BSI Professional Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Your instructor certification expires next week and you have a class scheduled after that date. What should you do?
- Change the class name so certification is not needed
- Teach anyway since you know the material
- Have a student assist you instead
- Renew or recertify before teaching, and inform your supervisor (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Renew or recertify before teaching, and inform your supervisor
Teaching with an expired certification misrepresents qualifications and can void liability coverage.
Question 2: A student has a medical condition disclosed on their registration form. Who should have access to that information?
- All parents in the class
- Only staff who need it to keep the student safe (Correct answer)
- Anyone who asks
- The local newspaper
Correct answer: Only staff who need it to keep the student safe
Health information should be shared only on a need-to-know basis to protect privacy.
Question 3: Which statement best describes professional appearance and conduct for a swim instructor on deck?
- Wearing the facility-approved uniform and modeling safe behavior (Correct answer)
- Eating while instructing
- Using profanity to sound relatable
- Wearing whatever is comfortable, including street clothes
Correct answer: Wearing the facility-approved uniform and modeling safe behavior
Instructors model rules and represent the facility and certifying organization.
Question 4: An instructor realizes they made an error during a lesson that caused a minor injury. What is the ethical action?
- Wait to see if the parent notices
- Hide it to avoid blame
- Blame the student
- Provide care, complete an incident report, and be honest with the supervisor and parent (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Provide care, complete an incident report, and be honest with the supervisor and parent
Honesty and documentation are essential for accountability and follow-up care.
Question 5: Making a promise to a parent that their child will be 'drown-proof' after lessons is unethical because:
- Parents prefer guarantees
- It is technically true for advanced swimmers
- It is only a marketing phrase
- No amount of instruction makes anyone drown-proof, and active supervision is always needed (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No amount of instruction makes anyone drown-proof, and active supervision is always needed
Overstating outcomes creates false security and can reduce needed supervision.
Question 6: Treating all students equally regardless of race, gender, religion, or disability reflects which principle?
- Competitive tracking
- Selective instruction
- Favoritism
- Inclusion and nondiscrimination (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Inclusion and nondiscrimination
Ethical instructors provide fair, inclusive instruction to every participant.
Question 7: A student with a disability enrolls in your class. What is the most appropriate ethical approach?
- Make reasonable adaptations and consult with the family and supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ignore the disability entirely
- Refuse enrollment to avoid difficulty
- Place the student in the deep end to challenge them
Correct answer: Make reasonable adaptations and consult with the family and supervisor
Reasonable accommodations support inclusion while maintaining safety.
BSI Professional Ethics 3
Your instructor certification expires next week and you have a class scheduled after that date.
What should you do?