Regulating the professions
Protecting the public
Contents
Trust & Relevance Our Membership ����������������������������������36 Branches ������������������������������������������������38 Member Benefits & Discounts ��������������40 Trust the Professionals Behind the Work ����������������������������������� 41 Our Volunteers ��������������������������������������42 Summit Awards �������������������������������������44 Shift the Culture �������������������������������������46 K–12 Outreach �������������������������������������48 University Outreach ������������������������������50 Performance Culture Information Technology������������������������ 52 Annual General Meeting ���������������������53 Council Nominations ���������������������������� 54 Council��������������������������������������������������� 55 Public Member Reports Council��������������������������������������������������� 56 Board of Examiners������������������������������� 57 Discipline Committee ����������������������������58 Appeal Board���������������������������������������� 59 Financial Statements Report of Independent Auditors �����������60 Summary Financial Statements ������������ 61 Notes to Summary Financial Statements �����������������������������62
Message from the President ������������������� 4 Message from the Registrar & CEO������� 6
Regulatory Excellence Application Processing Times��������������� 10 Internationally Trained Applicants ��������11 Examinations ������������������������������������������12 Practice Standards ���������������������������������13 Practice Reviews������������������������������������ 16 Investigations ����������������������������������������� 18 Compliance ������������������������������������������� 20 Discipline �����������������������������������������������22 Appeals �������������������������������������������������23 Title Protection ���������������������������������������24 Value of Member Dues������������������������� 26 Directory Improvements������������������������ 28 Individual Practice��������������������������������� 29 Professional Development �������������������� 30 APEGA Nexus 2023 ���������������������������� 32 New Learning Management System���������������������������� 33 Digital Signatures ���������������������������������� 34
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Message from the President
Sometimes, in our lives or careers, it’s necessary to pivot so we can reach our goals. Organizations, including APEGA, are no different. We must be agile, nimble, and ready to adapt to meet the inevitable changes, challenges—and of course opportunities—that come our way. As such, agility, nimbleness, and adaptation are key principles of sustainability and relevance for any organization. They underpin how APEGA works with our registrants, permit holders, and other key stakeholders to meet our mandate to protect the public by proactively regulating the practices of engineering and geoscience. They are also principles that guided APEGA through a year marked by significant change. It was a year when we were reminded that change is expected and necessary to align with society’s evolving expectations and to drive innovation and growth in our province. Some of these changes will shape engineering and geoscience regulation for years to come. software engineering from title protection are driving how we must adjust how to provide practice enforcement and compliance. • A separate court case and resulting appeal could affect how all protected engineering titles can be used in Alberta, and possibly the rest of Canada. • Amendments to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act exempting • Preparatory work continues for expected changes to our governing legislation through the anticipated Professional Governance Act . • Stakeholder engagement and development are underway on a revised mandatory Continuing Professional Development Program.
Manon Plante CD1, P.Eng., MDS
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With the support of Council, it was my responsibility and duty, as your 104th APEGA president, to provide leadership and support to APEGA Council as we navigated these exceptional circumstances. As always, Council and staff formed a united front to meet the challenges before us. And yes, we pivoted. We are constantly learning, reflecting, and turning the challenges we face into new opportunities. Many voices working towards the same mandate Experience has taught me that there’s always a better way forward—and that we can’t get there on our own. We will continue to work with our many external partners—including government, industry, other engineering and geoscience regulators, and Albertans—to ensure effective oversight. Ongoing engagement with our registrants and permits holders is also essential. When we hear from singular voices, we all benefit from each other’s wisdom and input. I saw this first-hand on my visits to APEGA’s 10 branches during the new President’s Visit forums, where I sat down face-to-face with registrants and permit holders to get a pulse on what’s happening in the different regions. These forums were a way to connect with registrants, and I want to thank people for sharing frank and candid thoughts and suggestions, and most importantly, their enthusiasm in supporting APEGA. Together, we can find solutions to any challenge.
In my travels, I also met with—and was inspired by—professionals near the end of their APEGA journey. At a milestone celebration in Calgary, we recognized 41 individuals with life membership. Combined, more than 1,000 years—a millennium—of triumphs, sweat and tears, knowledge, and experience were in that room. It’s amazing, astonishing, and remarkable when you think about it. I also spent time visiting engineering students in Fort McMurray and Lethbridge who will soon be embarking on their careers. I was impressed by their insightful answers when I asked them why professional self-regulation is important: “As a professional, you have high standards
of ethical and technical competency.” “You have peers and a community of knowledge and expertise.” “You hold each other responsible and accountable for your actions.”
At the end of the day, that’s really what it boils down to. APEGA and all our stakeholders have dynamic and diverse perspectives—but we’re all intertwined and work towards the same mandate. We all hold paramount the safety and public welfare of Albertans.
