Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines
APEGA publishes practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines under the mandate of the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and General Regulation. These publications are intended to protect the public interest and to outline requirements and recommended best practices for APEGA licensed professionals.
- Practice Standard: A professional practice standard sets the minimum standard of practice permit holders and licensed professionals must meet. It is the standard against which a permit holder’s or licensed professional’s
practice and conduct will be assessed by APEGA’s statutory boards.
- Practice Bulletin: A professional practice bulletin provides clarity and guidance on a specific subject related to professional practice. Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.
- Practice Guideline: A professional practice guideline provides professional practice advice and best practice recommendations to help permit holders and licensed professionals meet their professional obligations. APEGA statutory boards may assess a permit holder’s or licensed professional’s practice and conduct against practice guidelines.
Practice Standards Practice Bulletins Practice Guidelines Joint Practice Information
APEGA licensed professionals and permit holders must ensure they stay informed and up to date with all legislative and regulatory requirements, and professional and ethical obligations and responsibilities. For more information see the following:
Practice Standard In Effect | Professional Practice Management Plan
The Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard is in effect as of May 1, 2022. A one-year transition period has been granted to allow registrants the time to comply with the standard before the May 1, 2023, enforcement date. Read more information about the Professional Practice Management Plan
Practice Standard Enforced | Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing
The Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing practice standard is enforceable as of May 1, 2022. Read more information about Relying on the Works of Others and Outsourcing
Feedback Submission Deadline on Draft Guideline | Ethical Practice
APEGA is revising the Ethical Practice guideline and made the draft available for the public and registrants to review and provide feedback by June 3, 2022. The deadline has since passed and submissions will be reviewed for consideration before finalizing the guideline for approval. Thank you to those who participated in this important part of self-regulation.
Joint Practice Information
APEGA has published the How APEGA and ABSA Legislations Interact web page to help licensed professionals understand their professional obligations under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions (EGP) Act and the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation (PESR).
In a joint effort, APEGA and the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) developed the National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Schedules User Guide to help licensed professionals meet their obligations under the Safety Codes Act, the Architects Act, and the EGP Act.
Learn About Current Practice Standard and Guideline Changes
Attend an information session to learn more about the latest practice standard requirements and have APEGA's Practice Standards team answer your questions.
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Webinar | Practice Standard: Professional Practice Management Plan – What Do You Need to Know?
APEGA published the Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard in May 2022, and the standard will become enforceable on May 1, 2023, after a one-year transition period which allowed registrants time to comply with the new requirements. Do you know your obligations?
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Webinar | Requirements for Licensure
Do you know what you need for your Professional Membership as an engineer or geoscientist in Alberta? Do you want to hear more about the application process and the next steps to help set you up for success? Join us to hear from an APEGA representative talk and answer any questions you may have about your engineer or geoscientist professional licensee designation application process.
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Webinar | Revised Practice Guideline: Selecting Engineering and Geoscience Consultants – What You Need to Know
Join APEGA’s Practice Standards Team as we present information about the revised practice guideline and answer questions.
Previous Announcements
Update on Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines
- The revised Selecting Engineering and Geoscience Consultants practice guideline has been approved and published effective April 1, 2022. This practice guideline outlines the qualification-based selection process for evaluating and selecting engineering or geoscience consultants.
- The draft practice guideline Field Reviews of Engineering and Geoscience Work is currently under development. Input provided during the submission period will be reviewed before finalizing the draft for approval.
Online Course | Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing
APEGA has developed an online course to help licensed professionals and permit holders understand their professional responsibilities outlined in the Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing practice standard. Access the course at any time through your myAPEGA account .
