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 Bulletins remain in force until the practice bulletin is repealed.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 Standards Practice Bulletins Practice Guidelines Joint Practice Information

Publication updates

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.

Under Revision | Changes to the CPD Program in 2025

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 review the drafts and read more about the upcoming changes, visit the CPD Program in 2025 webpage.

Practice Standard Enforced | Professional Practice Management Plan

The Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard, in effect as of May 1, 2022, is enforceable as of May 1, 2023. The practice standard underwent an administrative revision, taking effect November 1, 2022, to provide clarity on the PPMP declaration requirement. Read the standard and find additional resources on the PPMP webpage.

Previous Announcements

Update on Practice Standards, Bulletins, and Guidelines

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. Read more on the authentication web page.
The Responsibilities for Engineering Services for Building Projects practice guideline has been withdrawn, effective August 03, 2023. Read more about this withdrawal on the Practice Notices page.
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.

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	January 1, 2022	Revised January 2022. 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 Program page for current requirements. Read more about the changes to the CPD Program in 2025.
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	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
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. 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
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 changes to the CPD Program in 2025.
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 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. Read the Practice Notices page.

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.
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 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].