Legal Terms and Policies

Institute of Energy Professionals, Inc. (IEP)

Legal Terms and Policies

Effective Date: June 3, 2025

Welcome to the Institute of Energy Professionals, Inc. (IEP). By accessing or using our website (www.theiep.org) and our services, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and policies.

1. Terms of Use

1.1 Acceptance of Terms

By using our website and services, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use our site or services.

1.2 Use of Services

You agree to use our services for lawful purposes only and not to engage in any activity that disrupts or interferes with our services.

1.3 User Accounts

If you create an account with us, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account information and for all activities that occur under your account.

1.4 Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these Legal Terms and Policies at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

2. Intellectual Property Policy

2.1 Ownership

All content, materials, and intellectual property provided on this website and through our services, including but not limited to course materials, instructional videos, documents, graphics, logos, and text, are the exclusive property of the Institute of Energy Professionals, Inc. (IEP) and its associated instructional subcontractors. This includes the Professional Energy Manager (PEM) certification, which is a registered trademark owned by IEP.

2.2 Permitted Use

When you enroll in a course or program, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the materials for your own personal, non-commercial educational purposes only.

2.3 Prohibited Use

You may not reproduce, redistribute, share, republish, upload, post, transmit, or otherwise make available to any third party any of the materials or content without the express written permission of IEP. You may not claim authorship or create derivative works based on IEP content. Class materials, videos, and all educational resources are provided solely for individual use. Sharing these materials with others or claiming them as your own work is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.

2.4 Certification Usage

The Professional Energy Manager (PEM) certification designation may only be used by individuals who are current with their certification status. Use of the PEM designation is contingent upon timely renewal. If a certification is not renewed, the individual must immediately cease all use of the PEM designation, including on resumes, business cards, online profiles, and other public representations. IEP reserves the right to revoke or deny certification to any individual at its sole discretion, without requirement to provide reason. Unauthorized use of the PEM designation after expiration or revocation may result in legal action.

2.5 Enforcement

Any violation of this policy may result in termination of access, revocation of certification, legal action, and other remedies available under law.

3. Code of Conduct

All participants in IEP programs, events, and certifications are expected to adhere to the following standards:

  • Be respectful and professional to instructors, fellow participants, and staff.
  • Participate actively and constructively in sessions.
  • Avoid disruptive behavior, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.
  • Refrain from using inappropriate or offensive language.
  • Comply with all local laws and venue policies during in-person events.
  • Complete examinations independently, and in accordance with any exam instructions contained within.

Violation of the Code of Conduct may result in removal from the program without refund and/or restriction from future participation.

4. Privacy Policy

4.1 Who We Are

Our website address is: https://theiep.org

4.2 What Personal Data We Collect and Why

  • Comments: We collect data shown in the comment form, the visitor’s IP address, and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
  • Gravatar: An anonymized string may be shared to see if you’re using the Gravatar service. See their privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/
  • Media Uploads: Avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as visitors can extract this data.
  • Contact Forms & Cookies: Cookies store your name, email, and website for convenience, lasting up to one year. Login and post-edit cookies may also be used.

4.3 Embedded Content

Articles may include embedded content (videos, articles, etc.) which behaves as if you visited the originating website. These may collect data, use cookies, and track your interactions.

4.4 Analytics

We may use analytics tools to understand and improve site performance and user experience.

4.5 Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your data with service providers who support our operations. We may also share your contact information with fellow classmates for educational and networking purposes.

4.6 Data Retention

Comments and metadata are retained indefinitely. Registered users’ profiles are stored and editable (except usernames). Admins can also edit user data.

4.7 Your Rights

You may request an export of the personal data we hold or ask us to delete it (excluding data required for legal/administrative purposes). Please contact us at https://theiep.org/contact-us/.

4.8 Where We Send Your Data

Comments may be checked through automated spam detection services.

5. Marketing Consent

By using our site and services, you consent to receive promotional emails and materials from IEP. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions provided or by contacting us via https://theiep.org/contact-us/.

6. Cancellation and Refund Policy

6.1 Certification Refund Policy

There are no refunds for new certifications or certification renewals, including emeritus designations.

6.2 On-Demand/Asynchronous Courses

There are no refunds for on-demand or asynchronous courses and programs.

6.3 Live/Synchronous Courses and Programs

  • Full Refund: If cancellation is requested 14+ calendar days before the class starts.
  • No Refund: Cancellations within 14 calendar days.
  • Transfer:
    • Free transfer to another session if requested ≥7 calendar days before class.
    • $250 transfer fee if within 7 days of class start.
    • Free substitution of participants for the same format (online/in-person).
  • No-Show: No refund for participants who do not attend and fail to notify at least 72 hours in advance.

Refund Processing: Allow up to 5 business days for processing. Delays may occur due to payment platform processing or factors outside our control.

Organizer Cancellation: IEP reserves the right to cancel any course or program at its sole discretion. If canceled, participants may choose a full refund or transfer to another session.

All requests must be submitted via https://theiep.org/contact-us/, or reply via email to the registration confirmation.

 

7. Course Modification Policy

IEP reserves the right to alter any course or program offerings up to the day the course begins at its sole discretion. This includes but is not limited to learning concepts, topics of instruction, or instructional personnel.

8. Liability Waiver

Participation in any IEP class, program, or event is voluntary. By participating, you agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless IEP, its instructors, officers, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, or losses arising out of or in connection with your participation.

This includes, but is not limited to, personal injury, property damage, or other harm that may occur during in-person attendance, travel to and from events, or through the use of online platforms.

All IEP educational offerings are for informational purposes only. Any actions taken based on information, guidance, or materials provided by IEP are done at your own discretion and risk. IEP makes no guarantees of outcomes and assumes no responsibility for any loss, damage, or adverse consequences that may arise from your application or interpretation of the material.

If you have questions regarding this waiver, please contact us at https://theiep.org/contact-us/.

9. Recording and Media Consent

By participating in any IEP class, program, or event (whether in-person or online), you acknowledge and agree that the session may be recorded and/or photographed by IEP for educational, archival, promotional, and quality assurance purposes.

You grant IEP the irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right and permission to record, photograph, capture, and use your image, likeness, voice, name, and any other contributions made during the session. These materials may be used, reproduced, edited, published, and distributed by IEP in any media format—including print, digital, or online platforms—for purposes including but not limited to education, marketing, and documentation.

If you do not wish to appear in recordings or photographs, you must notify IEP in advance by contacting us at https://theiep.org/contact-us/. While we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests, complete exclusion from recordings or photography may not be feasible in group or public settings.

10. Accessibility Statement

IEP is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all users. If you require accommodations or assistance accessing materials, please contact us.

11. External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content or practices of those websites. Use of those sites is at your own risk.

12. Governing Law

These policies are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about these policies, contact us via https://theiep.org/contact-us/.

14. Entire Agreement

These terms constitute the entire agreement between you and IEP regarding the use of our website and services, superseding any prior agreements or communications.