Permits to Practice
General Information
The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists is an organization constituted by provincial Statute for the regulation of the practice of engineering, geology and geophysics. As steward of the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act it is the Association's responsibility to register only qualified persons and to control the quality of the professional services that they provide.
The Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act also requires that partnerships, corporations and other such entities which practice engineering, geology and geophysics have a Permit to Practice. The requirements concerning Permits to Practice are described in Articles 2, 5, 7, 23, 24, 25, 28, 38, 80, 81, of the Act and Part 10 of the Regulations.
POLICIES
- It is recognized in the Act and Regulations that effective control of the quality of
professional practice in partnerships, corporations and other such entities requires that
the employer of professionals provide the atmosphere and organizational structure
necessary for the proper practice of the professions. This involves three distinct levels
and/or types of responsibility:
- Corporate Management
The Chief Operating Officer of a company undertakes to maintain an organization in which the practice of the professions can be conducted in accordance with the intent of the Act. - Member Assuming Responsibility for the Professional Practice
Full time employees or members of the firms undertake to provide responsible direction and personal supervision of the professional practice engaged in. - Member Supervising or Performing the Work
The individual APEGGA member, in accordance with the Code of Ethics, undertake only such work as he is competent to perform or supervise by virtue of his training and experience.
- Corporate Management
- An individual, who is a professional member or licensee of APEGGA, who engages in the practice of engineering, geology, or geophysics in his or her own name does not require a Permit to Practice. Their personal registration is, in effect, their Permit to Practice. If this same individual practices through a company, then the company requires a Permit to Practice even though the member is the only employee.
- If a parent company or joint venture group holds a Permit to Practice, any subsidiary of that company that engages in the practice of engineering, geology or geophysics must also hold a permit, if the subsidiary is a separate entity with a different name.
- The association will issue a Permit toPractice to any partnership, corporation or other
entity provided at least one full time employee or member of the firm, who is also a
member or licensee of APEGGA, undertakes to direct and accept responsibility for the
professional practice of the Permit Holder. The member(s) who assume responsibility for
the professional practice must be qualified by training and experience in the fields of
engineering, geology or geophysics in which the firm provides services and must be
available to the full extent necessary to direct the day to day activities engaged in by
the Permit Holder.
Larger organizations with more than one functional division which are spread geographically over several operating centres are encouraged to name as many professional members as necessary to provide responsible direction and personal supervision to the professional practice engaged in. The number of members selected to assume that responsibility for the organization should complement the organization structure and will vary according to the type of operation and management style of the organization.
Reference in the Act to a full time employee or member of the firm is interpreted to mean that the relationship between the APEGGA member and the firm is an ongoing and continuous one as distinguished from one that does not have the depth or responsibility normally associated with a full time employee relationship.
- The Association will give its consent to the incorporation of a company and/or to the
registration of extra-provincial companies pursuant to the laws of Alberta, where the name
of the company includes the word "engineering", "geology", or
"geophysics" or any variation thereof, provided the company undertakes to
maintain a valid Permit to Practice from the Association. A written request for consent is
required in order for the Association to give consent for incorporation.
If the Permit to Practice is cancelled, lapses, is revoked or for any reason becomes invalid, approval by APEGGA to use the words engineering, geology and geophysics or any form thereof in the firm's name is automatically withdrawn.
- Permit Holders whose registration is cancelled by APEGGA due to nonpayment of annual dues or for any other reason are assessed an administrative fee when applying for reinstatement. Permit Holders who request in writing that their Permits to Practice be cancelled will not be assessed the administrative fee when they apply for reinstatement. Those Permit Holders who request voluntary cancellation will have their annual dues prorated for the year in which they reinstate.
- The current regulations require the permit stamp to be under the control of the
professional members or licensees assuming responsibility of the professional practice in
which the Permit Holder is engaged. In accordance with Standata 81-A007, entitled
Professional Involvement in Projects and Seals on Construction Documents, issued by the
Building Standards Branch of the Provincial Government, the permit stamp should be signed
by a person authorized to take professional responsibility for the Permit Holder.
It is the intent of the regulations that details regarding permit stamp custody and specific signing authority within the organization are matters to be addressed by the officer or designate/"person" who signs page one of the Application for Permit to Practice on behalf of the Permit Holder.
PROCEDURES
- Application
Application is made by completing forms entitled Application for Permit to Practice. In completing the form it is the responsibility of the applicant's Chief Operating Officer or his designate to ensure that the members selected to be responsible for the respective professional practices are qualified and have organizational authority to direct and control the overall quality of services being provided.
On page two of the application, special attention is drawn to the requirement for an organizational breakdown that corresponds to the professional responsibility of each member name. Following are examples to illustrate:
Name & Professional Designation Member # Office Organizational Group Discipline/Operation One member responsible for total professional practice engaged in J.D. Doe, P. Eng. 98888 Calgary Total Company Several members named to assume responsibility for professional practice by office location and discipline W.D. Smith, P. Eng. 98765 Edmonton Structural C.A. Jones, P. Eng. 98989 Edmonton Mechanical L.T. Brown, P. Eng. 76543 Edmonton Electrical O.R. White, P. Eng. 65432 Calgary Structural S.A. Black, P. Eng. 54391 Calgary Mechanical Several members named to assume responsibility for professional practice by office location and operating division A.S. Green, P. Geoph. 78987 Edmonton Exploration Division L.T. Adams, P. Eng. 86543 Calgary Refining Division - Approval
Approved applications are acknowledged by letter and the Permit Holder is assigned a number and issued one certificate and one rubber permit stamp.
Additional certificates and permit stamps to a maximum of one of each for each permanent office may be obtained at a cost of $6.42 and $10.00 respectively (GST included). Replacement certificates and stamps are available at cost when a Permit Holder changes its name. The certificates and stamps remain the property of the Association and must be surrendered on demand.
- Schedule of Fees for Permit Holders
Application fees should accompany the application. Annual dues will be invoiced after the Permit to Practice is approved and annually in the month of issue.
Application Fees (GST included)
- Domestic Permit Holder- $205.00
- Foreign Permit Holder- $205.00
Annual Dues (no GST)
- Domestic Permit Holder- $205.00
- Foreign Permit Holder- $205.00
Reinstatement (GST included)
- Should cancellation by APEGGA occur due to nonpayment of Annual dues, or failure to provide an Annual Report, a $80.00 reinstatement fee is applicable.
Permit application forms are available from the APEGGA office .
If you wish, you may print the following forms from your browser instead:
- Application for Permit to Practice as A Partnership,
Corporation or Other Entity;
and Application to Use Engineering, Geology or Geophysics in Company Name