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Message from the Registrar & CEO
Regulating the professions and protecting the public. This is more than just the theme for this year’s annual report—it’s APEGA’s core purpose and reason for being. In 1920, a group of visionary engineers were concerned about the lack of engineering regulation in our fledgling province. They proposed to the Government of Alberta that engineers—and the geoscientists who were part of their ranks—regulate themselves to safeguard public welfare. The province agreed, and APEGA has been entrusted to do this essential regulatory work ever since. In the past year, two significant legislative and legal developments have affected how we carry out this work—but not our duty to Albertans. The first is Bill 7 . This exemption, added to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Ac t in November, allows individuals in the technology industry to legally call themselves “software engineers” without holding an APEGA licence or an engineering degree. This change was approved by the provincial government, whose role it is to create legislation. As a regulator, it will be APEGA’s role to implement this new legislation. That’s the spirit in which we’re moving forward. While Bill 7 settled how the software engineer title can be used, APEGA filed an appeal with the Alberta Court of Appeal about a recent provincial Court of King’s Bench ruling to seek clarification on the permissible use of the title “engineer.”
Jay Nagendran P.Eng., FCAE, ICD.D, FEC, FGC (Hon.)
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The second big development on our radar this year was the provincial government’s intent to reintroduce the Professional Governance Act , a unified governance framework that will affect 22 regulatory bodies in Alberta. This new act will create foundational changes specific for APEGA by creating an umbrella regulation, and specific schedules and bylaws. This is a critical juncture in our history. APEGA has been working on legislative recommendations for many years, and we’re committed to continuing to work closely with the government as the framework advances. Redefining what’s possible While much of our attention was focused on these high-level activities in 2023, I’m proud to say that APEGA’s incredible community of committed volunteers and capable employees carried on doing what they do best: regulating the professions and protecting the public. They are motivated and enthusiastic, and they consistently raise the bar to strengthen public safety and uphold the high licensing standards expected of APEGA registrants and permit holders. Their accomplishments are highlighted throughout this report. I’m also proud of APEGA’s reputation as a national leader in regulation and our successful collaborations with other regulators in Canada. We share a common goal to advance the health and sustainability of the engineering and geoscience professions.
APEGA’s commitment to serving the public interest means Albertans can rely on the calibre of professional engineers and geoscientists. Albertans expect—and can trust—that APEGA licensed professionals and companies have the necessary ethical, professional, and technical knowledge to keep them safe. When members of the public don’t have to think about the work we do on their behalf, that’s a positive sign we’re doing our jobs well. We have effectively regulated engineering and geoscience in protection of the public for more than100 years—and we’ll continue to do so with pride and dedication.
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APEGA’s Mandate Since 1920, APEGA has been a strong, self-governing body, proudly fulfilling the mandate given to us by the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act to protect the public welfare.
Why We Exist APEGA safeguards the public welfare of Albertans by proactively regulating the practices of engineering and geoscience.
How We Imagine Our Future Driving Alberta forward with courage and innovation.
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Regulatory Excellence
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Application Processing Times
Application decisions made within 180 days
93.8 %
91 .6 %
Regulating the professions and protecting public safety starts with licensure. It’s a rigorous but objective process that examines the education, experience, ethical and professional knowledge, and English-language proficiency of applicants to ensure they meet the required standards. We’re constantly optimizing our registration processes to reduce application processing times—and we’re seeing measurable results. •We made decisions on approximately 94 per cent of applications within the 180-day time frame required by the province’s Fair Registration Practices Act (excluding inter-provincial mobility transfer applications). • More than 99 per cent of inter-provincial mobility applications were processed within the 30-business-day time frame required by Alberta’s Labour Mobility Act and Labour Mobility Regulation . Competency-based assessment In August, we made significant improvements to our competency-based assessment (CBA) process for engineering applications. •Following the recommendations of an independent consultant, we simplified written content to clarify CBA requirements to applicants, validators, staff, and APEGA Board of Examiners volunteers, who review and approve applications. •We assigned extra staff to provide examiners with more support in processing applications.
2022
2023
IN TOTAL, 6,257 APPLICATION DECISIONS WERE MADE IN 2023.
CBA 101 Competency-based assessment (CBA) helps us equitably and objectively evaluate an engineering applicant’s work experience and their ability to perform fundamental engineering tasks safely and reliably. Applicants must provide examples of how they meet 22 core competencies required for registration and provide a validator who can confirm their experience.
