Recurring Programs

Professional Ethics Practitioner Certificate

As described in the Program Advisory (PA) titled “A Comprehensive Guide to New and Ongoing Professional Development Opportunities in Ethics,” PA-22-05 (PDF), all ethics officials can work towards an annual Professional Ethics Practitioner (PEP) certificate. OGE designed the annual PEP certificate for ethics officials who are performing some or all functions of an ethics program at full competency and who wish to maintain their skills and stay current with policy changes and developing practices in the ethics profession. To learn more about the annual PEP certificate, please review the PEP Explainer (PDF).

Each year OGE hosts a variety of offerings that are eligible for PEP credits, such as virtual lectures on recent advisories, peer-to-peer and other workshops, Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) meetings, networking events, community meetings, and recorded and interactive trainings on a wide range of ethics topics. Keep an eye out for future emails from OGE announcing these offerings to the ethics community. In addition, many existing virtual courses in the Institute for Ethics in Government's On-Demand Library have been labeled as eligible for PEP credits.

You can use the PEP Progress Chart (PDF) to record the offerings you watch/attend and track your progress throughout the year.

How do you apply for an annual PEP certificate?

To apply for your annual PEP certificate, please visit our “Professional Development for Ethics Officials” page for information and to access the most current application form. Please note that the submission form is updated at the beginning of every month, so if you attend a live offering, you may need to wait until the following month for it to be listed as an option on the form to select.

Accelerated Curriculum in Ethics (ACE)

OGE’s Institute for Ethics in Government (IEG) developed the Accelerated Curriculum in Ethics (ACE) to invest in future ethics program leaders.

ACE is a virtual program held once a year from June through September. The four-month program provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of an agency’s ethics program, including program administration and leadership, advice and counsel, financial disclosure, education, and communication.

The format is a combination of lecture and application. Participants receive instruction from IEG Instructors and work, both individually and in small groups, on scenarios and tasks that resemble those that arise for ethics officials.

Orientations for New Designated Agency Ethics Officials and Alternates

Several times per year, the IEG offers Orientations for New Designated Agency Ethics Officials (DAEOs) and Alternates. These two-part programs are designed to help new DAEOs and Alternates acclimate to their new responsibilities as ethics program leaders.

In Part 1, OGE facilitators and members of OGE’s leadership orient participants to their roles as ethics program leaders. They discuss the DAEO’s role as an advocate for the ethics program and as a liaison to OGE. They also help participants to understand the regulatory requirements of their new positions and introduce them to some ways that OGE can support them.

In Part 2, which is optional but recommended for those new to executive branch ethics, OGE facilitators provide an overview of the laws and regulations that establish agency ethics programs. They also introduce participants to the various ethics laws and regulations that apply to federal employees.