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Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 1
REGISTRAR’S REPORT TO COUNCIL
For September 2013 ASTTBC Council Meeting
(Covering the Period June 1, 2013 to September 16, 2013)
The summary of activities presented in this report describe efforts to improve quality and consistency that
is essential for ASTTBC to carry out its obligations as specified in ASTTBC Act, Section 3, Objects of the
Association.
1. Risk Management
The complexity of several complaints received by ASTTBC in April and May 2013 prompted a meeting
on June 10, 2013 of all Managers / Investigators of Technical Specialist programs with ASTTBC’s Legal
Counsel Gregory Miller, LLB, PEng. Mr. Miller provided clarification and examples of actions both
within and beyond ASTTBC’s mandate. The recommendations from the meeting include a review of all
Certification Board policies, the insertion of disclaimers in ASTTBC documents, and the preparation of
guidelines and contract templates for ASTTBC members when providing mentor or advisory services.
2. Disclaimer Statements
The policy documents for the Board of Examiners (BoE), the Practice Review Board (PRB), the
Accreditation Board and 8 Technical Specialist Certification Boards revealed that existing disclaimers
make little or no reference to limiting liability claims against the Association. Three disclaimer statements
were prepared and submitted to Legal Counsel for review. The disclaimer statements that have been
summited to ASTTBC Council for approval clarify the limits of ASTTBC liability.
3. Guidelines for Board Member Term of Office
ASTTBC Regulations Chapter 10.0 describing Boards and Committees specifies that Council appoint
members annually. The Regulations and the policies of various Boards do not specify the number of
consecutive years a volunteer member should serve. At the November 2, 2007 Council meeting Terms of
Office and Guidelines for ASTTBC Boards were approved. Implementation of the Council-approved
guidelines has not been consistent with all Boards. The Revised Guidelines define the term start date, and
end date for all Board appointments thus clarifying time expectations of volunteers to serve on a Board.
Implementing the Revised Guidelines will provide opportunity for more members to voluntarily
participate on an ASTTBC Board. The key features in the revised guidelines include:
The duration of one Term of Office for a Board member is three consecutive calendar years.
Volunteers will be recruited and invited to participate on a Board for one term.
A second consecutive term of three years on the same Board may be possible upon the
recommendation of the relevant Board and approval of the Council.
Succession planning to ensure consistency in Board functions is included in the revised policy.
The proposed revision to the Term of Office Guidelines for Board Members including the schedule of
Board appointments over the next 3 years was presented to Council for approval.
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 2
4. Mandatory Continuing Professional Development
In 2007, a voluntary, self-managed system of identifying and recording CPD activities was developed and
implemented. The self-managed program enabled members who regularly participated in CPD events to
enter the information in their secure account on the ASTTBC website. ASTTBC did not monitor entries
made by members nor was it mandatory for members to comply with the CPD guidelines.
Many professional regulatory authorities1 now require a pre-determined amount of CPD annually as a
condition of membership renewal. Furthermore, ASTTBC Code of Ethics Principle 6 states “Members of
ASTTBC shall keep informed to maintain proficiency and competency, to advance the body of
knowledge within their discipline and further opportunities for the professional development of their
associates.”
The mandatory CPD requirement will ensure that all ASTTBC members remain current in their
discipline. By entering the CPD information in the website the member creates a permanent record of
professional development. Accumulating a minimum of 20 CPD points annually for membership renewal
provides assurances that ASTTBC members are current in their discipline and that they are complying
with the ASTTBC Code of Ethics and Practice Guidelines. The proposed policy on Mandatory Reporting
of CPD was presented to ASTTBC Council.
5. Ontario Human Rights Commission Decision on Required Canadian Work Experience
In July 2013, the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner (OHRC) announced that employers and
regulatory authorities demanding Canadian work experience, as a requirement of employment or
registration is discriminatory. The OHRC indicated best practices to avoid challenges of being
discriminatory included among others: 1) Listing essential competencies in a job description so that
candidates can show how their skills match the requirements, and 2) Give candidates opportunity to show
their competencies through an interview, practical test, simulated job setting or employment on contract
or probationary basis. A summary of the presentation given by the OHRC is provided in Annex 1.