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Internationally Trained Applicants
Many APEGA applicants— 45 per cent in 2023—are from other countries. Their skills and experience are building Alberta’s economy, developing our industries, and driving diversification. Internationally trained applicants often have a lot of questions about APEGA’s application process. Some common ones include:
Did you know? Newcomer engineers and geoscientists can work under the supervision of a professional engineer or geoscientist without first registering with APEGA. This allows them to join the job market faster and contribute to Alberta’s economy. Of the approximately 150 engineering and geoscience professionals on APEGA’s Board of Examiners, more than 30 per cent are internationally trained, so they understand how best to assess international applications.
•What academic documents are required? •How do competency-based assessments work? •Who can be my work record validator?
We aim to provide them with answers before they apply so as to reduce incomplete applications and potential delays in application processing. •In 2023, we gave about 50 presentations to different groups— including immigrant-serving agencies, universities, and APEGA permit holders—to explain our licensing requirements to potential applicants. •We are one of the few engineering and geoscience regulators in Canada to have a full-time international qualifications officer providing newcomers with guidance on our application process and licensing requirements.
Volume of applicants trained in Canada vs. internationally Canadian applicants International applicants
6,360 TOTAL 5,354 TOTAL
2,874
2023
3,486
1,553
2022
3,801
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Examinations
The new stand-alone website— nppexam.ca —is an information hub to help future engineering and geoscience professionals from across Canada prepare for the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE). APEGA manages NPPE testing for 13 engineering and geoscience regulators across the country.
MORE THAN 12,700 CANDIDATES REGISTERED TO TAKE THE EXAM IN 2023, WHICH IS UP BY ABOUT 13 %
The exam confirms applicants’ knowledge of professionalism, law, and ethics. It includes more than 100 questions. Applicants must pass the exam to be licensed by their provincial or territorial regulator. A record number of NPPE exams were administered in 2023—the fourth consecutive year of growth.
Number of applicants registered to take the NPPE (2019–2023) Partner regulators APEGA
12,745
3,565
8,288
9,215
11,311
1,819
1,611
10,926
9,700
1,401
1,148
7,814
7,140
964
2,601
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
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Regulatory Excellence
Practice Standards Our practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines outline regulatory requirements and best practices for APEGA registrants. These publications all have the same goals: to keep Albertans safe and maintain the accountability of the professions. They are regularly reviewed and updated. New ones may be added, and older ones withdrawn. Just as technology, techniques, and society evolve, so too must our publications, ensuring APEGA registrants always uphold the highest standards of practice.
New publications Practice bulletin, published February Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings This new practice bulletin supports the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard. •The practice bulletin defines and clarifies authentication and validation requirements for as-built, record, and as-acquired drawings, in relation to change orders, change directives, and site instructions. •The practice bulletin helps licensed professionals, permit holders, and the public understand how material changes to professional work products need to be handled, including authentication and validation.
Joint practice bulletin, published July Functional Relationships for the Building Envelope Portion of Projects APEGA and the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) partnered to clarify roles and responsibilities for building-envelope projects and who can authenticate National Building Code – 2019 Alberta Edition schedules for building projects. •APEGA and AAA have separate provincial legislation with scope-of-practice clauses that can overlap. •The joint practice bulletin helps professional engineers, architects, and licensed interior designers involved in Alberta building projects meet their legislated obligations.
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Standards 101 We track questions and comments received from registrants and use that feedback to identify when additional guidance is needed and what form it will take: standard, bulletin, guideline, or amendment to an existing document. Our current publications include:*
4 practice standards 2 practice bulletins 15 practice guidelines 5 joint practice publications
*as of December 21, 2023
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Regulatory Excellence
Our goal is to raise awareness of ethical practices and initiate discussions about ethics in the professions and across industries. By engaging in topics that aren’t always easy—and holding each other accountable— registrants keep public safety top-of-mind while strengthening professional self-regulation.
New ethics training module helps registrants understand their responsibilities
APEGA Code of Ethics 101 Our Code of Ethics includes five Rules of Conduct that define the fundamental principles and values that guide permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in-training, both professionally and personally.
Ethical challenges faced by APEGA permit holders, licensed professionals, and members-in-training are often complex, with no clear solutions. To maintain a high level of integrity, registrants must carefully reflect on how their actions might affect trust in the professions. Launched in March, our online ethics training module helps registrants explore best practices when confronted with ethical challenges, such as:
•discrimination and harassment •intentional omission of information and data •when to report ethics concerns to authorities Ethical expectations
The ethics module complements our Ethical Practice guideline, published in 2022. The guideline was updated to reflect the evolution of engineering and geoscience practices due to society’s expanding expectations for ethical and professional leadership. Permit holders can use the ethics module as a tool for staff training. As registrants progress through the interactive module, they’re presented with real-life scenarios and case studies. The module provides guidance as to the most appropriate ethical decisions and behaviours for each situation. •Examples reflect the actual experiences of professional engineers and geoscientists who helped develop the module. •They also include examples of ethics violations investigated by APEGA in recent years.
