APEGA
APEGA Prepares to Launch New Audit System for Continuing Professional Development
Improving APEGA’s Continuing Professional Development program is a key priority in our strategic plan. Enhancements to the program will ensure it meets the needs of Members — while deepening public confidence in the professions
Council implemented the mandatory APEGA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program in 1997 to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public by requiring engineering and geoscience professionals to engage in lifelong learning. All Professional Engineers, Professional Geoscientists, Licensees, and Professional Licensees practising in Alberta must take part in the program to maintain their skills and competency. They’re required to keep a record of their CPD activities and keep APEGA informed of their progress. In the new year, we’ll be introducing an enhanced auditing system to ensure Members are complying with our CPD requirements. We already conduct random CPD audits, but we’re going to be doing more audits in the future. The audits will focus on two areas: • ensuring Members are completing their required CPD hours • ensuring the CPD content Members claim is effective and relevant to their practice This more proactive approach to CPD auditing aligns with APEGA’s goal of becoming a stronger regulator. In recent years, there’s been greater interest — from the public and from the APEGA leadership — in the challenges inherent to engineering and geosci- ence. A strong CPD auditing system is critical to achieving greater transparency as a regulator, which is what the public expects. Increased auditing will also help APEGA better support our membership. We already offer a wide range of professional devel- opment sessions to support Professional Members in their learning and growth. We’ll use what we learn from the audits to design and build even better CPD supports and professional development pro- grams to help Members meet their lifelong learning needs.
maintain a record of those CPD activities using our Detailed Activity Record. You also need to report your CPD hours annually on the Member Self-Service Centre.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T COMPLY?
There are serious consequences for not complying with the program. If we send you a notice to produce a Detailed Activity Record and you don’t comply within 30 days, your membership may be cancelled and your name removed from the APEGA register. • if you haven’t entered any CPD hours over the past three years and your membership is cancelled, you must reapply for membership with APEGA as a new Member. • if you have entered CPD hours (but have not fully met the CPD program requirements) and your membership is cancelled, you can apply to APEGA Council for reinstatement. The reinstatement process can take from three to six months.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CPD HOURS
1. Log in to the Member Self-Service Centre at members.apega.ca. 2. Submit the numbers of CPD hours you’ve completed in the 12 months before your annual membership renewal date. 3. You don’t need to submit detailed information about your CPD activities, but you should keep this information for three years. If you are audited, you’ll be asked to provide it. Keep track of your CPD activities using our Detailed Activity Record template, available at apega.ca.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOU?
As mentioned, we’ll be doing more random CPD audits starting in the new year. If you haven’t updated your CPD hours through the APEGA Member Self-Service Centre, we recommend getting started now. To meet CPD requirements, you must complete at least 240 professional development hours (PDHs) over three years and
Questions? cpd@apega.ca 1-800-661-7020 apega.ca/members/cpd
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