Guidelines for Ethical Use for Certified MBTI^® Professionals

The Code of Ethics represents a set of guidelines for the professional behavior of those who serve the public as MBTI Certified Practitioners. The certificants have met standards as identified by CPP, Inc. Certificants are committed to increasing knowledge of people's understanding of themselves and others and to the utilization of such knowledge for the promotion of the constructive use of differences. Certificants subscribe to principles in the following areas:

Responsibility
Competence
Moral and Legal Standards
Confidentiality
Research

Responsibility
In providing services, certificants maintain the highest standards of their profession.

Certificants have the responsibility to uphold the following standards concerning the effective and ethical use of the MBTI instrument:

	•	Provide person-to-person interactive interpretations and time in workshops to answer individual questions.
	•	Present the type preferences and types as describing probable patterns of behavior and tendencies rather than fixed "trait-like" behaviors.
	•	Remind the individual receiving feedback that he or she is the expert — only the individual can verify his or her own best-fitting type.
	•	Provide a process for type clarification, verification or validation of "best fit" or true type.
	•	Present the MBTI results as a working "hypothesis" allowing for deeper and richer exploration of self and others.
	•	Explain that type is not stereotyping. Instead, individual types are complex, dynamic and capable of unique patterns of behavior and development.
	•	Distinguish between research-based and anecdotal evidence when discussing type data.
	•	Provide materials that include descriptions of all 16 types for further reference.
	•	Emphasize and illustrate the dangers of oversimplifying or misusing type theory.
	•	Be aware of their own type biases and how they influence communication about type information.

Certificants must include the following points when providing an introduction to the MBTI instrument: 

	•	A brief history and theory of type.
	•	Assurance that each individual's participation is voluntary.
	•	Assurance that participant's MBTI results will be confidential.
	•	An explanation that no psychological instrument or theory can fully explain human complexity.
	•	A discussion of the variety of ways that all types are valuable — there are no good/bad, sick/well type profiles.
	•	An opportunity for clients to self-assess their type prior to sharing MBTI results and verifying reported type results.
	•	The use of language such as "People with a preference for . . ." rather than "You are . . ., or, Thinkers do . . .".
	•	An explanation of preference clarity indexes or categories as indications of consistency in "voting" for the preferences and not indications of excellence, competence, or maturity.

Competence
Maintaining high standards of competence is a responsibility of all certificants.

	•	Certificants limit their MBTI services to those for which they are qualified through training and experience.
	•	Certificants maintain knowledge of current research and/or revisions concerning the MBTI instrument.
	•	Certificants accurately and objectively represent their competence, education, training and experience.
	•	In advertising their services, certificants do not list false, inaccurate, misleading, partial, out-of-context or otherwise deceptive material or statements.
	•	Certificants recognize the need for continuing education. They participate in conferences, workshops, and reading to update their knowledge of psychological type theory, applications, and research.
	•	Certificants perform their duties on the basis of careful preparation so that their instruction is accurate and current.
	•	Certificants who employ other certified MBTI practitioners accept the responsibility to facilitate further professional development of these individuals.
	•	Certificants who employ non-certified MBTI practitioners insure that their use of the instrument does not go beyond their level of knowledge and competence.

Moral and Legal Standards
Certificants must abide by the professional and ethical guidelines as defined by the certifying organization and any other professional organization with which they are affiliated. They must:

	•	Adhere to federal and state laws governing the conduct of professionals using psychological instruments.
	•	Be responsible to educate/correct others who misuse type indicator material.
	•	Honor copyright laws and do not reproduce and distribute copyrighted material (except as permitted by the Fair Educational Use provisions of the U.S. copyright law).
	•	Attempt to prevent distribution or misuse of type by the institution or agency with which they are working.
	•	Not appropriate, reproduce, or modify the MBTI instrument or parts of it without acknowledgement and written permission from the publisher.
	•	Maintain professional control of materials.

Confidentiality
Certificants have a primary obligation to respect and honor the confidentiality of MBTI results they obtain from persons in the course of their work.

	•	Certificants guarantee confidentiality of MBTI results.
	•	Certificants make provisions for maintaining confidentiality in the storage and disposal of MBTI records.

Research
Certificants who conduct research will adhere to legal and professional guidelines on research with human subjects. Certificants will:

	•	Abide by basic elements of informed consent.
	•	When reporting research results, explicitly state variables or conditions known by the researcher that may have affected the outcome of the study or the interpretation of the data.
	•	Minimize the possibility that the research results will be misleading.
	•	Make sufficient data available for qualified professionals wishing to replicate the study.
	•	Give appropriate literary citation.
	•	Establish a clear and fair agreement with research participants that clarifies obligations and responsibilities of the researcher and participants.