CMP Licensing Part I key terms

A formal written set of principles that guides how members of a profession should behave, covering honesty, integrity, competence, and fair dealing with clients, colleagues, and the public.

A situation in which a professional's personal, financial, or other private interest could improperly influence, or appear to influence, decisions made on behalf of a client or employer.

The level and type of care that a reasonably competent practitioner with similar training would provide under comparable circumstances; used to judge whether conduct was acceptable.

Failure to exercise the degree of care a reasonable professional would use, resulting in harm; usually established by showing a duty, a breach, causation, and actual damage.

The boundaries of tasks, procedures, and decisions a licensed professional is legally and ethically permitted to perform, based on training, authorization, and governing rules.

The duty to protect information learned during a professional relationship from unauthorized disclosure, using it only for the purpose for which it was entrusted.

The legal authority of a particular court, agency, or governing body to make and enforce rules over specific people, activities, or geographic areas.

The power a person or agency derives from legislation, which defines what actions may be taken and the limits placed on those actions.

A mandatory authorization granted by a government body that allows a person to practice a regulated occupation, usually after meeting education, examination, and background requirements.

A mandated number of approved learning hours a licensee must complete within a set period to renew a credential and stay current in the field.

The state of meeting all applicable laws, rules, and standards that govern an organization's or individual's activities, including reporting, recordkeeping, and operational obligations.

A legal obligation to notify a designated authority about specified events such as serious incidents, suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, or professional misconduct, whether or not the reporter wishes to.

A systematic, documented examination of records, processes, or facilities against defined criteria, performed to verify accuracy and compliance and to identify gaps needing correction.

The combination of knowledge, skills, and judgment a person must demonstrate to perform a defined task safely and effectively at the expected level.

A detailed written statement of the required materials, methods, performance levels, or tolerances for a product or process, used as the benchmark for acceptance.

A written, step-by-step instruction describing how a routine activity is performed so that results are consistent, traceable, and repeatable regardless of who carries it out.

The process of comparing an instrument's measurements against a known reference standard and adjusting it so readings remain accurate within an acceptable tolerance.

A document that sets out the tasks, responsibilities, sequence, resources, and timelines needed to complete a project or assignment, and that is used to monitor progress.

A written description of what a project or engagement will and will not include, defining deliverables, boundaries, assumptions, and acceptance criteria for the parties involved.

A managed system for creating, approving, distributing, revising, and retiring documents so that only current, authorized versions are in use.

A policy listing categories of records with the length of time each must be kept and the rules for lawful destruction after that period ends.

A chronological record showing who collected, handled, transferred, and stored an item or sample, used to demonstrate that it has not been altered or tampered with.

A tamper-evident, time-stamped log that records who created, changed, or deleted data and when, allowing activity to be reconstructed later.

The quality of information being complete, accurate, consistent, and unaltered throughout its lifecycle, supported by controls such as access limits and change records.

The structured process of identifying hazards or threats, estimating how likely and severe their consequences could be, and deciding which ones need action.

Actions taken to reduce the probability or impact of an identified risk, such as redesigning a process, adding safeguards, or transferring the exposure to another party.

A factual written record of an unplanned event, describing what happened, who was involved, immediate actions taken, and any injuries, damage, or losses observed.

A structured investigation that traces a problem back to its underlying systemic causes rather than the immediate symptom, so that recurrence can be prevented.

A documented process for fixing the cause of a detected problem and for changing systems to stop similar problems from arising in the future.

The planned, proactive activities and checks built into a process to prevent defects and confirm that work consistently meets stated requirements and standards.

The inspection, testing, and measurement activities performed on outputs or deliverables to detect defects and verify that they satisfy acceptance criteria before release.

A document describing the roles, procedures, equipment, and communication steps an organization will follow to respond to and recover from emergencies or sudden disruptions.

Any individual or group with an interest in, or affected by, a project, decision, or service, including clients, staff, regulators, suppliers, and the wider community.

A written approach defining who needs which information, when, in what format, and through which channels, along with who is responsible for each message.

Agreement given by a client or participant after receiving and understanding the relevant facts, risks, alternatives, and limits, without pressure or coercion.

The structured process for receiving, recording, investigating, resolving, and responding to a client's or the public's dissatisfaction within stated timelines and fairness rules.

The limits on personal involvement and behavior a practitioner maintains with clients to protect objectivity, safety, and trust in the professional relationship.