Education - Frequently Asked Questions

Public servants, legislators, legislative employees, and ethics liaisons.

Yes. Public servants and ethics liaisons must complete an ethics and lobbying presentation within six months of starting their public positions, and must complete refresher ethics education at least every two years thereafter.

Yes. The Ethics Act requires public servants, legislators, legislative employees, and ethics liaisons to complete ethics education.

No. Individuals who report directly to a public servant are not required to complete ethics and lobbying education. Still, it can be very helpful for the personnel supporting public servants to have an understanding of the ethical obligations public servants face. The State Ethics Commission therefore strongly encourages legal counsel, executive directors to covered boards and commissions, assistants to public servants, and others to attend ethics education.

Generally, no. However, judicial officers who also serve in other positions covered by the Ethics Act must complete ethics education. For example, if a judge is a member of the Governor´s Crime Commission, the judge is also a public servant and must complete ethics education.

Yes. Even those who are not covered by the Ethics Act may find the programs useful for their State work.

Attending a webinar or completing an online program, available on the Ethics Commission’s website, satisfies the education requirements.

Yes. Failure to timely complete ethics and lobbying education is a violation of the Ethics Act and may result in disciplinary action, including removal from one's public position.

• At the end of the online program, fill in the necessary information and certify that you have completed the training. You will receive a certificate in your email box.

Staff will be notified electronically and will update your record. 

• Attendance at ethics education webinars is automatically tracked and documented using Microsoft Teams software.

You can request a record of your completion of ethics education by emailing the Education staff at education.ethics@ncsbe.gov.

The Commission has applied for CLE credit approval by the State Bar has approved the live webinar program for 1.5 CLE credits. If approved, upon taking the webinar you may receive CLE credit by completing the CLE certificate that was sent to you before the program and then emailing it to lnicolicchia@ncbar.gov.

You will be responsible for payment of CLE fees assessed by the State Bar. Those fees are currently $3.50 per credit hour.