The Authentication Institute of America, its credentialed experts, and brand partners pledge to adhere to values, principles, and standards to ensure public trust in third-party expert authentication and trust. By pledging to uphold the Code of Ethics, you will be listed as a preferred business on the AIA website and will be sent a unique badge to use in your marketing.

Accountability – You shall take responsibility for your actions, decisions, and consequences thereof.

When acting as an authentication expert, it is required that you properly review, document, and support your findings. Once a conclusion has been made you must be able to articulate and defend your stance. Everyone makes mistakes and in such cases, you should admit an error and rectify the solution to the best of your ability.

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Competence – You shall engage only in those services for which you have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience.

We all continue to grow and learn. If you accept an assignment and are not competent in the subject matter by the due date, you must seek expert advice for a conclusion, or pass on the item.

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Confidentiality – You shall respect the confidentiality of any information entrusted to, or obtained in the course of, your business or professional activities.

The resale world is growing rapidly with proprietary business plans, technology, clientele, and vendors. Knowledge of such information should be held in the greatest confidence.

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Diligence – You shall proceed with patience, timeliness, and consistency, and do so in a prompt and thorough manner in the service of others.

Not only must your work be thorough and accurate. It is equally important to execute service-level agreements you have with your clients.

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Integrity – You shall behave in a trustworthy manner.

Trust is the most important commodity in the art of authentication and is forged by the enactment and obedience to these codes of ethics. Trust is hard to build and easy to lose.

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Objectivity – You shall act without prejudice or bias, and labor in good faith for the best interest of all persons.

Your role is to determine an item’s authentication by examining that item alone. We are not influenced by the surroundings, the seller, the buyer, the price, or other circumstantial observations.

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Reputation –You shall regard your professional reputation and those of your clients and engage in no conduct that might undermine respect.

We are a small and very connected community. Your reputation is built on your compliance with these 8 outlined ethical practices.

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Respect – You shall follow the rules of law, and value the dignity, worth, equality, diversity, and privacy of all persons.

Professional behavior requires that you regard, people, places, and things with the highest level of civility.

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