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 Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.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
Publication updates
New Practice Bulletin | Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings
The Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings practice bulletin is in effect and enforceable as of February 1, 2023. This new practice bulletin supports the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard, and defines and clarifies authentication and validation requirements for as-built, record, and as-acquired drawings, and change orders, change directives, and site instructions. For more information on authentication and validation requirements, visit the authentication page.
Feedback Complete | Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects (2009) Practice Guideline
The deadline to comment on the proposed withdrawal of the practice guideline Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects (2009) has now passed. APEGA notified registrants of its intention to withdraw it and initiated a 60-day feedback period, which closed on January 31, 2023. APEGA will review the submitted feedback before a decision on the guideline is made. We thank those who participated in this important part of self-regulation.
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. The practice standard underwent an administration revision, taking effect November 1, 2022, to provide clarity on the PPMP declaration requirement. Read more information about the Professional Practice Management Plan.
Previous Announcements
Update on Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines
- The new Field Reviews of Engineering and Geoscience Work practice guideline is in effect as of August 1, 2022. Read the guideline for best practices.
- The revised Ethical Practice guideline is in effect as of August 1, 2022. In addition to the Code of Ethics, read the practice guideline to ensure you recognize and understand your ethical responsibilities.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
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 .
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 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 | November 1, 2022 | Revised November 2022. In effect as of May 1, 2022 and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
New! Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings | In Effect | February 1, 2023 | Enforced as of publication date. Read more on the authentication page. |
| Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions | In Effect | July 1, 2021 | Enforced as of publication date. Read more on the authentication page. |
| 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 | Withdrawn | May 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: July 31, 2022. |
| 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 | |
| In Effect | August 1, 2022 | Replaces the February 2013 (v2.2) publication | |
| Ethical Use of Geophysical Data | In Effect | May 1, 2010 | |
| In Effect | August 1, 2022 | ||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | |
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].