Practice Notices
APEGA permit holders and licensed professionals must stay informed and up to date with all regulatory requirements and professional obligations. Please be aware of the following notices related to professional practice, which are intended to provide general advice and guidance on emerging trends and issues.
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Translation of Engineering and Geoscience Professional Work Products Into Another Language
APEGA understands that a licensed professional may be required to provide engineering and geoscience professional work products (PWPs) in a language other than their primary working language. When a licensed professional provides a translated PWP, the original and the translated PWP must each be authenticated in accordance with the requirements of APEGA’s Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard.
Licensed professional fluent in both languages
Translation errors or misinterpretations can become practice errors, which could pose a serious risk to public safety. An APEGA licensed professional may authenticate a translated PWP only if they are fluent in the target language and can verify that the translated PWP is identical in meaning to the original. In authenticating a translated PWP, a licensed professional accepts the same professional responsibility for the translated PWP as they do for the original.
If the licensed professional did not translate the PWP themselves, they must only authenticate the translation if they have thoroughly reviewed the translation or if it was completed under their direct supervision and control, in accordance with the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard.
If a licensed professional is unable to verify that a translated PWP is identical in meaning to the original, they must not authenticate it.
Outsourcing translation to another licensed professional
Rule 2 of the Code of Ethics states that a licensed professional “shall undertake only work that they are competent to perform by virtue of their training and experience.” Therefore, if an authenticating licensed professional needs to translate a PWP to a language they are not fluent in, they must engage another licensed professional who is both fluent in the target language and competent in the relevant area of practice. The licensed professional who translates the PWP would then authenticate it, taking professional responsibility for the translated PWP. Engaging a licensed professional to translate and authenticate a PWP is considered outsourcing and must be done in accordance with the Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing practice standard
Translation by a non-licensed professional
If someone who is not a licensed professional translates a PWP, the translation is not considered a properly authenticated PWP and must not be relied upon.
Use of Artificial Intelligence by Licensed Professionals
Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become a part of many people’s day-to-day lives. Licensed professionals working in engineering or geoscience who are using AI tools in their practice must continue to meet their ethical and professional obligations under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, the General Regulation, and APEGA’s bylaws, as well as published practice standards and the Rules of Conduct outlined in the Code of Ethics.
If a licensed professional does not have the training or experience to competently understand the risks and limitations of AI tools and the validity of AI results, then they should not use AI tools in their practice.
As per APEGA’s Ethical Practice guideline, Section 4.1.7 Emerging Technologies:
Permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in-training have a responsibility to maintain knowledge about or gain competence in the use of emerging technologies within their area of practice. Employers or clients should be advised accordingly and given assistance to manage such technologies to avoid negative impacts and maximize positive impacts on society.
With the rapid advancement of technologies, permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in training should identify the implications and limitations of these technologies in the practices of engineering and geoscience, and they should understand their related professional and ethical obligations. They must demonstrate due diligence in understanding the effects of emerging technologies and related outcomes in their area of practice, including long-term impacts, and they must take professional responsibility to protect the public accordingly.
Permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in-training should also recognize existing regulations, technical specifications, standards, and guidelines for these technologies. Since advancements in technology tend to outpace the creation of these documents, it falls upon permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in-training to support the development of documentation that will help ensure the public interest is protected.
Using AI tools and results
If a licensed professional uses AI tools in their practice, they should treat the results no differently than results from software, calculators, or lookup tables—that is, the licensed professional must demonstrate due diligence in confirming the results are accurate and appropriate. If a licensed professional uses an AI result for a professional work product (PWP), the licensed professional must still authenticate and validate the PWP in accordance with the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard. All licensed professionals remain professionally responsible for their work, including when it is generated by AI or includes results from an AI tool.
Developing AI products
All licensed professionals are regulated, including those whose practice involves the development of AI products. To meet the requirements of the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard, licensed professionals must authenticate and validate any AI products they create in their practice.
Complaints regarding the use of AI
APEGA will review complaints of unprofessional conduct or unskilled practice related to the development or use of AI by licensed professionals who are regulated by APEGA, just as it would any other complaint. All relevant APEGA practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines apply to licensed professionals’ work developing or using AI.