Disciplinary sanctions
If the Professional Conduct Committee finds that a member broke the code, it can choose from five sanctions.
The sanctions
Advice, a formal warning, a reprimand, suspension for up to 2 years, or expulsion. Suspensions and expulsions are published on the website.
Possible sanctions
| Sanction | What it means | Published? |
|---|---|---|
| Advice | Guidance on how to improve, with no finding of misconduct | No |
| Formal warning | A written warning kept on file for 2 years | No |
| Reprimand | A finding of misconduct kept on file for 5 years | No |
| Suspension | Membership suspended for up to 2 years | Yes |
| Expulsion | Membership ended; the person can't reapply for 5 years | Yes |
Good to know
- Breaking the law in your professional work is also a breach of the code.
- The Professional Practice helpline can talk through a tricky situation before it becomes a problem.
- Keep written records of instructions and agreements with clients; they matter if anything goes wrong.
Downloads
- Code of Professional Conduct (PDF, 7 KB)
- Model terms of business (Word, 37 KB)
Need help? Contact the professional standards team on standards@sfti.example or 0113 496 0142.
Page last reviewed 8 September 2026