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 on a specific subject related to professional practice. Bulletins remain in force until a practice standard or guideline on the subject is developed or revised, or until the practice bulletin is repealed.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
Administrative Revisions | Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions
The Practice Review Board has approved the administrative revision of the Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions practice bulletin, which is in effect as of April 1, 2025. The enforcement date remains July 1, 2021, when initially published. The revisions further clarify what is expected for professional work products created by the upstream oil and gas industry focused on drilling and completions activities.
Under Revision | Guideline for Professional Member as a Witness
The Guideline for Professional Member as a Witness is currently under revision and has been retitled to Licensed Professional as an Expert Witness. The deadline to review and submit feedback on the revised draft was February 14, 2025. Submissions will be reviewed before the draft guideline is finalized and published. Read more about the upcoming revision.
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.
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Update on Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines
- 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)). 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)).
- Updated AAA APEGA Joint Practice Publications
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 Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authenticating Professional Work Products | In Effect | November 1, 2024 | Revised November 1, 2024. Enforced as of November 1, 2020. Read more on the authentication page. |
| Continuing Professional Development | Under Revision | July 1, 2023 | Enforced 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 Effect | November 1, 2022 | Revised 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | April 1, 2025 | Administrative revision April 1, 2025. Enforced as of initial publication date July 1, 2021. 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 King's Bench in December 2021. For more information, contact [email protected]. |
Practice Guidelines
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Environmental Practice | In Effect | February 1, 2004 | |
| Ethical Practice | In Effect | August 1, 2022 | Replaces the February 2013 (v2.2) publication. |
| Ethical Use of Geophysical Data | In Effect | May 1, 2010 | |
| Field Reviews of Engineering and Geoscience Work | In Effect | August 1, 2022 | |
| Management of Risk in Professional Practice | In Effect | September 1, 2006 | |
| Draft Personal Annual Competency Evaluation | Under Development | Read more about the draft guideline and upcoming changes to CPD. | |
| 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 | Under revision. Read more about the draft guideline. |
| Professional Practice | In Effect | January 1, 2013 | |
| Professional Responsibilities in Developing Software | In Effect | February 1, 2006 | |
| 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 | |
| Advertising of Professional Services | Withdrawn | May 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: July 31, 2022. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Professional Practice Management Plans | Withdrawn | February 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: 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 Others | Withdrawn | March 1, 2013 | Withdrawn: March 25, 2021. Read the Practice Notices page. |
| Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects | Withdrawn | March 1, 2009 | Withdrawn: August 03, 2023. |
Joint Practice Information
| Publication Title | Status | Publication Date | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional Relationships for the Building Envelope Portion of Projects | In Effect | May 1, 2024 | Revised 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. |
| 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 1, 2024 | Revised 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 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].