Finding a Consultant

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f.a.q.s

As a regulator, APEGA does not recommend or endorse any particular professional engineers or geoscientists.  For your protection, you should ensure that you only consider licensed consultants who can legally offer engineering or geoscientific services in Alberta.  There are many industry associations that may provide referrals.  In addition to the societies listed below, you may also check the phone directory (on-line or hard copy) or the internet for various engineering and geoscience specializations.

Confirming Licensure Status

Before you consider any consultant offering engineering or geoscience services you should confirm that they are licensed to offer those services in Alberta.  Only licensed individuals and companies are entitled to practice engineering or geoscience in Alberta or offer those services to the public.  Anyone offering or providing unlicensed services may be in violation of the Engineering and Geosciences Professions (EGP) Act and subject to penalty under that Act. Only APEGA can grant licenses to practice engineering and geoscience in Alberta.  The only way to confirm if someone is currently licensed by APEGA and therefore entitled to engage in reserved practice or use reserved titles is to check the APEGA Registers.

Selecting a Consultant

For you to obtain the best value from consulting services, fees should be derived from an agreed scope of work. APEGA encourages using Qualification Based Selection (QBS) criteria, a procedure where a consultant is chosen on the basis of the best possible qualifications and fees are negotiated after a mutual agreement in scope of work has been reached. Those wishing such information should refer to the APEGA guideline Selecting Engineering, Geological, and Geophysical Consultants , the Association of Consulting Engineering of Canada (ACEC) document Qualification Based Selection, or the Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) document Qualifications Based Selection System.

f.a.q.s

Q: What if someone says that they consider themselves qualified to practice engineering or geoscience in Alberta, but is not licensed with APEGA?

A: Only licensed individuals or corporations can engage in the practice of engineering or geoscience in Alberta, or offer those services to the public.  If they should carry out these activities while not licensed they are subject to prosecution under the EGP Act.  In addition to declining their offer for services, you may want to consider advising the APEGA Compliance Department that you have been offered services by someone unlicensed.

Q: How can I determine if an APEGA member (individual or permit holding organization) is the subject of any complaints or has been disciplined?

A: Complaints are unproven allegations and are confidential until such time as charges have been laid and a notice of hearing has been issued. Discipline Committee decisions are available to the public, and some, but not all, are published in The PEG. You can search the monthly publication on APEGA's web site for a member's name. However, you are also welcome to call APEGA's Registration Department and ask if a specific member (individual or permit holder) has a discipline decision in their registration file.