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Practice Reviews
We proactively review the engineering and geoscience practices of permit holders—approximately 4,700 companies licensed by APEGA—to confirm they’re meeting legislated regulatory responsibilities.
With enhanced data access and analysis to support our Graduated Risk Assessment of Permit Holders (GRAPH) evaluation process, we are able to conduct more practice reviews, more efficiently. As part of our Level 1 review process, we now screen all APEGA permit holders quarterly for compliance data, and we conduct desktop studies on permit holders. •We analyze our database for compliance with various indicators. •We also conduct reviews based on industry sector, organizational size, or other areas of interest.
Practice reviews 101 Practice reviews are an opportunity to collaboratively engage with permit holders, empowering them with knowledge and tools to strengthen their professional practice. The objective, for APEGA and permit holders alike, is safe and competent practice of the professions through regulatory excellence.
Practice review closure status Closed with conditions Closed without conditions*
100%
80%
Did you know? In the last five years, APEGA has initiated a practice review of all permit holders employing 100 or more licensed professionals. Although they make up only one per cent of our total permit holders, these larger permit holders employ 45 per cent of our registrants.
60%
40%
20%
0%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
*Improved submission quality and compliance with the Professional Practice Management Plan practice standard has resulted in more reviews being closed without conditions.
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Number of reviews completed by type
800
700
Level 1 reviews Level 2 scorecard Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Other reviews*
600
500
Compliance reviews
400
300
200
100
0
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
APEGA’s Graduated Risk Assessment of Permit Holders process was introduced in 2021.
*“Other” reviews are those referred by other APEGA regulatory business areas, including Compliance (cancelled permits), Investigations, and Discipline.
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Investigations
We protect the public—and the integrity of the engineering and geoscience professions—by fully investigating formal complaints against licensed professionals and permit holders.
How cases are closed DISCIPLINE HEARING: The Investigative Committee refers matters to the Discipline Committee (made up of APEGA volunteers) for a formal discipline hearing. MEDIATED: The Investigative Committee approves a mediated agreement between the complainant and the registrant or permit holder. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE ORDER (RDO): The registrant admits to unskilled practice, unprofessional conduct, or both, and agrees to specific sanctions. TERMINATED: The Investigative Committee determines the complaint was frivolous or vexatious, or there was insufficient evidence of unskilled practice, unprofessional conduct, or both. WITHDRAWN: The complaint is withdrawn or abandoned by the complainant.
Complaints vary in complexity, from business disputes to serious allegations of harm to the environment, to the health and safety of the public, or to the reputation of the professions. Protecting the public during preliminary investigations During an investigation, APEGA’s Investigative Committee may restrict or suspend a registrant’s or permit holder’s right to practise. When this occurs, we publish their name on our website to protect the public pending the outcome of the investigation and disciplinary proceedings.
•Three registrants faced interim suspensions in 2023.
› This is an extraordinary measure to safeguard the public, warranted by the circumstances of each case. •Two registrants had their scope of practice restricted in 2023. › The Investigative Committee and the registrants under investigation mutually agreed to these voluntary undertakings. Specifics of the active practice restrictions were posted on our website . Policy and procedure updates We updated policies and procedures to clarify our investigative processes and ensure consistency. Our goal is fair, transparent, and timely complaint resolution. •Updates to our recommended discipline order (RDO) policy and procedure clarified when an RDO may be used and how it should be formulated and implemented. •Updates to our mediation policy established when it’s appropriate to resolve low-risk complaints through mediation.
Did you know? For the 53 cases we closed in 2023, we investigated 155 separate allegations . Our year-end case backlog declined to 40 in 2023 from 84 in 2020. This is due in part to increased intake scrutiny, ensuring that cases referred to the Investigative Committee are backed by credible evidence. Case-closure times improved, decreasing to 293 days in 2023 from 409 days in 2022. An increase in mediations and the experience of our tenured investigations staff members have helped us resolve cases faster.
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Investigations activity by year
Newly opened
In progress
Closed
49
42
59
77
84
53
69
53
54
64
40
49
44
39
38
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
How cases were closed in 2023
Discipline Hearing
Mediated
RDO
Terminated Withdrawn
31
29
27
25
21
19
18
15
11
10
9
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
1
1
0
0
0
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
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Compliance APEGA’s responsibility to protect the public goes beyond regulating professionals and permit holders.