6. Construction Safety Certification Board Policy Revision
There has not been a major revision to the Construction Safety Certification (CSC) Policy since the
technical specialist program was approved in 1997. Fifteen years of changes in the construction industry
combined with recent developments in the creation of the BC Construction Safety Alliance have resulted
in the CSO Panel preparing a substantial revision to the CSC policy and the construction safety program.
The major changes in the revised policy include:
1. Creation of a laddered, three-tiered certification starting with:
Provisional Construction Safety Officer (CSO(P)),
Construction Safety Officer (CSO) and
Registered Construction Safety Officer (RCSO).
2. Competency-based standards have been developed for purposes of assessing applications and for
accrediting training programs.
3. The designation of Trades Safety Coordinator (TSC) has been discontinued.
4. The name Construction Safety Certification Panel has been changed to Construction Safety
Certification Board (CSCB).
The CSCB policy was presented to the Council for approval.
1 Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEG BC), Architects Institute of BC (AIBC),
Association of Professional Foresters of BC (APFBC)
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 3
7. Registered Technology Manager (RTMgr) Policy Revision
A review of the RTMgr Certification Policy identified several areas that need revision to improve clarity
and consistency of interpretation. The revised policy includes improved criteria and competency-based
standards for certification as an RTMgr or as a Provisional RTMgr. The revision provides greater clarity
for applicants and increases consistency in the assessment of applications. The Draft revised policy was
presented to the Council for approval.
8. Board of Examiners (BoE) Policy Revision
The Board of Examiners Policy was last revised in 2011. Significant changes have occurred since the last
revision including introduction of the Technology Registrations Canada online application process that
uses the National Technology Benchmarks for competency-based assessment of applications. The
revised Policy will improve clarity to the applicant, the File Reviewers and the Board of Examiners when
assessing the qualification, competencies and work experience The revised BoE policy includes the
following changes:
1. Removal of redundant text and reorganization of the document for more logical flow of
information presented for easier understanding.
2. The disclaimer statement has been substantially changed.
3. Graduate Technologist, Graduate Technician and Provisional designations are valid for 5 years.
In the sixth year, members in these categories will be reclassified as Associates.
4. An Associate may continue in this classification for as long as they wish.
5. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) will be more formally implemented to
determine the education qualifications and competencies of applicants from non-accredited
programs or for applicants claiming non-formal or experiential learning.
6. Revised guidelines will be developed and trial tested by File Reviewers and the BoE to evaluate
the applicant’s education qualifications, competencies and work experience compared to the
National Technology Benchmarks, Workplace and Community Integration Competencies and the
ASTTBC Hierarchy of Work Experience Levels.
7. The revised policy accepts documented evidence of relevant work experience achieved anywhere
in the world. The requirement for Canadian experience is replaced by a requirement of
providing evidence of Workplace and Community Integration Competencies and ASTTBC levels
of work experience.
8. Special considerations category has been discontinued because under the revised BoE policy such
applications will be assessed using competency-based standards and increased application of
PLAR.
9. Guidelines on the Terms of Office for ASTTBC Board Members have been included.
10. The word “academic” is replaced by education or education qualifications.
11. Appendixes have been added to the BoE policy to provide supporting documentation on
standards or reference to other pertinent ASTTBC policies.
12. A training program on the new policy has been developed and scheduled for File Reviewers to
attend either at ASTTBC or by webinar on October 24, 2013.
9. Recruitment of Volunteer File Reviewers
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 4
In July 2013, a broadcast message was sent to AScT members with 5 or more years membership
requesting volunteers to serve as Board of Examiners File Reviewers. The message highlighted several
features of being a file reviewer including: 1) Good for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
points. 2) Files may be reviewed online 24 / 7; and 3) Files may be reviewed regardless of where you live
or work. Within 72 hours of the broadcast we received positive replies from 43 members from all over
BC, in Alberta and one from Oman. The 24 / 7 borderless and paperless access feature of our new online
application process at www.technologyregistrationscanada.ca is likely a contributing factor in the
excellent response rate. Over 50 volunteers have been invited to join a training session in October on
using the Technology Registrations Canada (TRC) online process to review and evaluate application files.
