Professional Qualifications
Aquality's staff is made up of Professional Biologists (P. Biol.), Biologists in Training (BIT), Professional Agrologists (P.Ag), Agrologists in Training (AIT), Qualified Aquatic Environmental Specialists (QAES), and Authenticating Professionals (AP).
Professional Biologists (P.Biol)
In 1991, the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists was registered under the Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act (POARA), and its members were granted exclusive right to the use of the title of Professional Biologist. Professional Biologists are required to demonstrate minimum levels of education, experience, and practical application, and to follow a Code of Ethics. They are also governed by responsibilities to the public, to their employers or clients, and to their profession. A history of the biological societies in Alberta can be found here.
Qualified Aquatic Environmental Specialists (QAES)
In Alberta, some authorities have allowed for certain regulatory tasks and governmental functions to be delegated to qualified environmental specialists based on training, years of experience, certification, affiliation with certain organizations, insurance, etc. Under the Water Act Codes of Practice, Qualified Aquatic Environmental Specialists (QAES) may be used to design and provide acceptable alternative designs to those specified in the Codes. A Qualified Aquatic Environmental Specialists (QAES) is an individual with a post-secondary degree or technical diploma in biological sciences, or has educational equivalencies.
Authenticating Professional (AP)
An authenticating professional is a qualification that is gained through professional experience and demonstration of competency, that allows you to review and sign off on reports, work plans, etc. within your area of expertise.
In providing his/her professional seal, this conveys a message of reliability to the regulators and to the public. The signer also takes on the professional responsibility for the work that was signed, whether it was created themselves, directly supervised or not.
In Alberta there are ten professional organizations that can hold this designation with one of them being Professional Biologists within the realm of wetland sciences.
In Alberta, Professional Regulatory Organizations are self-regulating organizations that are guided by provincial legislation and regulations. These organizations have been given the authority within Alberta to regulate their respective professions or professionals in a manner to ensure that the public safety and interests are protected. Functionally, these organizations are responsible for licensing, accrediting, or designating qualified individuals who wish to practice within a specified field in Alberta.
For Wetland practitioners that hold the authenticating professional designation, a list of requirements must be met for membership and to hold your standing within a PRO-10 organization in Alberta.
An Authenticating wetland professional must:
1) Be in good standing as a regulated member in their respective Professional Regulatory Organization.
2) Receive a declaration statement from an individual claiming competency, for one or more of the following authentication points:
- Wetland Assessments and Impact Reports
- Replacement design and monitoring plan
- Validation
- Verification
3) Receive a letter of recommendation from at least one authenticating wetland professional that includes endorsement of the individuals competencies and/or addressees the five year environmental and three year wetland experience practical work standard
4) Provide a copy of an approval number of an approved wetland-specific regulatory application made under the Alberta water act.
5) Provide a resume that clearly demonstrates five years of post degree practical environmental experience, and three years of practical Alberta wetland experience.