We are legislated to prevent unlicensed individuals and companies from practising engineering or geoscience in Alberta and from using reserved titles and designations, including professional engineer (P.Eng.) and professional geoscientist (P.Geo.). Complaints about unlicensed practice and title violations come to us from different sources, including members of the public, APEGA registrants, and staff. Cases are prioritized based on the risk to public safety. •Starting in September, we adjusted our risk assessment approach so that unlicensed practice cases, which tend to be higher risk, are given priority over low-risk title violations. •If title violations lead to unlicensed practice, they are assessed at a higher risk level. •Unlicensed practice cases are more complicated and take longer to resolve—but the risk to public safety is greater. Education, then enforcement We try to resolve cases through communication and education. We use enforcement tools, such as legal or court action, when appropriate.
Complaints 101 APEGA receives several different types of complaints, such as unskilled practice, unprofessional conduct, unlicensed practice, and misuse of title. When we receive a complaint, it is triaged, and serious issues are assigned an investigator to gather evidence to present to APEGA’s Investigative Committee or Enforcement Review Committee. These committees, which comprise professional engineers and geoscientists, objectively
assess the facts and determine next steps.
Open complaints 441
OF CASES WITHOUT LITIGATION. 99 % IN 2023, WE CLOSED
Cases closed 326
Cases referred to legal counsel 10
Active cases 289
to court 5
Cases referred
Numbers as of December 31, 2023.
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Active cases by risk
High risk (likelihood of significant public harm) Medium risk (potential for some public harm) Low risk (little inconvenience or impact to the public) Undefined (not yet risk assessed or determining jurisdiction)
18 %
46 %
13 %
23 %
Closed cases by risk
41 %
37 %
21 %
1 %
High risk
Medium risk
Low risk
Undefined
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Discipline
84 Total Sanctions
2 1 2 3 5 4 6 8 9
APEGA holds registrants and permit holders accountable for unskilled practice and unprofessional conduct that could harm Albertans or erode public trust in our professions. Individuals or companies under investigation sometimes admit to wrongdoing and agree to sanctions, which are outlined in a recommended discipline order (RDO). If an RDO isn’t agreed to, a formal discipline hearing is held. A panel of engineering and geoscience professionals on APEGA’s Discipline Committee reviews evidence to determine what discipline, if any, is appropriate. In 2023, the Discipline Committee issued 19 RDOs. Four discipline hearings were held, which took a total of 12 days to complete. How we’re increasing transparency We began publishing public notices about upcoming discipline hearings on our website , including information about:
Cancellation (individual licence)
Costs issued (hearings)
Disclosures to other regulators
Referrals to Professional Practice
Practice restrictions (i.e., supervision, limited scope)
Ethics courses assigned
National Professional Practice Examination assigned
•the registrant or permit holder facing discipline charges •when and where the hearing will be held We publish discipline decisions and orders
Technical courses assigned
on our website . To make it easier for the public to identify individuals or companies that have been disciplined, our directories now indicate whether a registrant or permit holder has been named in a discipline decision or RDO.
Publications without name
13 13 18
Fines issued
formal hearing decisions 10%
Publications with name
21 total publications*
Reviews of documents
90% recommended discipline orders
*One additional publication was on hold pending an appeal process. This formal hearing decision was published in early 2024.
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Appeals Appeals can be filed by registrants, permit holders, applicants, or complainants who have received a decision made by one of APEGA’s statutory boards or committees. Professional engineers and geoscientists on the Appeal Board consider each appeal and decide if the previous decision maker used a fair process and made a reasonable decision. What can be appealed? •Registration refusals •Investigative dismissals •Discipline decisions •Practice review decisions
New Appeal Fee Starting January 1, 2023, we implemented a $300 appeal fee for two types of appeals: registration refusals and investigative dismissals. This increases an appellant’s stake in the process, which better serves the public interest.
•The fee reinforces the seriousness of
204 Average days to render a decision making an appeal and encourages appellants to participate more fully in the appeal process. •If the previous decision is modified or overturned, the fee is refunded to the appellant.
Appeals Cases opened 5 Cases closed 5
Cases in progress at year-end 3
4 0 1 Upheld Modified Withdrawn Overturned Decision outcomes 0
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Title Protection
“Public trust in engineering is built around the title ‘engineer,’ which is associated with a standard of excellence, a commitment to the public interest, and an adherence to a code of ethics. Defending the integrity of this title is pivotal in protecting Albertans.” – Jay Nagendran, P.Eng., APEGA registrar and CEO
Bill 7: Changes to “software engineer” title protection
Amendments to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions (EGP) Act now allow non-engineers in the technology industry to legally call themselves “software engineers.” This new amendment was introduced by the Government of Alberta on November 6 and received royal assent on December 7. Currently, only the “software engineer” title is exempt, although the minister for advanced education has the ability to add related technology-industry job titles that include “engineer” to this exemption. Public safety remains our top priority It’s important to note that the EGP Act still requires: •individuals who practise engineering in the technology industry to become licensed with APEGA •technology companies that are providing engineering services to obtain a Permit to Practice from APEGA We will continue to use our regulatory tools to ensure engineering is only done by licensed individuals and companies. How will the public tell the difference between a software engineer licensed by APEGA and someone using the title without an APEGA licence? Licensed professionals will have a P.Eng. designation after their names, and the public can verify their credentials by checking APEGA’s Member and Permit Holder Directories on apega.ca .
