THE CERTIFICATION EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
(7) “qualified person”—The defini- tion of “qualified person” in the Instrument does not include engi- neering and geoscience techni- cians, engineers and geoscientists in training, and equivalent des- ignations that restrict the indi- vidual’s scope of practice or require the individual to practise under the supervision of another pro- fessional engineer, professional geoscientist, or equivalent.3
Paragraph (d) of the definition requires a qualified person to be “in good standing with a profes- sional association.” We interpret this to include satisfying any related registration, licensing, or similar requirements. Canadian provincial and territorial legisla- tion requires a qualified person to be registered if practising in a jurisdiction of Canada. It is the responsibility of the qualified person, in compliance with their professional association’s code of ethics, to comply with laws requir- ing licensure of geoscientists and engineers.
Paragraph (e) of the definition includes a test for what consti- tutes an acceptable membership designation in a foreign profes- sional association. Appendix A to the Policy provides a list of the membership designations that we think meet this test as of the effective date of the Instrument. We will update the list periodi- cally. In assessing whether we think a membership designation meets the test, we will consider whether it is substantially simi- lar to a membership designation in a professional association in a jurisdiction of Canada.
Subparagraph (e)(ii)(B) includes the concept of “demonstrated exper- tise in the field of mineral explo- ration or mining.” We generally interpret this to mean having at least five years of professional experience and satisfying an addi- tional entrance requirement relat- ing to level of responsibility. Some examples of such a requirement are:
(a) at least three years in a posi- tion of responsibility where the
person was depended on for significant participation and decision-making;
(b) experience of a responsible nature and involving the exer- cise of independent judgment in at least three of those years;
(c) at least five years in a posi- tion of major responsibility, or a senior technical position of responsibility.
The CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (http://web.
cim.org/standards/MenuPage. cfm?sections=177&menu=178, adopted 5/10/14) contains additional guidance for determining whether one meets the definition of qualified person:
“Determination of what constitutes relevant experience can be a dif- ficult area and common sense has to be exercised.”
“The Qualified Person(s) should be clearly satisfied that they could face their peers and demonstrate competence and relevant expe- rience in the commodity, type of deposit and situation under consideration. If doubt exists, the person must either seek or obtain opinions from other colleagues or demonstrate that he or she has obtained assistance from experts in areas where he or she lacked the necessary expertise.”
Examples of various types of experi- ence are provided in the CIM Definition Standards.
Aside from the requirements to meet the JORC and Canadian requirements for geoscientists in the mining industry, comparison with the requirements of similar peer organizations, AAPG, EFG, GSL, MMSA, and SEG, suggests that 8 years of experience is a reasonable requirement for AIPG. In particular, AIPG is the US vetting organization for the EFG, which has an 8-year experience requirement. CPGs wishing to obtain the EFG’s European Geologist title, which covers all types of geoscience in most of the European countries, can do so by hav- ing AIPG send their CPG application, an updated resume, and an application fee to the EFG; granting of the European Geologist title is then automatic as long as the CPG pays EFG’s dues each
3. “Practise” is the correct Canadian spelling used in the quoted document. 4. Richard J. Proctor, 2003, Prologue—What is AIPG?: A history of AIPG 1963-2003, AIPG, 390 p. on p. vii.
year and files the required CPD report. Thus the 8-year experience requirement should be kept for reciprocity with the EFG.
Aside from the foregoing consider- ations, AIPG “was founded in 1963 to promote the profession of geology and to provide certification for geologists as a vehicle for establishing a stan- dard of excellence for the profession.”4 Maintaining that standard of excellence for the profession requires AIPG to have certification requirements that exceed the minimum standards of other orga- nizations and that generally equal the requirements of similar peer organiza- tions. Therefore, the ad hoc committee recommends that the 8-year experience requirement for certification be retained.
Should AIPG Include a ‘Responsible Position’ Requirement as Part of the Experience Requirement?
Several of AIPG’s peer geoscience organizations, AusIMM, Canadian National Instrument 43-101, SEG, and SME’s Registered Member require- ments, require that part of the experi- ence requirement be in a position of responsibility. The SME is the only orga- nization to define “position of responsi- bility.” The SME’s definition is:
“[A] position of responsibility, defined as one in which the individual was depended on for significant partic- ipation, management and decision making and that the applicant is capable of scoping, supervising, and checking relevant work to ensure it meets industry stan- dards.”
Companion Policy 43-101CP to National Instrument 43-101 (2011 edi- tion) provides some examples of the types of position that indicate a position of responsibility, namely:
“(a) at least three years in a position of responsibility where the person was depended on for significant participation and decision-mak- ing;
(b) experience of a responsible nature and involving the exercise of inde- pendent judgment in at least three of those years;
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