HEC-C and HCEC-C: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Two Credentials in Healthcare Ethics Consultation

This dataset provides a side-by-side factual comparison of two credentials in healthcare ethics consultation: the Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified (HEC-C), administered by the HCEC Certification Commission, and the Certified Health Care Ethics Consultant (HCEC-C), offered by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP). The table compares credential name, issuing organization, governance, eligibility criteria, educational and experience requirements, assessment methods, external accreditation, certification and renewal requirements, fees, USPTO trademark records, directory listings, and self-described benefits. All entries are based on publicly available information from the organizations’ websites (including archived copies preserved in the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records accessed on August 2, 2026. Directory counts are drawn from opt-in member listings and represent floors rather than total numbers of certificants. The dataset is intended as a reference companion to a commentary on credential confusion in clinical ethics.

If you use this document, please cite it as:

Fox, Ellen. HEC-C and HCEC-C: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Two Credentials in Healthcare Ethics Consultation. Fox Ethics Consulting, August 2, 2026.