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.

Visit the APEGA Dictionary for common terminology, abbreviations, and the defined terms found in practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines.

  • 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 Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.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 StandardsPractice BulletinsPractice GuidelinesJoint Practice Information

Publication updates

Administrative Revisions | Authenticating Professional Work Products

The Practice Review Board has approved the administrative revision of the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard, which is in effect as of November 1, 2024. The revisions clarify what is expected of licensed professionals when they authenticate and validate professional work products. The enforcement date remains November 1, 2020. Read more on the Authenticating Professional Work Products webpage.

Under Revision | Continuing Professional Development

The Continuing Professional Development practice standard that details the requirements licensed professionals must meet to maintain their competence is currently being revised. The newly drafted Personal Annual Competency Evaluation practice guideline provides guidance and recommended best practices for meeting these requirements. To read more about the upcoming changes, visit the Continuing Professional Development webpage.

Updated AAA APEGA Joint Practice Publications

The AAA and APEGA joint practice bulletin Functional Relationships for the Building Envelope Portion of Projects has been administratively revised to reflect the updated National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NBC(AE)). It provides clarity on roles and responsibilities for building envelope projects and completing the NBC(AE) Schedules. This revision takes effect May 1, 2024, however, the joint bulletin has been enforceable as of July 1, 2023.

The AAA APEGA National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Schedules User Guide has been revised and published May 1, 2024, to reflect the updated National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NBC(AE)). This user guide is intended to help architects, licensed interior designers, and engineers meet their obligations under various pieces of legislation.

  • Update on Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines

APEGA registrants 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 Standards

Publication TitleStatusPublication DateMore Information
Authenticating Professional Work ProductsIn EffectNovember 1, 2024Revised November 1, 2024. Enforced as of November 1, 2020.
Read more on the authentication page.
Continuing Professional DevelopmentUnder RevisionJuly 1, 2023Enforced as of April 1, 2014. See the CPD webpage for current activity-based reporting requirements.

Read more about the upcoming changes to the CPD standard.
Professional Practice Management Plan In EffectNovember 1, 2022Revised November 2022. In effect as of May 1, 2022.
Enforced as of May 1, 2023.
Read more on the PPMP page.
Relying on the Work of Others and OutsourcingIn EffectMay 1, 2021Enforced as of May 1, 2022.
Read more on the outsourcing page.
Evaluation of Oil & Gas Reserves for Public DisclosureWithdrawnMay 1, 2017Withdrawn: March 25, 2021
Read the Practice Notices page.
Quality Inspection of Geophysical DataWithdrawnApril 1,  2002Withdrawn: March 25, 2021
Read the Practice Notices page.

Practice Bulletins

Publication TitleStatusPublication DateMore Information
Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings In EffectFebruary 1, 2023Enforced as of publication date. Read more on the authentication page.
Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and CompletionsIn EffectJuly 1, 2021Enforced as of publication date. Read more on the authentication page.
Supervising Professional for Concrete Testing LaboratoriesCancelledJanuary 1, 2020Bulletin has been cancelled (quashed) by the Alberta Court of King's Bench in December 2021. For more information, contact [email protected].

Practice Guidelines

Publication TitleStatusPublication DateMore Information
Concepts of ProfessionalismIn EffectSeptember 1, 2004 
Considerations for Establishing a Consulting PracticeIn EffectSeptember 1, 2005 
Contract Employees and Independent ContractorsIn EffectSeptember 1, 2007 
Environmental PracticeIn EffectFebruary 1,  2004 
Ethical PracticeIn EffectAugust 1, 2022

Replaces the February 2013 (v2.2) publication.
Read the 5 Rules of Conduct Reference Guide.

Ethical Use of Geophysical DataIn EffectMay 1, 2010 
Field Reviews of Engineering and Geoscience WorkIn EffectAugust 1, 2022 
Management of Risk in Professional Practice
In EffectSeptember 1, 2006 
Draft Personal Annual Competency EvaluationUnder Development Read more about the draft guideline and upcoming changes to CPD.
Preserved Wood Foundations
In EffectOctober 1, 2007 
Professional Engineers Providing Equipment Certification as Required by Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code
In EffectApril 1, 2013 
Professional Member as a WitnessIn EffectOctober 1, 2003Upcoming revision.
Professional Practice In EffectJanuary 1, 2013 
Professional Responsibilities in Developing SoftwareIn EffectFebruary 1, 2006 
Selecting Engineering and Geoscience ConsultantsIn EffectApril 1, 2022Replaces the March 2013 (V1.1) publication.
Use of Geophysical Instruments in Near-Surface Investigations
In EffectDecember 1, 2008 
Advertising of Professional ServicesWithdrawnMay 1, 2013

Withdrawn: July 31, 2022. Read the Practice Notices page.
Determining the Need for Professional Involvement in Outsourced EngineeringWithdrawnMarch 1, 2013Withdrawn: March 25, 2021.
Read the Practice Notices page.
Determining the Need for Professional Involvement in Outsourced GeoscienceWithdrawnMarch 1, 2013Withdrawn: March 25, 2021.
Read the Practice Notices page.
Human Rights Issues in Professional PracticeWithdrawnNovember 1, 2005This practice guideline was withdrawn because this topic is now addressed in other legislation, such as the Alberta Human Rights Act.
Professional Practice Management PlansWithdrawnFebruary 1, 2013Withdrawn: April 30, 2022.
This guideline is replaced by the Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard.
Read the Practice Notices page.
Relying on Work Prepared by OthersWithdrawnMarch 1, 2013Withdrawn: March 25, 2021.
Read the Practice Notices page.
Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building ProjectsWithdrawnMarch 1, 2009

Withdrawn: August 03, 2023. 
Read the Practice Notices page.

Joint Practice Information

Publication TitleStatusPublication DateMore Information
Functional Relationships for the Building Envelope Portion of Projects In EffectMay 1, 2024Revised May 1, 2024. Enforced July 1, 2023. Joint practice bulletin developed by AAA and APEGA that provides clarity on roles and responsibilities for building envelope projects and completing the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NBC(AE)) Schedules. 


How APEGA and ABSA Legislations Interact

In EffectMay 27, 2022Frequently 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.


National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Schedules User Guide

In EffectMay 1, 2024Revised May 1, 2024. 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 EffectJuly 2012Joint 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 EffectMay 1, 2017Joint 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].