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The Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta, or ASET, is a not-for-profit, self-governing organization in Alberta, Canada. It is a professional association that promotes the interests of the engineering and applied science technician and technologist professions in industry, educational institutions, the public, and government.
ASET evaluates the qualifications of individuals who voluntarily apply for certification and issues professional credentials accordingly. ASET acts as an advocate for the profession to governments and the general public. It also delivers a number of benefits and services to its members and their employers.[1]
History
On 1963-08-01, with the sponsorship of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), the Alberta Society of Engineering Technicians was incorporated. In 1966 the name was adjusted to the Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists. Then, in 2005, the name was updated to properly reflect the broad range of disciplines in which ASET certifies, thus becoming the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta, while the established acronym ASET was retained.[2]
Governance and Operation
Although ASET interacts closely with the provincial and federal governments, it is not a governmental organization and receives no governmental funding. ASET's activities are primarily funded by annual membership dues.
The association's affairs are governed by an elected council of technician and technologist members. Much of the association's operation is aided by volunteer members. A paid, administrative staff operates out of the ASET office in Edmonton, including the Executive Director who liaises with the council.
Founding Statements
Mission Statement
- To benefit the public and the profession by being the premier regulator, service provider to and promoter of safe, high-quality professional technology practice.
Vision Statement
- To be publicly recognized as certifying and promoting technology professions to support Alberta’s success.
National identity through CCTT
Each of the 10 Canadian Provinces has a society similar in nature to ASET. In 1970, a coordinating body representing engineering and applied science technicians and technologists in Canada was formed, known as the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT). Provincial societies appoint directors to CCTT for its governance.
Certification
ASET includes a panel of professional members that evaluates applications for certification and registers engineering and applied science technicians and technologists who meet established Canadian standards in education and experience.
Designations
ASET confers the following post-nominal designations:
- C.Tech. (Certified Technician)
- C.E.T. (Certified Engineering Technologist)
- R.E.T. (Registered Engineering Technologist)
Other types of ASET membership include:
- Student - enrolled in the final half of a recognized Alberta technical institute or college training program that will lead to eventual professional certification in one of the applied science, information or engineering technologies.
- T.T. (Technician/Technologist in Training) - open to any person who resides in the province of Alberta or the Canadian Territories and who graduated from a Canadian institute of technology or college whose course content is approved as being satisfactory for certification as a technician or technologist, but who has not completed the full two years' related work experience requirement.
- R.P.T.(Eng.) (Registered Professional Technologist, Engineering) - available exclusively to ASET's R.E.T. members, this APEGGA credential licenses the individual to practice professional engineering without supervision within a defined scope and to accept responsibility for work done by herself/himself or others within that scope.
The above symbols are legally protected for use only by certified members.
ASET has issued other designations in the past, which are no longer issued in Alberta:
- A.Sc.T. (Applied Science Technologist)
- C.C.I.T. (Certified Computer Information Technologist)
ASET members who earned these designations previously were instead assigned C.E.T.
The designations conferred by ASET are recognized across Canada by provincial member organizations of CCTT. Public recognition of the high standards required of certified technicians and technologists has grown substantially since the 1990's.
Code of Ethics
The purpose of the ASET Code of Ethics is to give general statements of the principles of ethical conduct in order that the members of ASET may fulfill their duty to the public, the profession, and other ASET members. The following shall be construed as a general guide and not as a denial of the existence of other duties equally imperative and other rights though not specifically mentioned. ASET members are bound by its provision just as they are bound by the controls of the ASET Council and the bylaws of the Society.
Members of ASET shall:
- Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and the promotion of health and safety within the workplace;
- Undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience;
- Provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction;
- Act with integrity towards clients or employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid a conflict of interest, but where such conflict arises, fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client;
- Uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for the performance of their work;
- Keep informed to maintain proficiency and competence, to advance the body of knowledge within their discipline and further opportunities for the professional development of their associates;
- Conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy and good faith towards clients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is due and accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional comment;
- Present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequences if professional decisions or judgments are overruled or disregarded;
- Report to the appropriate agencies any hazardous, illegal or unethical professional decisions or practices by other members or others; and,
- Promote public knowledge and appreciation of applied science, information and engineering technology and protect the Society from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.[3]
References
- ^ Sass, Bill (2008-06-14), "Jobs aplenty for tech graduates in boom time", The Edmonton Journal, working.canada.com, retrieved 2008-08-11
- ^ "ASET - The First 25 Years (1963-1988)"
- ^ Code of Ethics, ASET, retrieved 2008-08-08
External links
Technician/Technologist Associations in other Canadian provinces