The Alberta Professional Governance Act (PGA)
The Professional Governance Act (PGA) brings twenty-two professional regulatory organizations (PROs) under one act. It includes the same overarching direction for all these PROs, such as governance, accountability, professional practice, and professional conduct, while profession-specific schedules and regulations are being developed for each in their Policy Development Documents (PDDs).
The PGA provides a significant opportunity to modernize the legislation that regulates Alberta’s chemists. It will make effective changes to our regulatory toolbox while ensuring our mandate to be acting in the best interest of Albertans and public safety.
The province has shared the following timeline for implementation for the Association of the Chemical Profession of Alberta (ACPA):
- Fall 2025: approval of the General Regulation
- Spring 2026: approval of select PRO regulations, including the ACPA
- Summer 2026: the PGA and supporting regulations come into force for select PROs.
At proclamation (the date this legislation will come into effect--June 2026) each of the organizations involved will see their existing acts (Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act (POARA) for the ACPA) repealed and formally replaced by the PGA.
The ACPA will continue to collaborate with the government in developing specific regulations for chemistry, which may, in the future, include mandatory registration and a new scope of practice (see notes below).
For the ACPA, this means a shift from our current legislation under POARA to the new PGA. This change will give us more self-governing authority to manage our professional regulatory matters through updated bylaws, while also providing a consistent framework for items like professional conduct, discipline, and continuing competence across all regulated professions under the act.
The ACPA Board and staff have been actively involved in this transition process, meeting with the province over the past two years to provide feedback on the draft General Regulation.
Our legislative committee has also been engaged on key items, such as membership classifications, to ensure that the unique needs of our profession are accurately represented and to inform us of the opinions we share with the government.
We have met with the province to discuss the ACPA specific regulation (PDD document). This document has been reviewed and commented on by our legislative and registration committees. In the meantime, we are also working to review and update all our bylaws and policies, which will be issued for review to the Board
We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward with this important transition.
ACPA members are encouraged to ensure they have up-to-date contact information in their ACPA profile to receive updates and remain informed of upcoming changes, progress on implementation, and how the legislation may affect them.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the chemistry profession.
Links
Government of Alberta Fact Sheet
About ACPA
ACPA is the regulator of Chemistry in Alberta, safeguarding the public by enforcing professional and ethical standards. Our members sustain innovation and economic growth in our province, inspiring the new generation of chemists.
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Notes:
Overview of the Act:
The PGA will modernize, consolidate, and streamline nine separate acts and twenty-eight regulations governing twenty-two different non-health professional regulatory organizations (PROs) into a single, unified act, including engineering, accounting, veterinary, biological and chemistry professions.
The primary goal is to promote good governance, consistency, and transparency, ensuring PROs like the ACPA are effectively protecting the public interest.
Voluntary registration: Currently applies to the ACPA where registration is only required if an individual wishes to use a restricted title or engage in specified activities.
Restricted title: where only a registrant may use a restricted title. Exclusive right to title for the use of the titles “Professional Chemist, P.Chem.” and “Chemist in Training, CIT.”
Restricted activities where only registrants who are authorized may engage in providing designated professional services to the public.
Exclusive scope of practice where only registrants may be authorized to engage in the provision of services within a scope of practice.
Mandatory registration: where individuals who meet requirements for registration and wish to provide specific professional services to the public must register.