APEGGA’s Practice Standards Committee has prepared
near-final drafts of a revised guideline and a revised position
paper. Also, a third document has reached its final version
and is now available online and in hardcopy.
The position paper Concepts of Professionalism has been
revised to discuss the professionalism ideal by answering
the following questions: “What is professionalism?
What are the implications for APEGGA members and their
actions? What are the challenges to professionalism? How
can professionalism be encouraged?”
It’s an important position paper for all members.
If professional standards are not maintained, the privilege
of self governance can be revoked.
The guideline Advertising of Professional Services has
been updated to more fully discuss electronic advertising.
Advertising of professional services has significant potential
to influence the public perception of the professions and
the relationships between members and their clients.
This guideline establishes the parameters within which
all advertising of professional services decisions are
to be made.
The two documents are available here:
You may request a hardcopy of the
drafts by calling (780) 426-3990 or toll free, 1-800-661-7020.
Before completing final drafts, the Practice Standards
Committee welcomes comments that may help improve the
documents. Please direct your suggestions, before March
31, to:
APEGGA Practice Standards Committee
c/o Lianne M. Lefsrud, P.Eng.
Assistant Director Professional Practice
1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 4A2
E-mail: llefsrud@apegga.org
Concepts of Professionalism
Following are few excerpts from the Concepts of Professionalism position paper.
. . . With self-regulation, Professional (Members) are granted
a fair degree of autonomy, prestige, and influence. It is
only through the trust of the public, that they are afforded
such autonomy. Professional status should not be taken for
granted – others continually struggle for such privileges.
However, the privilege of being a self-regulated profession
is not without responsibility and associated accountability.
To protect public welfare, professionals must continually
conduct themselves to the highest ethical and professional
standards. The standard of ethical behaviour supersedes what
is considered legal. . .
. . . To continually protect the public, it is essential
for professionals to engage in lifelong learning such as
sustained study of professional ethics and technical issues
by reading journals or attending technical courses, seminars,
and conferences. Professionals identify with the professed
body of knowledge and are willing to expend time and energy
to keep up to date with it, promote its growth, expansion,
development and use in the service of society. . .
. . . Professionals must recognize that trust is carefully
conferred and must be protected. Trust is fragile and easily
lost. Yet, they can’t serve the public or even clients,
if their professional judgments aren’t trusted. . .
. . . The mentor should act as a role model of professionalism
and ask him or herself: “What can I do to exhibit professionalism?
Have I lived up to the Code of Ethics day by day? Am I proud
to call myself a Professional Engineer/Geologist/Geophysicist?
Have I demonstrated expertise and commitment to the growth
and development of the profession?”. . .
Advertising of Professional Services
Following are few excerpts from the guideline Advertising
of Professional Services.
. . . The Code of Ethics establishes the duty of Professional
Members to maintain the dignity and prestige of their profession.
They must act with fairness and good faith toward other Professional
Members in advertising professional services and maintain
the image of the professions. Advertising of professionals
services has significant potential to influence public perception
of the professions as well as the individual relationships
between members and their clients. . .
. . . Electronic media is of ever increasing important and
popularity on the local, national and global scene for the
dissemination and gathering of information. With such a large
audience it becomes doubly important that the guiding principles
for advertising by Professional Members be carefully adhered
to. . .
Guideline for Environmental Practice
A third guideline is now complete and posted on-line. The
updated Guideline for Environmental Practice was approved
by Council for publication.
The guideline is a revision of the 1994 document Environmental
Practice – A Guideline. The new version recognizes
changes in environmental standards and practices in Alberta,
including those relating to sustainability and climate change.
For a hardcopy, call (780) 426-3990 or 1-800-661-7020.
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