The NAPET Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct defines the professional and ethical standards expected of individuals who choose to engage with NAPET for education, mentoring, assessment, or accreditation.

Engagement with NAPET is entirely voluntary. Individuals access NAPET services at their own discretion and professional responsibility.

Compliance with this Code is a condition of accreditation but does not constitute employment, endorsement of practice beyond accreditation status, or assumption of liability by NAPET.

Where this Code refers to accreditation, it applies once NAPET's accreditation scheme launches.

NAPET:

• Operates as an independent professional association. Its accreditation scheme is in development and not yet active.

• Is not a regulator, employer, or licensing authority

• Does not supervise, direct, or control members’ professional practice

• Does not provide legal, veterinary, or behavioural guarantees

All individuals remain solely responsible for their professional decisions, client interactions, training methods, and business activities conducted outside NAPET’s educational and assessment processes.

By engaging with NAPET, individuals acknowledge that:

• Accreditation reflects assessment against NAPET’s internal standards only

• NAPET does not warrant or guarantee professional outcomes

• Use of accreditation is at the individual’s discretion and risk

• NAPET is not liable for actions, omissions, or consequences arising from an individual’s professional practice

Individuals associated with NAPET are expected to act with:

• Integrity – Honest and transparent professional conduct

• Professional Judgement – Informed, proportionate decision-making

• Respect – For clients, learners, colleagues, and animals

• Accountability – Personal responsibility for actions and outcomes

Individuals must:

• Represent their relationship with NAPET accurately and without exaggeration

• Not describe themselves as NAPET accredited or NAPET certified until accreditation is formally awarded

• Not imply regulatory authority, endorsement, or approval beyond accreditation status

• Conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring NAPET into disrepute

• Comply with applicable UK laws relevant to their own professional practice

NAPET does not mandate or prohibit specific training tools or methodologies.

Accreditation is based on:

• Demonstrated competence

• Ethical decision-making

• Appropriate application of techniques in context

Responsibility for the selection, use, and application of any training tools rests entirely with the individual practitioner.

To protect the integrity of NAPET accreditation:

• All submitted work must be the individual’s own

• Misrepresentation, falsification, or plagiarism is not permitted

• Assessment decisions relate only to NAPET accreditation and do not constitute professional certification or licensing

Individuals must handle information responsibly and in accordance with applicable UK data protection requirements.

NAPET is not responsible for breaches of confidentiality or data handling by individual practitioners in their own professional practice.

Complaints and professional concerns about NAPET’s conduct or published standards can be sent to complaints@napet.com, with a copy to info@napet.com. Include a clear account, relevant dates and the outcome you are seeking, and avoid unnecessary personal information about other people. NAPET’s accreditation scheme is still in development; this contact route must not be read as evidence of an active accreditation disciplinary or appeals scheme. NAPET does not adjudicate civil disputes, client disagreements or professional negligence claims.

Where this Code is breached, NAPET may:

• Require remedial education or mentoring

• Suspend or withdraw accreditation

• Terminate association with the individual

Such actions relate solely to association status and do not imply legal fault or liability.

This Code is interpreted and enforced at the sole discretion of NAPET and may be updated periodically.

NAPET accepts no liability for reliance placed upon accreditation by third parties.