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APEGA appealed a court decision on engineer title usage APEGA appealed the court decision by Honourable Justice J.S. Little, who had dismissed our request for an injunction against Getty Images and Jobber Inc. on their use of the title “engineer.” The case was dismissed November 9, and our appeal was filed December 8 in the Alberta Court of Appeal. Our appeal seeks clarity on permissible use of the title “engineer,” focusing on the decision’s potential to affect unauthorized title usage more broadly and outside of the technology industry. This decision sets a concerning precedent that could affect engineering regulations in other Canadian jurisdictions, and it could have broader implications for other regulated professions, such as the health and legal professions.
Title protection 101 Only individuals licensed by APEGA can call themselves professional engineers and professional geoscientists and use the reserved designations P.Eng. and P.Geo. Likewise, the words engineer and geoscientist are normally protected titles, and individuals can’t call themselves an engineer or geoscientist in Alberta unless they’re licensed by APEGA. Title protection is vital to preserving public safety and maintaining high standards of practice and ethics.
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Value of Member Dues
Member and permit holder dues support APEGA’s regulatory work, which protects the public interest and sustains the professions. Public safety is always the top priority. More than half of member and permit holder dues go directly towards legislative and regulatory requirements, such as new member registration, compliance, standards development, and enforcement. How we’re reducing costs We’re committed to finding cost savings and efficiencies and obtaining more revenue sources.
Member dues increase
Dues increased in 2023 to address the impact of inflation and the increased costs of expanding our regulatory activities. Starting July 1: •professional member dues increased by $54 to $ 446 •the base rate for permit holders increased by $50 to $550 •the sole practitioner flat rate increased by $50 to $300 APEGA dues remain among the lowest in Alberta compared to those of other major professions, such as teachers, accountants, doctors, and lawyers.
Examples include:
•keeping most of our events virtual, such as our annual general meeting and Nexus conference •changing our phone system for significant and ongoing monthly savings •regularly assessing contracts and adjusting renewals for improved efficiencies, such as relocating our Calgary and Edmonton offices to secure lower lease rates •saving on postage and printing costs by no longer mailing invoices or registration cards — these can now be accessed through myAPEGA, our online member and permit holder service portal •automating processes for members, such as ordering professional stamps through myAPEGA
“As a member and an APEGA employee, I see, at a granular level, how member dues enable us to be a regulatory leader and defender of public safety.” – Jay Nagendran, P.Eng., APEGA registrar and CEO
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2 % Member Recognition
10 % Capital Expenditures
3 % Governance
22 % Compliance, Standards, and Enforcement
15 % IT Systems
9 % New Registrant Registration
3 % Examinations
6 % Communication
1 % Career Development
7 % Professional Sustainability
22 % Corporate Services
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Directory Improvements In recent years, changes to our online Member and Permit Holder Directories have significantly enhanced public transparency.
We’ve made it easier for the public to find important information about licensed professionals and permit-holding companies, so they can quickly see if an individual or company is licensed to practise engineering or geoscience in Alberta and if there are any restrictions on their licence or permit. These improvements are keeping people safe by helping them clearly identify who can practise engineering and geoscience in Alberta—and who can’t. New in 2023 •We added registrant names to stamps to provide another way for the public to identify APEGA registrants. •If a registrant or permit holder is named in a discipline Over the past few years, we’ve also improved the directories by adding: •each member’s APEGA ID number and preferred first name • the operating as name(s) of permit holders, to identify companies that have one or more operating names (which can be different from their legal names) •the ability to search for deficient permits under permit status (a deficient status means the permit holder does not have a Responsible Member assigned to oversee the regulation of engineering and geoscience within the organization) •confirmation that a permit holder’s Responsible Member has attended a Permit to Practice seminar , showing if they are up to date on this required seminar decision , this is now indicated in their directory profile, along with the year of the disciplinary action and a link to the Discipline Decisions & Orders page on apega.ca , making it easier for the public to identify registrants who have been sanctioned for unprofessional conduct and unskilled practice.
Did you hear the news? Registrants and the public can now visit our Notice of Discipline Hearings web page to find dates and locations of upcoming discipline hearings and the names of the licensed professionals and permit holders who are scheduled to attend.
