LA CES Proprietary Information Guidelines

Product or service promotion should be limited to before or after a course. Providers may offer product demonstrations before or after the educational portion of a course; however, promotion or discussion of proprietary company information is strictly forbidden during the educational portion of the course.

Product specific or service related questions raised by course attendees during the course should held and addressed at the conclusion of the course.

Company, product (trademarks, patents and so on), and service information shall not be displayed or discussed during the credit portion of any LA CES approved course. Proprietary logos may be displayed only on the:

• First and last slides of a PowerPoint or visual presentation.
• Front or back page of handouts or other course materials.

Product samples should not have company logos or proprietary stickers on them. You may bring materials to your course to leave as takeaways, but you may not pass around the information during the course. Once a course of at least 50 minutes in length has ended (or before it begins), you may discuss any company or product information you would like with the attendees.

If a course is offered on the same venue as a marketing product (for example website or learning management system), the “for credit” portion must be clearly indicated and separate from any product, brand, or service promotion.

All demonstrations, illustrations, or exercises must directly align with and support the program’s learning objectives and desired outcomes. The primary intent should always be to enhance understanding and facilitate professional development, not to promote or market specific products or brands.

Demonstrations or exercises may incorporate vendor products or tools only when they are essential to achieving the learning objectives. Instructors must exercise extreme care to avoid any activities that could be perceived as promotional or marketing-focused rather than educational. A course solely focused on a "how-to" demonstration is not permitted.

The overarching focus of all learning programs must remain on the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and professional growth. The course description and learning objectives should be free of any proprietary language. Activities that prioritize branding or product promotion over education are not permissible.

If there is uncertainty about whether a demonstration or exercise aligns with learning objectives, LA CES providers are encouraged to consult the LA CES Team at [email protected] for guidance and clarification before proceeding.