CALT ALTA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The ALTA Code of Ethics requires members to engage in continuing education primarily to uphold which ethical obligation?
- Maintaining and expanding professional competence (Correct answer)
- Fulfilling state licensure requirements only
- Increasing billable service hours
- Meeting employer performance review criteria
Correct answer: Maintaining and expanding professional competence
Ongoing professional development is required by the ALTA Code of Ethics to ensure members maintain and expand the competence needed to serve clients effectively.
Question 2: A CALT receives a referral from a physician who also sends paying clients to the CALT's private practice in exchange for referrals. This arrangement most likely violates:
- Confidentiality standards
- Prohibitions against fee-splitting and conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Documentation requirements
- Cultural responsiveness guidelines
Correct answer: Prohibitions against fee-splitting and conflicts of interest
Exchanging referrals for financial benefit constitutes fee-splitting and a conflict of interest, both prohibited under professional ethics codes including ALTA's.
Question 3: When a student is discharged from ALTA-based therapy, what is the ethical responsibility regarding records?
- Destroy all records immediately to protect confidentiality
- Retain records according to applicable legal and professional standards (Correct answer)
- Transfer all records to the student's general practitioner
- Archive records only if the parent requests in writing
Correct answer: Retain records according to applicable legal and professional standards
ALTA members must retain client records in accordance with applicable laws and professional standards to ensure continuity of care and accountability.
Question 4: A CALT is conducting research involving students with dyslexia and wants to publish findings. The ALTA Code of Ethics requires the therapist to:
- Obtain informed consent from participants or guardians and protect anonymity (Correct answer)
- Publish data without names since all identifying details are removed
- Seek consent only from school administrators
- Share raw data with other researchers to promote open science
Correct answer: Obtain informed consent from participants or guardians and protect anonymity
Research involving human subjects requires informed consent from participants or legal guardians and appropriate measures to protect participant confidentiality.
Question 5: An ALTA member is approached by a parent asking for a written guarantee that their child will learn to read at grade level after 30 sessions. The ethical response is to:
- Provide the guarantee to reassure the family and secure enrollment
- Decline to guarantee outcomes while explaining realistic expectations based on evidence (Correct answer)
- Offer a partial guarantee contingent on parental involvement
- Refer the family to a different provider who can make such promises
Correct answer: Decline to guarantee outcomes while explaining realistic expectations based on evidence
Guaranteeing specific outcomes is a misrepresentation; ethical practitioners communicate realistic, evidence-based expectations without making promises they cannot keep.
Question 6: Which scenario represents an appropriate use of technology consistent with ALTA ethical standards?
- Storing client files on an unsecured personal cloud drive for convenience
- Using HIPAA-compliant software to conduct and document teletherapy sessions (Correct answer)
- Sharing session videos in a public professional forum for peer feedback
- Recording sessions without client or guardian knowledge to improve methods
Correct answer: Using HIPAA-compliant software to conduct and document teletherapy sessions
ALTA's ethical standards require that technology use protects client confidentiality; HIPAA-compliant platforms are the appropriate choice for teletherapy and documentation.
Question 7: If an ALTA member faces a situation where institutional policy directly conflicts with the ALTA Code of Ethics, the member's primary obligation is to:
- Follow institutional policy since it carries legal authority
- Uphold the ALTA Code of Ethics and seek resolution through appropriate channels (Correct answer)
- Resign from the institution immediately
- Follow whichever standard is more convenient in the situation
Correct answer: Uphold the ALTA Code of Ethics and seek resolution through appropriate channels
When conflicts arise between institutional policy and the ALTA Code of Ethics, members are obligated to uphold their professional ethical standards and work to resolve the conflict through proper channels.
CALT ALTA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct 5
The ALTA Code of Ethics requires members to engage in continuing education primarily to uphold which ethical obligation?