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Regulatory Excellence
Individual Practice Licensure administration
Continuing professional development With new technologies rapidly emerging, methods changing, and knowledge advancing, our mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program is an essential component of professional regulation. To protect public safety, registrants must remain competent throughout their careers by continually maintaining and building upon their skills and expertise. •The new CPD reporting system in the myAPEGA compliance than we saw with the previous system. •In 2023, 1,290 special consideration requests were approved. Registrants who are unable to meet minimum CPD requirements because of extenuating circumstances—such as unemployment, parental leave, or health issues— can request a reduction in CPD requirements. portal contributed to higher reporting
Former or existing licensed professionals who want to resume practice, reinstate their registration, or reactivate their registration must apply for permission before practising again. This protects public safety by ensuring these individuals still meet APEGA’s ethical and technical requirements. In 2023, we updated the standard criteria against which these applicants are assessed and the conditions that may be applied when they are approved to return to their practice. Applicants approved to return to practice in 2023 •To ensure safe and competent practice, 61 per cent of resume practice and reinstatement applications were approved with practice restrictions, or conditions, and in some cases more than one. •Practice restrictions and conditions included 363 for CPD, 195 for ethics or National Professional Practice Exam, and 64 for technical supervision, with some requiring multiple conditions. There was an increase in elevated risk applications, which require a more rigorous review. •We approved 106 reactivations, which are not subject to conditions or restrictions. •During the review process, we identified and made 51 referrals for potential violations of the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and 33 referrals for corporate practice reviews.
Total applications 961
Reinstatements : former registrants approved for reinstated registration Resume practice : non-practising registrants approved to resume practice
Reactivations : former registrants with a short registration lapse approved for reactivated registration
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Professional Development Attendance at APEGA-led professional development sessions continues to grow as registrants seek opportunities to upskill, reskill, and fulfil their regulatory obligations.
In-person sessions returned to Calgary and Edmonton this year, but most of our sessions were virtual webinars. From licensure, leadership, and LiDAR mapping to environmental and economic sustainability and more, our sessions helped registrants build their regulatory, technical, career, and personal knowledge. Our five most popular webinars had a combined 2,056 registrations. •National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Schedules and User Guide •Professional Practice Management Plan •Runoff, Erosion, and Sediment Control: Advanced Applications •Presentations to Non-Engineers Made Easy •Hydrocarbon, Brine Production, CO2 Storage: Calculating In-Place Reservoir Volumes
Did you know? APEGA has offered 216 free professional development sessions over the last three years. In October, 1,273 participants joined us for four free Building Mental Health Together webinars. We shared strategies for safely engaging on social media and explored the growing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for mental health care.
SINCE 2020, OVERALL PARTICIPATION IN APEGA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS INCREASED
191 %
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Regulatory Excellence
Sessions
Regulatory
Non-regulatory
Session attendees
9,573
7,244
8,254
5,369
4,580
4,646
4,204
3,674
2,598
2021
2022
2023
Session types
83
91
92
44
57
36
48
47
34
2021
2022
2023
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APEGA Nexus 2023
988
Attendees at our third annual APEGA Nexus conference discovered the power of human connections and the unlimited possibilities that arise from networking and collaborating. Held on June 7 and 8, the conference offered information- packed sessions on industry innovation, technical competence, and regulation in Alberta. In addition to cost-savings, the virtual format enabled us to reach a larger audience. Keynote presentations Our inspiring keynote speakers made an impact—on average, they received a 96 per cent satisfaction rate from Nexus survey respondents. Dr. Susan Hockfield , biologist and former president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, delved into revolutionary technologies now under development and how they’ll change our world. Dr. Jay Van Bavel , social psychologist and professor, revealed how harnessing the power of collaboration makes us all more efficient, more successful, and happier. Dr. Shimi Kang , psychiatrist and professor, presented the science and diversity of play, and showed us how play can help us be more innovative and resilient. “Nexus exceeded my expectations as always— superb presentations on industry innovations, technical competencies, and APEGA’s regulatory obligations.” – Nexus 2023 attendee
222
2019
2023
Our last in-person conference, in 2019, had 222 attendees. This year's virtual conference had 839 attendees, with 149 people watching the recordings afterwards, for a total of 988 participants.
70 %
satisfaction rating. Topics included regulatory reporting obligations and APEGA’s discipline hearing process. 95 % Regulatory sessions had a 70 per cent of Nexus survey respondents would recommend the conference to friends or colleagues. That’s up from 57 per cent in 2022.
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Regulatory Excellence
New Learning Management System
Our upgraded learning management system (LMS), launched in March, is helping to protect the public interest by supporting registrants’ understanding of their obligations under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act , the Code of Ethics, and APEGA’s practice standards, bulletins, and guidelines.
