Jim:  you betcha!  agency archeologists are said to be
archeologists, hired for their education and experienced background
according to that federal agency's or OPM requirements.  IF that
archeologist is also a RPA, he/she is held to the same standards/code as
anyother RPA.
 
this, and a comment by Carol Ellick reminds me of one long time compalint,
and that is that one finds that the "bad guys" - are often not certified
by SOPA and therefore one can't DO anything about their shoddy work, or
that they write off historic sites because they don't know what they are
looking for - given the recent comments.  Indeed, oneof the things which
can be done by "strength in numbers" i.e. support by all societies, is to
make being a RPA the ONLY way that those OUTSIDE the profession will
recognize who is a professional archeologist - not just by a Ph.D, or an
MA, or a list of reports/projects (which desn't say if they were done on
time, or rejected by the SHPO,or etc).  Many "clients" out there in the
world understand about this kind of recognition of professionalism, and if
there is a concerted effort by SHA, SAA, and AIA, to let OTHERS know that
professional archeologists are registered by ROPA and they are members of
one or more "professional" organizations - which as someone has pointed
out can be joined by anyone for paying a fee - then may the Code and
Standards could have some "meaning."
 
hester