Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET)

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 [cite web | publisher=CCTT | title=Government Relations | url=http://www.cctt.ca/template.asp?id=A8A4D05875D949A3A7F965D06A919705 | accessdate=2008-08-11] .

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.Citation | last=Sass | first=Bill | title=Jobs aplenty for tech graduates in boom time | newspaper=The Edmonton Journal | publisher=working.canada.com | date=2008-06-14 | url=http://working.canada.com/national/resources/jobseekers/story.html?id=2baff384-de75-4307-8589-7793b41ee6aa | accessdate=2008-08-11]

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. ["ASET - The First 25 Years (1963-1988)"]

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. [cite web | publisher=Alberta Canada | title=Engineering Associations | url=http://www.albertacanada.com/industries/895.html | accessdate=2008-08-12]

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. [cite web | publisher=CCTT | title=Trade Mark Protection | url=http://www.cctt.ca/template.asp?id=1BAD2359546E4D27BA8051AA5802D0D1 | accessdate=2008-08-11] Public recognition of the high standards required of certified technicians and technologists has grown substantially since the 1990s.

References

External links

* [http://aset.ab.ca/ ASET official website]
* [http://www.cctt.ca/ CCTT (national body)]

Technician/Technologist Associations in other Canadian provinces
* [http://www.asttbc.com/ British Columbia: ASTTBC]
* [http://www.sastt.ca/ Saskatchewan: SASTT]
* [http://www.cttam.com/ Manitoba: CTTAM]
* [http://www.oacett.org/ Ontario: OACETT]
* [http://www.technova.ca/ Nova Scotia: TECHNOVA]
* [http://www.nbscett.nb.ca/ New Brunswick: NBSCETT]
* [http://www.aettn.com/ Newfoundland & Labrador: AETTN]
* [http://www.acettpei.ca/ Prince Edward Island: ACETTPEI]
* [http://www.otpq.qc.ca/ Québec: OTPQ]