3 Report safeguarding concerns to designated personnel immediately

7.4 Maintain appropriate professional boundaries

7.5 Be alert to signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

7.6 Undertake required safeguarding training

7.7 Hold valid DBS/PVG checks where required

You must not:

  • Ignore safeguarding concerns
  • Engage in any behaviour that could harm or exploit learners
  • Breach safeguarding procedures

Standard 8: Professional Conduct

You must:

8.1 Act with honesty and integrity in all professional matters

8.2 Maintain professional standards of behaviour, appearance, and communication

8.3 Uphold the reputation of the assessment profession and BIAP

8.4 Be punctual, reliable, and well-prepared for assessment activities

8.5 Respect intellectual property and copyright

8.6 Use social media responsibly and professionally

8.7 Declare relevant criminal convictions as required

You must not:

  • Bring the profession or BIAP into disrepute
  • Make false or misleading claims about your qualifications or experience
  • Misuse your professional position or BIAP membership
  • Engage in criminal activity
  • Use BIAP membership for fraudulent purposes

Guidance on Ethical Dilemmas

Assessment professionals may face ethical challenges. When faced with difficult decisions:

  1. Consider the learner’s best interests – while maintaining assessment integrity
  2. Consult the relevant standards in this Code
  3. Seek advice from experienced colleagues, line managers, or BIAP
  4. Document your decision-making process and rationale
  5. Act in accordance with organisational policies and regulatory requirements
  6. Report concerns through appropriate channels

Common Ethical Scenarios

Scenario: Pressure to pass a learner who hasn’t met the standards

  • Uphold assessment integrity (Standard 3)
  • Apply criteria consistently (Standard 2)
  • Document evidence objectively
  • Escalate pressure inappropriately applied (Standard 6)

Scenario: Suspected plagiarism or malpractice

  • Follow organisational procedures
  • Report suspicions promptly (Standard 3)
  • Treat the learner fairly during investigation (Standard 2)
  • Maintain confidentiality appropriately

Scenario: Conflict of interest (assessing a family member or friend)

  • Declare the conflict immediately (Standard 6)
  • Request alternative assessment arrangements
  • Do not proceed with the assessment if objectivity is compromised

Scenario: Inadequate resources or time for quality assessment

  • Raise concerns with management (Standard 5)
  • Document limitations
  • Do not compromise assessment quality
  • Refuse to undertake assessments if standards cannot be maintained

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

BIAP members must engage in regular CPD to maintain competence:

CPD Requirements by Membership Grade

  • Student Members: Encouraged participation
  • Associate Members: Minimum 15 hours annually
  • Members (MBIAP): Minimum 30 hours annually
  • Fellows (FBIAP): Minimum 30 hours annually

What Counts as CPD?

  • Formal training courses and qualifications
  • Professional conferences and seminars
  • Online learning and webinars
  • Reading professional journals and research
  • Peer observation and feedback
  • Standardisation activities
  • Mentoring others (for experienced members)
  • Reflective practice and action research
  • Participation in professional networks
  • Updating occupational competence

Recording CPD

Members must maintain a CPD record, including:

  • Date and duration of activity
  • Description of learning
  • Relevance to professional practice
  • Reflection on how it improved practice
  • Evidence where appropriate

CPD records may be requested during membership renewal or in professional conduct investigations.

Download a CPD Log template if you don’t already have one.

Compliance and Enforcement

Member Responsibilities

All BIAP members are required to:

  • Read, understand, and follow this Code
  • Complete the Code of Conduct declaration upon joining and at annual renewal
  • Undertake mandatory professional conduct training
  • Report breaches of the Code by others
  • Cooperate with investigations

Reporting Concerns

If you witness or become aware of conduct that breaches this Code, you should:

  1. Assess urgency – safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately
  2. Consider organisational procedures – follow your employer’s policies first
  3. Report to BIAP if the matter concerns professional standards:

Reports can be made confidentially. BIAP will protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

Investigation Process

When a complaint is received:

  1. Initial Assessment – Conduct Committee reviews the complaint (5 working days)
  2. Investigation – If a prima facie case exists, formal investigation begins
  3. Response – Member has the opportunity to respond in writing
  4. Hearing – Serious cases may require a conduct hearing
  5. Decision – Finding and any sanctions determined
  6. Appeal – Members may appeal decisions within 28 days

Possible Outcomes

No case to answer – Complaint dismissed, no record on file

Advice – Guidance provided, no formal sanction

Warning – Formal written warning (remains on file for 2 years)

Conditions – Continued membership subject to conditions (e.g., additional training, supervision)

Suspension – Temporary suspension from membership (3-24 months)

Expulsion – Permanent removal from membership

Factors Considered

When determining sanctions, the Conduct Committee considers:

  • Severity of the breach
  • Impact on learners, colleagues, or organisations
  • Whether the breach was deliberate or negligent
  • Previous conduct history
  • Mitigating circumstances
  • Remedial action taken
  • Risk of repetition

Serious Professional Misconduct

The following may constitute serious professional misconduct:

  • Assessment malpractice or fraud
  • Discrimination or harassment
  • Safeguarding failures
  • Criminal convictions relevant to professional practice
  • Deliberate falsification of records
  • Repeated or persistent breaches of standards
  • Bringing the profession into serious disrepute

Serious professional misconduct may result in immediate interim suspension pending investigation.

Review and Updates

This Code will be reviewed every three years or sooner if:

  • Significant regulatory changes occur
  • Feedback from members indicates a revision is needed
  • Serious conduct issues reveal gaps in guidance

Members will be notified of updates and required to acknowledge revised versions.

Current Version: 1.0
Effective Date: January 2025
Next Review: January 2028
Responsible Committee: Professional Standards and Conduct Committee