The Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), is a

professional association A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that professio ...

located in

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. The organization represents

applied science Applied science is the use of the scientific method and knowledge obtained via conclusions from the method to attain practical goals. It includes a broad range of disciplines such as engineering and medicine. Applied science is often contrasted ...

and

engineering technology An engineering technologist is a professional trained in certain aspects of development and implementation of a respective area of technology. Engineering technology education is even more applied and less theoretical than engineering education ...

professionals in industry, educational institutions, the public and the government. ASET also evaluates the qualifications of individuals who voluntarily apply for certification and issues professional credentials accordingly. It also delivers a number of benefits and services to its members and their employers.

History

On August 1, 1963, with the sponsorship of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (

APEGGA The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) is an engineering society that regulates the practices of professional engineering and geoscience in Alberta. APEGA receives its mandate from the Engineering and Geos ...

), 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.

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 Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

, including the Executive Director who liaises with the council.

National association

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 Technology Professionals Canada (TPC) is an organization in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, that advocates for the profession of technicians and technologists within the provinces of their member organizations. History It was founded in 2010 as a ...

(CCTT). Provincial societies appoint directors to CCTT for its governance. ASET has withdrawn from CCTT as of summer 2010. Since then, it has joined

Technology Professionals Canada Technology Professionals Canada (TPC) is an organization in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, that advocates for the profession of technicians and technologists within the provinces of their member organizations. History It was founded in 2010 as a ...

, which is not a signatory of the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

or Dublin Accords.

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 Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...

designations: * C.Tech. ( certified technician) * C.E.T. (

certified engineering technologist Certified Engineering Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as C.E.T., most Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer t ...

) * P.Tech. ( professional technologist) – Members who earn this designation have the right to practice engineering independently in accordance with established methodologies and specifications including existing codes and regulations. With this right, a member is able to sign off and stamp their own work. 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.E.T. (registered engineering technologist) – a senior designation still recognized in Alberta, but no longer offered 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 Technology Professionals of Canada (TPC) and CCTT.

References

External links

ASET official websiteTechnology Professionals Canada (TPC)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Association Of Science And Engineering Technology Professionals Of Alberta (Aset) Engineering societies based in Canada Professional associations based in Alberta Organizations based in Edmonton