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 Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.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 Publications
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:
Announcements
New Practice Bulletin in Effect
APEGA’s practice bulletin Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions is in effect as of July 1, 2021, and will be enforced as of that date.
This practice bulletin clarifies authentication and validation requirements for professional work products created by the upstream oil and gas industry. It focuses on well drilling and well completion activities, as these activities represent significant, pre-mitigation risk exposure to human health, the environment, expenditure, industry reputation, and regulatory compliance.
Updated Practice Standard in Effect
APEGA's practice standard Continuing Professional Development has been revised and is in effect as of July 1, 2021. The practice standard has been enforceable as of April 2014.
The changes to the practice standard primarily reflect the new reporting functions in myAPEGA and are administrative in nature. No material changes were made to the CPD program.
Recently Published or Updated Documents
- The practice standard Authenticating Professional Work Products has been revised. Read more about the revisions.
- The new practice standard Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing has been approved by Council and is in effect as of May 1, 2021. Read more about the new practice standard.
Recently Withdrawn Standards
- The practice standard Evaluation of Oil & Gas Reserves for Public Disclosure was withdrawn on March 25, 2021.
- The practice standard Quality Inspection of Geophysical Data was withdrawn on March 25, 2021.
Read more about withdrawn publications on the Publication Notices page
Practice Standards
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authenticating Professional Work Products | In Effect | May 1, 2021 | Revised May 2021. Enforced as of November 1, 2020. |
| Continuing Professional Development | In Effect | July 1, 2021 | Revised July 2021. Enforced as of April 1, 2014. Read more on the CPD Program page. |
| Evaluation of Oil & Gas Reserves for Public Disclosure | Withdrawn | May 1, 2017 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021 |
| Professional Practice Management Plan | In Development | N/A | The current guideline on professional practice management plans will be replaced by a practice standard. |
| Quality Inspection of Geophysical Data | Withdrawn | April 1, 2002 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021 See the Publication Notices page. |
| Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing | In Effect | May 1, 2021 | This standard is in effect as of May 1, 2021. It will be enforced May 1, 2022. 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 outsourcing 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 | In Effect | January 1, 2020 | Enforced as of publication date |
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. See the Publication Notices page. |
| Determining the Need for Professional Involvement in Outsourced Geoscience | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. See the Publication Notices page. |
| Environmental Practice | In Effect | February 1, 2004 | |
| Ethical Practice | In Effect | February 1, 2013 | |
| Ethical Use of Geophysical Data | In Effect | May 1, 2010 | |
| Field Review | In Development | N/A | |
| 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 | In Effect | February 1, 2013 | This practice guideline will be replaced by the new practice standard Professional Practice Management Plans. Work on this standard is currently underway. |
| Professional Responsibilities in Developing Software | In Effect | February 1, 2006 | |
| Relying on Work Prepared by Others | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. See the Publication Notices page. |
| Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects | In Effect | March 1, 2009 | |
| Selecting Engineering and Geoscience Consultants | In Effect | March 1, 2013 | |
| Use of Geophysical Instruments in Near-Surface Investigations | In Effect | December 1, 2008 |
Joint Practice Publications
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | 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. See the Alberta Government Transition Directive. |
Proposed NBC(AE) Schedules Guideline being developed with AAA | In Development | Joint practice guideline being developed with the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) regarding the 2019 National Building Code – Alberta Edition. |
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].