Volunteers have the option of attending in person or by webinar.
10. BC Funded “One-year Canadian Work Experience Project”
In July 2013, the final report of Canadian Work Experience project was submitted to the BC Ministry of
Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training (JTST). The Project had 3 objectives: i) Define the performance
indicators typically expected of employees that have a minimum of one-year Canadian work experience;
ii) Develop alternate methods to achieve the intended outcome of having the equivalent of one-year
Canadian work experience; and iii) Design and develop a work experience log book or equivalent
instrument to describe and document the knowledge, skills, attitudes and performance expected of
employees that have one or more years of on-the-job experience in Canada.
Consultations in 8 locations throughout BC exceeded expectations with 94 participants representing 83
employers providing valuable information identifying competencies and traits of experienced workers
compared to those with no previous work experience in BC. The performance indicators that employees
with one or two years experience demonstrated were clustered into 5 competency areas. Each competency
cluster had from 8 to 12 observable and measurable indicators. This information formed the basis of a
method to document achievement of the essential workplace and community integration competencies in
a work experience log book.
11. Practice Review Board (PRB) Activity
In June and September 2013, the PRB dealt with 28 complaints of which 17 involved Registered Onsite
Wastewater Practitioners (ROWP) 3 Property Inspectors, 7 Registered Fire Protection Technicians and 1
against other members. A total of 48 complaints have been received since January 1, 2013 compared to
35 for the same period in 2012.
12. Property Inspections
Mr. Peter Link, CTech, CPI, RRFA submitted notice of his intention to retire as Manger, Property
Inspections effective January 2014. Peter has been instrumental in the development and promotion of the
Property inspection certification and registration program since 1996 when the program started.
13. ASTTBC Staff Changes
Kathy Rozek, Senior Coordinator, Technical Specialists Registrations confirmed her intention of retiring
effective January 2014. A staffing strategy was developed to distribute registrations workload to existing
staff.
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 5
In July 2013, Danielle Mac Gregor, Coordinator of AScT and CTech Registrations submitted her
resignation in order to pursue a career in teaching. Danielle’s resignation effective September 13, 2013
necessitated a revision to the succession plan we had in place leading up to Kathy’s retirement. Frauke
Bracht, Registrations Assistant who joined ASTTBC in February 2013, will become Registrations
Coordinator taking over from Danielle.
Recruitment and selection of a Coordinator, Technical Specialists was initiated in July 2013. On
September 3, 2013, Erin Macedo joined the ASTTBC staff as Coordinator of six technical specialist
programs2. Julie Li, Coordinator, Technical Specialists, will be looking after 4 technical specialist
programs3. The scheduled transition for these changes has been advanced from December 2013 to
September 16, 2013 thus allowing time for training and adjustment to the new assignments prior to
Kathy’s retirement.
14. Registration Statistics
There has been a 3.0% increase in the number of members registered as Technologists or Technicians
compared to September 2012. For the same period, there was a 5.3% increase in technical specialist
registrations. As of September 16, 2013, ASTTBC membership is 8,050 technologists and technicians
plus 2,019 technical specialists of whom 308 have dual designation resulting in a total of 9,761 registered
members. Annex 1 provides membership registration status by discipline.
2 Registered Fire Protection Technicians, Property Inspectors, Structural Steel Detailers, Registered Site
Improvement Surveyors, Public Works Inspectors, and Building Designers.
3 Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioners, Construction Safety Officers, Electrical Work Practitioners, and
Registered Technology Managers.
