Education - Frequently Asked Questions
Public servants, legislators, legislative employees, and ethics liaisons.
Yes. Public servants and ethics liaisons must attend a basic ethics and lobbying education training within six (6) months of election, appointment, or employment to/in their position, and must complete refresher ethics education training at least every two (2) years thereafter.
Yes. The State Government Ethics Act requires public servants, legislators, legislative employees, and ethics liaisons to complete ethics education. (See question 2 for deadlines.) Failure to attend complete training is a violation of the Ethics Act and may be cause for removal from your public position or disciplinary action in your job, up to and including dismissal.
No. “Direct reports” – those individuals who report directly to a public servant – are not required to complete ethics and lobbying education. However, the State Ethics Commission strongly encourages anyone who reports directly to a public servant or a covered board to complete the ethics education training. These individuals include legal counsel, executive directors to covered boards and commissions, and assistants to public servants.
Generally, no. Judicial officers are not required to complete ethics education. However, if the judicial officer also serves in another position covered by the State Government Ethics Act, he or she must complete the training. For example, if a judge is a member of the Governor´s Crime Commission, the judge is also a public servant and must complete the ethics education training.
Yes. Anyone may attend a live presentation or view the online presentation.
Public servants and ethics liaisons must complete ethics education “refresher” training at least every two (2) years. The two-year time period commences from the date the individual last completed the training.
No. Either attendance at a live presentation or completion of the online presentation satisfies the mandatory education requirements.
Yes. Failure to timely complete ethics and lobbying education is a violation of the State Government Ethics Act and may subject you to disciplinary action in your job, up to and including being dismissed, or removal from your public position.
For the Online Training Program - After you complete the last module of online training, you will see a link to "Complete Program." That link will take you to an online certification form where you will need to enter your name, check a box to indicate whether you are an ethics liaison, and check boxes for all boards or agencies that you are employed by or serve on. Once you verify and submit that form to the State Ethics Commission, the Commission will be electronically notified of your training completion. After the State Ethics Commission's review and approval, you will be emailed a Certificate of Completion for your records only. Please retain that form for future reference. For the Online Training Program, you do not need to submit a hard copy of the certification form to the Commission. The Online Training Program is old and is having compatibility issues. Click here for a Guide for Problems with Online Ethics Education Program.
For Live Raleigh Presentations - You must sign-in at the presentation. You will receive credit once you sign-in.
For Distance Broadcast Presentations - you must complete an Education Certification form and submit it to the State Ethics Commission by:
- Completing a paper Education Certification and hand-delivering, e-mailing, or mailing it to the State Ethics Commission; or
- Completing and submitting an Electronic Education Certification. Commission staff will review your form and once approved you will be emailed a Certification of Completion for your records.
If you fail to submit a completed Education Certification you will not receive credit for attending that distance education presentation.
Contact the State Ethics Committee Training Staff at education.ethics@ncsbe.gov or call (919) 814-0700 and ask for the Ethics Training Staff.