In 2017, Atlantic PIRI commissioned a study in support of the development of consistent harmonized requirements for qualifying site professionals in Atlantic Canada. As part of the study environmental regulators across the country were asked how important the following factors were for determining the qualifications of site professionals:

• education;
• experience;
• liability coverage (ability for the public to be compensated for errors and omissions);
  ethical practice (a code of ethics);
• skill maintenance activities/continuing professional development; and
• discipline process (mechanism for public/regulator to complain/discipline/ disqualify site professional for incompetence).

Experience was universally considered to be the most important factor for demonstrating actual ability. Experience was also considered the most important factor to include in a set of qualification requirements. Atlantic Canada’s environmental regulators determined that increasing (or more clearly delineating) experience requirements for site professionals in Atlantic Canada would serve to increase regulator/public confidence in site professionals.

The purpose of this guideline is to provide a harmonized approach that outlines consistent relevant expectations for qualifying site professionals in Atlantic Canada, while acknowledging that each jurisdiction will define the qualification requirements applicable within their own province.

As such, Atlantic PIRI pursued the development of a standard set of experience requirements, which will safeguard confidence in site professionals and enhance harmonization within Atlantic Canada.