ANNEX 1
ASTTBC MEMBERSHIP BY DISCIPLINE As of September 16, 2013
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 6
2011 Retention Retention
Summary totals as of: Dec Apr Sep Dec 2011/2012 Apr Sep Dec 2012 / 2013
31 1 16 31 Dec to Dec 1 16 31 Sep to Sep
1 Biological Sciences 216 215 210 241 111.6% 230 237 112.9%
2 Biomedical Engineering 95 93 84 85 89.5% 84 79 94.0%
3 Building 895 921 877 885 98.9% 912 875 99.8%
4 Chemical 204 201 173 172 84.3% 166 162 93.6%
5 Civil 2,393 2,423 2,281 2,307 96.4% 2,468 2,383 104.5%
6 Electrical 584 582 568 574 98.3% 610 597 105.1%
7 Electronics 1,374 1,383 1,269 1,305 95.0% 1,303 1,220 96.1%
8 Environmental 191 201 199 200 104.7% 209 208 104.5%
9 Forest Engineering 15 15 19 19 126.7% 16 18 94.7%
10 Gas & Petroleum 106 108 108 109 102.8% 112 111 102.8%
11 Geomatics 397 387 338 345 86.9% 366 333 98.5%
12 Industrial Technology 79 81 80 80 101.3% 80 81 101.3%
13 Informaiton Technology 125 136 74 87 69.6% 109 97 131.1%
14 Instrumentation 3 4 7 7 233.3% 12 15 214.3%
15 Mechanical 1,447 1,451 1,319 1,343 92.8% 1,350 1,404 106.4%
16 Metallurgical 47 67 66 66 140.4% 66 64 97.0%
17 Mining 85 81 72 73 85.9% 96 91 126.4%
Honorary members 72 72 71 73 101.4% 73 75 105.6%
Total AScT + CTech 8,328 8,421 7,815 7,971 95.7% 8,262 8,050 0 103.0%
1 Construction Safety 187 187 208 236 126.2% 255 247 118.8%
2 Fire Protection 753 753 749 790 104.9% 806 797 106.4%
3 House & Property Insp. 190 199 178 179 94.2% 181 170 95.5%
4 Onsite Wastewater 563 563 547 571 101.4% 593 566 103.5%
5 Public Works Inspector 79 79 85 86 108.9% 89 86 101.2%
6 Steel Detailing 26 29 26 29 111.5% 26 25 96.2%
7 Building Design 66 68 73 74 112.1% 75 73 100.0%
8 Site Improvement Survey 22 23 22 22 100.0% 21 22 100.0%
9 Reg. Technology Manager 21 25 29 29 138.1% 30 33 113.8%
Total Tech . Specs. 1,907 1,926 1,917 2,016 105.7% 2,076 2,019 0 105.3%
1 Construction Safety 7 7 7 7 100.0% 9 9 128.6%
2 Fire Protection 20 20 20 24 120.0% 24 21 105.0%
3 House & Property Insp. 70 70 70 72 102.9% 70 63 90.0%
4 Onsite Wastewater 18 18 18 24 133.3% 23 21 116.7%
5 Public Works Inspector 54 54 54 58 107.4% 60 59 109.3%
6 Steel Detailing 6 6 6 7 116.7% 7 7 116.7%
7 Building Design 66 68 73 74 112.1% 75 73 100.0%
8 Site Improvement Survey 22 23 22 22 100.0% 21 22 100.0%
9 Reg. Technology Manager 21 25 29 29 138.1% 30 33 113.8%
Sub-total 284 291 299 317 111.6% 319 308 0 103.0%
9,951 10,056 9,433 9,670 97.2% 10,019 9,761 0 103.5%
Notes:1) Includes AScT, CTech, Provisionals, Associates, GradTechs, and Students.
2) Cancellation of membership for non-payment of dues occurs in August.
3) Students in accredited technology programs are added to ASTTBC register in October.
2012
AScT and CTech Disciplines
TechnicalSpecialists
Grand Total Individual Members
2013
AScT or CTech Plus Technical Specialization (Dual Designation)
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 7
ANNEX 2
Summary Presentation by the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner
Registrar’s Report 2013 09 26 Page 8