Authenticating Professional Work Products
New Authentication Practice Bulletin
The Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings practice bulletin is in effect and enforceable as of February 1, 2023. This new practice bulletin supports the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard, and defines and clarifies authentication and validation requirements for as-built, record, and as-acquired drawings, and change orders, change directives, and site instructions.
Substantive Revision to Authenticating Professional Work Products
Council has approved a substantive revision to the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard, which will provide further clarity on the requirements for validating professional work products (PWPs). The revision specifies a Responsible Member of either profession may carry out the act of validation provided the Responsible Member meets their obligations under Section 2.2 of the standard.
The revised practice standard is effective and enforceable starting January 1, 2022. The Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard has been enforceable as of November 1, 2020.
Areas addressed in the practice standard include:
- defining professional work products to enable licensed professionals to better determine what should be authenticated
- defining a Responsible Member's validation of professional work products
- standardizing authentication and validation formats to enable licensed professionals, permit holder, and the public to easily identify the authenticator and the validator, as well as the dates of authentication and validation
- discussing the uses of digital technology to authenticate professional work products
- setting the requirements for the authentication of professional work products imported into or exported from Alberta
- providing considerations for the retention and storage of authenticated professional work products
Authentication Practice Bulletins
APEGA has published two practice bulletins on specific practice areas that support the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard. A professional practice bulletin provides clarity and guidance on a specific subject related to professional practice. Practice bulletins go into effect and enforcement upon publication date and remain until the practice bulletin is repealed.
Authentication Requirements for As-Built, Record, and As-Acquired Drawings
Clarifying Authentication Requirements for Drilling and Completions
Stamps
The new APEGA stamp has been redesigned to include the licensed professional's APEGA ID number. It is not required you order a new stamp, however, licensed professionals will need to manually insert their APEGA ID number to ensure they meet all authentication requirements. To order a new stamp, visit the Stamps webpage.
APEGA has reintroduced the Permit to Practice stamp for Responsible Members to use in validating a professional work product. Permit stamps include a line for the requirement APEGA RM ID number to be inserted into the document. If you are a Responsible Member and would like to order a physical permit stamp or an electronic image of the permit stamp, you may do so through our current stamp supplier, Royal Rubber Stamp & Sign Co., by calling 1-800-272-8859. Permit stamps are not required but encouraged.
Authentication Requirements
Physical Authentication
- an ink impression or electronic image of the licensed professional's stamp
- the licensed professional's handwritten signature
- the handwritten authentication date
- the licensed professional's APEGA ID number
Digital Authentication
- an electronic image of the licensed professional's stamp
- the licensed professional's digital signature (supplied by an APEGA-approved provider) and an electronic image of the licensed professional's handwritten signature
- the authentication date included with the digital signature and inserted as an electronic image
- the licensed professional's APEGA ID number
Validation Requirements
Physical Validation
- the permit holder’s name and Permit to Practice number
- the Responsible Member's handwritten signature
- the Responsible Member's APEGA ID number
- the date the Responsible Member signed the PWP, which may be different than the date it was authenticated
Digital Validation
- the permit holder’s name and Permit to Practice number
- the Responsible Member's APEGA ID number
- the date the Responsible Member signed the PWP, which may be different than the date it was authenticated
- the Responsible Member's digital signature (supplied by an APEGA-approved provider) and an electronic image of the Responsible Member's handwritten signature
Online Learning Module
The online learning module outlines the requirements of the Authenticating Professional Work Products practice standard and the obligations of licensed professionals, Responsible Members, and permit holders. This module is available to APEGA registrants through your myAPEGA account.
To access the module from the dashboard in myAPEGA, click on the Learning Modules tab in the blue navigation bar. If you don't see the blue navigation bar, select the menu icon (≡) in the top-left corner to expand the full menu options.