Practice Standards
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authenticating Professional Work Products | In Effect | January 1, 2022 | Revised January 2022. Enforced as of November 1, 2020. |
| Continuing Professional Development | In Effect | December 1, 2021 | Revised December 2021. Enforced as of April 1, 2014. Read more on the CPD Program page. |
New! | In Effect | May 1, 2022 | This standard is in effect as of May 1, 2022. It will be enforced May 1, 2023. Registrants must use the one-year transition period to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and make any necessary changes
in order to comply before enforcement begins. Read more on the PPMP page. |
| Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing | In Effect | May 1, 2021 | Enforced as of May 1, 2022. Read more on the outsourcing page. |
| Evaluation of Oil & Gas Reserves for Public Disclosure | Withdrawn | May 1, 2017 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021 Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Quality Inspection of Geophysical Data | Withdrawn | April 1, 2002 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021 Read the Practice Notices page. |
Practice Bulletins
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions | In Effect | July 1, 2021 | Enforced as of publication date |
| Supervising Professional for Concrete Testing Laboratories | Cancelled | January 1, 2020 | Bulletin has been cancelled (quashed) by the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in December 2021. For more information, contact [email protected] |
Practice Guidelines
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising of Professional Services | In Effect | May 1, 2013 | |
| Concepts of Professionalism | In Effect | September 1, 2004 | |
| Considerations for Establishing a Consulting Practice | In Effect | September 1, 2005 | |
| Contract Employees and Independent Contractors | In Effect | September 1, 2007 | |
| Determining the Need for Professional Involvement in Outsourced Engineering | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Determining the Need for Professional Involvement in Outsourced Geoscience | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Environmental Practice | In Effect | February 1, 2004 | |
| Ethical Practice | In Effect | February 1, 2013 | This guideline is currently under revision. Input provided during the submission period is under review. |
| Ethical Use of Geophysical Data | In Effect | May 1, 2010 | |
| Field Review | In Development | N/A | The draft guideline is in development and input provided during the submission period is under review. |
| Human Rights Issues in Professional Practice | Withdrawn | November 1, 2005 | This practice guideline was withdrawn because this topic is now addressed in other legislation, such as the Alberta Human Rights Act. |
| Management of Risk in Professional Practice | In Effect | September 1, 2006 | |
| Preserved Wood Foundations | In Effect | October 1, 2007 | |
| Professional Engineers Providing Equipment Certification as Required by Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code | In Effect | April 1, 2013 | |
| Professional Member as a Witness | In Effect | October 1, 2003 | |
| Professional Practice | In Effect | January 1, 2013 | |
| Professional Practice Management Plans | Withdrawn | February 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: April 30, 2022. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Professional Responsibilities in Developing Software | In Effect | February 1, 2006 | |
| Relying on Work Prepared by Others | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects | In Effect | March 1, 2009 | |
| Selecting Engineering and Geoscience Consultants | In Effect | April 1, 2022 | Replaces the March 2013 (V1.1) publication |
| Use of Geophysical Instruments in Near-Surface Investigations | In Effect | December 1, 2008 |
Joint Practice Information
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
New! | In Effect | May 27, 2022 | Frequently asked questions developed jointly by APEGA and the Alberta Boilers Safety Association explaining the interaction between Engineering and Geoscience Professions (EGP) Act and the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation (PESR). Read the frequently asked questions. |
New! National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Schedules User Guide | In Effect | May 2, 2022 | User guide has been developed jointly with the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) to support the Alberta building code schedules. Read the Alberta Building Code schedules on Alberta.ca. |
| Professional Responsibilities in Completion and Assurance of Reclamation and Remediation Work in Alberta | In Effect | July 2012 | Joint practice standard prepared by six professional regulatory organizations that defines acceptable practice for licensed professionals providing reclamation, remediation, and related project management services. Read the Reclamation and Remediation webpage on Alberta.ca for more information. |
| Professional Responsibilities in Completion and Assurance of Wetland Science, Design and Engineering Work in Alberta | In Effect | May 1, 2017 | Joint practice standard prepared by the Professional-10 regarding responsibilities of licensed professionals under the Alberta Wetland Policy. Read the Alberta Government Transition Directive. |
Comments?
If you have a comment on an existing publication, or a suggestion for a new publication, please contact us at [email protected].
Questions?
If you have any questions on the interpretation of practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines, or if you would like to request a previously published document, please contact us at [email protected].