APEGA
CPD EXEMPTIONS
» attendance at seminars, technical presentations, talks, and workshops » attendance at meetings of technical, professional, or managerial associations, or societies » structured discussions of technical or professional issues with peers One hour of informal activity equals one PDH. A maximum of 30 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category. • Participation » mentoring a Member-in-Training, a less experienced Professional Member, or a technologist » service on public bodies that draw on professional expertise » service on standing or ad hoc committees of a technical or professional nature, or on managerial associations and societies; and activities that contribute to the community One hour of participation activity equals one PDH. A maximum of 20 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category, with no more than 10 of them coming from community service. • Presentations » technical or professional presentations that are beyond normal job functions. These could be, for example, at a conference, a meeting, a course, a workshop, or a seminar, either within a company or at an event sponsored by a technical or professional organization Multiple deliveries of the same presentation count as only one presentation. One hour of preparation and delivery earns one PDH. A maximum of 20 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category. • Contributions to Knowledge » activities that expand or develop the technical knowledge base in engineering, geology, or geophysics. Committee work could qualify, for example, or patent registration, publication in a peer- reviewed technical journal, or publication of a book A maximum of 30 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category, and there are limits for each activity.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS CPD? Flexibility and variety are built into our CPD requirements. You can earn professional development hours (PDHs) for attending seminars, delivering presentations, volunteering in the community, volunteering for APEGA, and much more. The key to success is having a clear purpose aimed at maintaining, improving, and expanding your skills and knowledge. Know what you need, know what you want, know what APEGA wants — then find the appropriate PD sessions. A successful CPD plan should consider your: • scope of practice and duties • current level of knowledge and skills • short-term needs and objectives • long-range plans An APEGA guideline called Continuing Professional Development Program offers six cat- egories of professional development. You must claim PDHs in at least three of the six catego- ries. We’ve outlined the categories and minimum hourly requirements below. You can also read the full guideline at apega.ca. • Professional Practice » 15 hours of engineering or geoscience work equals one PDH A maximum of 50 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category. • Formal Activity » professional development programs, courses, and seminars » courses offered by universities, technical institutes, colleges, suppliers, employers, or technical societies » courses offered in traditional classroom settings, by correspondence or video, or online One hour of course attendance equals one PDH. One continuing education unit (CEU), for courses offering them, equals 10 PDHs. A maximum of 30 PDHs per year may be claimed in this category.
1. If you are unemployed, on extended parental leave, or in a full-time educational program, you can file a non- practising declaration and be exempted from the CPD program. Or if you wish to retain your right to practise while unemployed, on leave, or at school, you can submit a written request to the APEGA Practice Review Board to have your annual PDHs reduced to 30 (which can be claimed in any of the six categories). If you’re not sure which option is best for you, contact cpd@apega.ca and we can explain the benefits of each.
2. If your work doesn’t fall within the legal
definitions of engineering or geoscience and if you do not have technical influence over the professions, you can maintain your registration and be exempted from the requirements of the CPD program by submitting a non-practising declaration. If your work does fall within those definitions or if you have technical influence, you are considered engaged in professional practice and cannot be exempted.
3. If you influence the
practice of engineering or geoscience in a broader, non-technical sense, you could file a non-practising declaration and be exempt. It’s also acceptable, however, to retain your practising designation and meet the program’s requirements.
• Informal Activity
» self-directed study » attendance at conferences and industry trade shows
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