Frequently Asked Questions
Answers before you apply.
The questions we hear most often from organizations considering the Ethicality Badge.
01
Can a startup apply, or is this only for large organizations?
Startups and larger organizations can both apply. They are assessed against the same EAUS requirements.
02
How long does certification take from application to Badge?
Your decision within 5 business days. Many files are decided sooner. You receive the decision and your private findings by email. Complex scopes can take longer, and we tell you if yours will.
03
What does certification cost?
Assessment is free. Annual certification starts at $300 USD, depending on organization size. Payment is only taken if certification is issued. See full pricing and terms →
04
What happens if I don't qualify the first time?
Your findings stay private and nothing is published. You are told which requirements were not met. One re-review within 90 days is included at no extra charge. No certification fee is charged unless certification is issued.
05
Who performs the assessment?
Ethicality uses an AI-assisted assessment system to review your evidence against each EAUS requirement. A named certification officer then checks the findings and supporting evidence and makes the final decision. AI assists. A person decides. No certificate can be issued automatically. Officers cannot decide files where they have a relevant professional or financial conflict.
06
What do I need to pass?
You need to meet each of the fifteen applicable EAUS requirements. Requirements that don't apply to your organization's work can be marked Not applicable. There is one Ethicality Badge; there are no scores, percentages, or levels.
07
Do we need to publicly disclose which AI vendors or models we use?
No. The public registry lists the organization name, the standard and its version, the certificate number, the issue and expiry dates, the current status, the industry the organization selected, the website it gave us, and the certification officer who signed it. Vendor names, model identifiers, internal documentation, and commercially sensitive details remain confidential between you and Ethicality.
08
Is the Ethicality Badge a legal compliance certificate?
No. Ethicality is an independent certification body. The Ethicality Badge confirms that the organization's disclosed AI practices were independently assessed against EAUS, a practical standard for transparent, human-led use of AI. It is not a substitute for compliance with any law or framework, and it does not certify an AI management system.
09
How is Ethicality different from ISO 42001 or the EU AI Act?
ISO 42001 asks whether you have an AI management system. Ethicality asks whether you follow a short set of common-sense rules when you use AI: being transparent, keeping a human responsible, and protecting confidential information. The EU AI Act is law in the European Union focused on risk classification and obligations. EAUS, ISO 42001 and the EU AI Act serve different purposes.
10
How do I display the Ethicality Badge?
Digital: every time the badge appears in a digital medium that can carry a link (a website, email, PDF or digital presentation), it must link to your public registry entry. Print and anywhere a link isn't possible: the badge must always appear with your certificate number, shown legibly next to it. Use the badge exactly as supplied. Don't alter, recolor, or combine it with other marks.
11
How long is an Ethicality Badge valid, and what does maintaining it require?
Certification is valid for one year and renews automatically unless cancelled. We send a reminder 30 days before the renewal date, and the card on file is charged on that date. Renewal includes a fresh assessment against the current standard. Expired certificates remain listed in the public registry, marked "Inactive." Free guidance, templates and specific recommendations help businesses improve before reassessment; support is separate from the certification decision and approval is never guaranteed.
12
Why get certified now if Ethicality is not legally required?
Because expectations are moving quickly. Governments, clients and procurement teams are increasingly asking organizations to be transparent about AI use, keep people responsible for important decisions and protect sensitive information. Ethicality helps you put those practices in place now and make them visible. It does not certify legal compliance.
13
Why is it this simple?
The standard is short on purpose: fifteen plain-language requirements, so it is easy to understand. Easy to read is not automatic to pass. Each requirement needs evidence, and nothing is issued without a named officer's signature.
14
Is Ethicality incorporated?
Yes. Ethicality is operated by Ethicality Inc., a corporation incorporated in Ontario, Canada.
15
Do you have customers yet?
Yes. Our first organizations are certified and listed in the public registry. To keep your risk low, assessment is free, your card is not charged unless you pass, failed results stay private, and one re-review within 90 days is free.
16
Who decides my file?
A named certification officer reviews the findings and evidence, decides and signs. Decisions are currently made by our Founder and CEO, and the panel is being expanded under a Head of Certification.
17
What if I disagree with a finding?
You can respond in writing, and if you remain unsatisfied you can escalate through our complaints and appeals process at ethicality.ai/complaints.
18
Are Ethicality's blog articles written with AI?
Yes. Ethicality's blog articles are written with AI and reviewed by a person at Ethicality before publishing. We state this on the blog, on every article, and here, because being open about where AI is used is exactly what EAUS asks certified organizations to do, and we apply the same rule to our own publishing.
Still have a question?
Talk to the certification team.
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