CO-OP® Board Policies

Ethics Statement

The Board of Certification of Organizational Ombuds Practitioners, (CO-OP® ) is dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the organizational ombuds profession by awarding a certification credential to those meeting specific requirements. Based on the traditions and values of organizational ombuds practice, the CO-OP® Board of Directors, as well as all participants in the governance of the Board of Certification, including members of committees and task forces, promote and engage in ethical conduct in the performance of their Board duties and in exercising their Ombuds role.

The CO-OP® Board and the Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner® shall be truthful and act with integrity, shall foster respect for all members of the organization he or she serves and shall promote procedural fairness in the content and administration of those organizations' practices, processes, and policies.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Board of Certification shall conduct all business and consider all prospective certificants without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, citizenship, national origin, disability, sex, gender or sexual orientation.

Privacy Policy

The Board of Certification maintains information on those who possess its certification and only publishes on its website a Directory of Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioners® to indicate those who currently hold the credential. The Board of Certification will also publish aggregate data with the number of people who register for an examination, the minimum passing score, and the number of registrants who passed.

Those who take the examination will be informed of their score, but individual information will not be shared with others.

The Board of Certification maintains contact information and a database with the history of applicants' and certificants' examination registrations, scores, certification and recertification applications, and other information. An individual's personal information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law, and will not be shared with other individuals or organizations.

Every individual who registers for the certification examination is required to sign a pledge to keep examination content information confidential.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All Board of Certification directors and committee members must agree in writing to comply with the Board of Certification's Conflict of Interest Policy and must complete and keep up-to-date a conflict of interest disclosure statement.

Disability Accommodations Policy

The Board of Certification will provide accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991. The process for requesting an accommodation due to a disability for taking the certification examination includes a written request explaining the type of accommodation requested, along with supporting documentation from a health care professional. Read Additional Information

Contact Information Changes

Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioners® are required to keep the Board of Certification informed of changes to their contact information as a requirement of certification.

Note: The Board of Certification reserves the right to change these policies at any time by providing notice of same.