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 Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.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 .

Learn more about the standard and the course

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. Read more on the authentication page.
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! Professional Practice Management Plan	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 King'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. Read the Practice Notices page.
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	August 1, 2022	Replaces the February 2013 (v2.2) publication. Read the 5 Rules of Conduct Reference Guide.
Ethical Use of Geophysical Data	In Effect	May 1, 2010
Field Reviews of Engineering and Geoscience Work	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. This guideline is replaced by the Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard. 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
How APEGA and ABSA Legislations Interact	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].