NHMEC CODE OF ETHICS & SCOPE OF PRACTICE AGREEMENT

Natural Health Ministries Education Center (NHMEC)

Professional Conduct, Ethics & Scope Agreement

This Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice Agreement applies to all NHMEC Certified Practitioners, Registered Practitioners, Students, Educators, Mentors, Volunteers, and Registry Members.

Participation within NHMEC certification programs, registry programs, practitioner pathways, or educational activities constitutes agreement with the standards outlined herein.

NHMEC MISSION

The mission of NHMEC is to provide faith-centered wellness education that helps individuals:

Reveal What's Hidden

Restore What's Broken

Renew The Whole Person™

through responsible education, stewardship, biblical principles, and compassionate service.

PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT

As an NHMEC Practitioner, I agree to:

✓ Conduct myself with integrity

✓ Honor biblical principles

✓ Treat others with dignity and respect

✓ Operate within my training and competency

✓ Practice honesty and transparency

✓ Continue learning and developing professionally

✓ Represent NHMEC honorably

✓ Protect the reputation of NHMEC and its programs

EDUCATIONAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE

NHMEC practitioners operate within an educational scope.

NHMEC practitioners are educators, wellness coaches, mentors, ministers, and wellness support professionals operating within the limits of their education and credentials.

Practitioners may:

✓ Provide wellness education

✓ Teach herbal preparation methods

✓ Teach wellness principles

✓ Teach nutrition education

✓ Teach stewardship practices

✓ Share educational resources

✓ Discuss wellness-supportive lifestyle practices

✓ Provide wellness coaching within educational boundaries

✓ Teach biblical wellness principles

✓ Offer prayer when appropriate and requested

✓ Support personal wellness goal development

✓ Provide educational observations and wellness awareness information

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

Unless separately licensed or legally authorized under applicable laws, NHMEC practitioners shall not:

✗ Diagnose disease

✗ Treat disease

✗ Prescribe medications

✗ Prescribe medical treatments

✗ Practice medicine

✗ Practice nursing

✗ Practice psychology

✗ Practice psychotherapy

✗ Claim to cure any condition

✗ Instruct clients to discontinue prescribed medications

✗ Misrepresent educational observations as medical findings

✗ Represent NHMEC certifications as medical licenses

✗ Make deceptive claims

✗ Guarantee outcomes

✗ Mislead clients regarding services

HERBAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

NHMEC practitioners may provide educational information regarding:

Traditional herbal uses

Historical herbal applications

Herbal preparation methods

General wellness support education

Nutrition and lifestyle education

Practitioners shall not:

Claim herbs diagnose disease

Claim herbs cure disease

Claim herbs replace medical care

Guarantee outcomes

Represent educational information as medical treatment

CLIENT RESPECT & DIGNITY

Every client, student, participant, or community member shall be treated with:

Respect

Compassion

Dignity

Courtesy

Patience

Professionalism

Regardless of:

Race

Nationality

Age

Gender

Disability

Economic status

Religious background

Political affiliation

Health condition

Personal beliefs

CONFIDENTIALITY

Practitioners agree to protect confidential information obtained through professional interactions.

Confidential information shall not be disclosed without permission except when required by law.

Practitioners shall:

Protect client records

Protect assessment information

Protect personal information

Protect educational records

Maintain reasonable safeguards for privacy

INFORMED CONSENT

Practitioners shall clearly explain:

Educational nature of services

Scope of services

Limitations of services

Fees when applicable

Expected educational process

Client responsibilities

Practitioners shall not intentionally mislead clients regarding qualifications or services.

PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

Practitioners shall maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Practitioners shall avoid:

Exploitation

Manipulation

Harassment

Coercion

Undue influence

Conflicts of interest

Dual relationships that impair professional judgment

REFERRALS

Practitioners shall recognize limitations and refer when appropriate.

Referrals may include:

Physicians

Mental health professionals

Licensed healthcare providers

Emergency services

Pastoral care

Legal professionals

Other qualified professionals

When circumstances exceed the practitioner's competency or scope.

FAITH-BASED PRACTICE STANDARDS

NHMEC is founded upon Christian principles.

Practitioners agree to:

Honor biblical integrity

Demonstrate servant leadership

Show compassion

Respect individual choice

Avoid spiritual manipulation

Avoid coercive ministry practices

Represent faith with humility and integrity

Prayer and spiritual support shall always remain voluntary.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Practitioners shall advertise honestly.

Practitioners shall not:

Use false testimonials

Misrepresent credentials

Claim medical qualifications not held

Guarantee outcomes

Make deceptive health claims

Use misleading advertising

Represent NHMEC credentials inaccurately

USE OF NHMEC CREDENTIALS

Approved practitioners may use only credentials they have legitimately earned.

Examples include:

RHCH
Registered Holistic Christian Herbalist

RFH
Registered Family Herbalist

RCH
Registered Community Herbalist

CHP
Custom Herbalist Practitioner

Additional designations as approved by NHMEC.

Credentials must be represented accurately.

USE OF NHMEC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Practitioners agree to comply with:

NHMEC Copyright Policy

NHMEC Practitioner License Agreement

NHMEC Student Terms of Use

Unauthorized use of NHMEC intellectual property constitutes grounds for disciplinary action.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Practitioners agree to pursue continued learning.

Registry participants may be required to complete:

Continuing education hours

Professional development

Ethics reviews

Program updates

Registry renewal requirements

as established by NHMEC.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

NHMEC reserves the right to investigate alleged violations.

Actions may include:

Warning

Probation

Suspension

Revocation of certification

Revocation of registry status

Termination of practitioner privileges

Permanent removal from NHMEC programs

when warranted.

PROFESSIONAL AFFIRMATION

As an NHMEC Practitioner, I affirm that I will:

Serve with integrity.

Educate responsibly.

Honor my scope of practice.

Respect intellectual property.

Protect those I serve.

Represent NHMEC honorably.

Continue growing in knowledge, wisdom, and stewardship.

Seek to Reveal What's Hidden, Restore What's Broken, and Renew The Whole Person™ through ethical educational practice and compassionate service.

AGREEMENT

I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the NHMEC Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice Agreement.

Practitioner Name:

Credential(s):

Registry Number:

Signature:

Date:

Approved By NHMEC:

Date Approved:

Natural Health Ministries Education Center (NHMEC)

Min. Penny Lane Whittemore, CNC, BCNWP, CHGp, RHCH, CHHWC
Founder & Director

Faith-Centered Herbal Wellness Education

Reveal What's Hidden • Restore What's Broken • Renew The Whole Person™