The LMS is where registrants can access and complete APEGA’s online regulatory training modules. •We integrated the LMS within myAPEGA, making learning more accessible and convenient. •The seamless connection to myAPEGA enables registrants to easily sign in and finish training using their existing account.
Modernizing the system has allowed for a more engaging and effective learning experience for our registrants, and we will be able to expand use of the LMS in the future by adding more learning modules. Four LMS training modules were available in 2023: •Authenticating Professional Work Products •Ethical Practice •Permit to Practice •Relying on the Work of Others and Outsourcing
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Digital Signatures With more registrants transitioning to digital workflows, the use of digital signatures has grown 278 per cent in the past five years, to almost 12,500 registrants .
As digital signature use increases, so too does APEGA’s ability to safeguard the public. Digital signatures are easily revoked once a licensed professional is no longer active on the register— removing their ability to digitally authenticate documents if they are not supposed to do so. Why are digital signatures important? Digital signatures are used by engineering and geoscience professionals to authenticate their professional work products. Encrypted digital signatures are the most secure option for signing electronic documents because they: •guarantee the document’s integrity •prove the signer is an APEGA licensed professional •prevent documents from being altered after signing With the introduction of CertifiO Cloud, licensed professionals now have the flexibility to sign documents on the go using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. This new tool was added by Notarius, our third-party digital signature provider.
Authentication 101 Authentication adds another layer to public protection. It means that a professional work product (PWP) has been created or reviewed by an APEGA licensed professional and that they take professional responsibility for it. PWPs—such as geological reports, engineered drawings, or 3D computer models—contain technical information that others rely on, and they must be authenticated. •Licensed professionals can physically authenticate PWPs with their stamp, the date, their APEGA ID, and their signature. Electronic stamps— usually a JPEG or TIFF file—can also be used. signatures were added in 2010, providing a convenient, fast, and more secure way for licensed professionals to authenticate PWPs and protect their identity. •Encrypted digital
Total active digital signatures
12,479
11,104
9,507
7,973
3,301
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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Trust & Relevance
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Our Membership We had a net increase of 1,057 registrants in 2023.
Total membership numbers Licensed professionals
Members-in-training Other
69,843
71,286
69,123
67,914
68,971
75,000
70,000
65,000
60,000
55,000
50,000
45,000
0
2023
2019
2020
2021
2022
The “licensed professionals” category includes professional members, life members, licensees, and professional licensees.
The “other” category includes provisional licensees, exam candidates, registered students, and honorary members.
This year, APEGA updated the categories we use to present our membership numbers. Discrepancies between this annual report and previous reports are due to these updated categories.
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Trust & Relevance
Total active permit holders
2022 4,619 2023 4,777
4,777
4,619
4,584
4,581
4,511
The number of active APEGA permit holders practising engineering or geoscience in Alberta increased to 4,777 in 2023. This is up from 4,619 a year earlier and slightly higher than the five-year average of 4,614.
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Permit holder demographics *
52 %
7 %
Although 52 per cent of APEGA permit holders are sole practitioners— businesses operated by one licensed professional—they make up only seven per cent of APEGA licensed
1
38 %
17 %
2–10
Just one per cent of APEGA permit holders—those with more than 100 licensed professionals working for them— employ 45 per cent of APEGA licensed
8 %
22 %
11–50
professionals who work for permit holders.
1 %
9 %
51–100
professionals who work for permit holders.
1 %
45 %
>100
Permit holders
Permit holder size (number of APEGA licensed professionals they employ)
Licensed professionals working for permit holders
*These demographics are based on self-reported data from permit holders and may have some gaps.
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Branches
In communities across Alberta, our 10 volunteer-run branches help build public trust in our professions and stronger connections with APEGA registrants.
Whether visiting schools for student outreach or organizing networking events, luncheons, or professional development webinars, the branches advance APEGA’s strategic goals and enhance professional regulation at a local level. Engaging with registrants Bringing people together was a priority for branches in 2023. Of the 92 registrant events hosted by branches—almost two events per week— 72 were in person, including: • five industry tours, from the new Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre in Lethbridge to the newly reopened astronomical observatory at the University of Alberta Engaging with students Branch volunteers returned to schools to hold Science Nights and Science Olympics events. From building two-stage rockets to squishy circuits and biodegradable plastic, students learned how engineers and geoscientists find solutions to improve our world. More than 2,400 students attended 24 outreach events. On average, that’s about one event every two weeks!
Did you know? In 2023, we had 129 volunteers ( 33 women and 96 men) on our 10 branch executive committees, comprising:
professional engineers 107 engineers-in-training 14 professional geoscientists 4 professional licensees (engineering) 3
new executives 25 % non-member (college liaison) 1
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