Updated Academic Requirements for ASET Applicants in 2018
Recognizing Educational Programs with TAC-Accreditation
05, Jan, 2018
As part of the certification process for technologists and technicians in Alberta, ASET recognizes education from nationally-accredited post-secondary technical programs.
On January 1, 2013, the ASET Board of Examiners ceased recognizing CTAB accreditation as ASET transitioned to focus on education programs with accreditation from Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC). On January 1, 2018, applicants for ASET C.E.T. certification who are not graduates of a program accredited by Technology Accreditation Canada will be required to complete the ASET Certification Exam. Applicants for C.Tech. certification are not required to take the exam unless they would like to be considered for C.E.T.
“ASET is moving to TAC accreditation because it is a world-class model established with support from the Canadian Standards Association,” comments Jennifer Bertrand, Registrar, ASET. “Programs accredited by TAC have been verified as meeting the learning outcomes set out under the national academic benchmarks in the Canadian Technology Accreditation Criteria.”
Since TAC accreditation could not be completed on all programs at once, ASET implemented conditions to ensure current students and recent graduates would not be affected by the transition process. For example, a grace period of January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2018 was applied to retroactively recognize education of graduates during that time from any program previously with CTAB accreditation that now has (or is applying for) TAC accreditation.
“Students who started these programs after the stated accreditation date will not be subject to the certification exam, while graduates from programs prior to the accreditation date will now be assigned the certification exam,” stated Bertrand. “However, the exam tests entry-level knowledge in applied science or engineering technology, so senior practitioners will typically not have any difficulty with the content.”
A special consideration process is in place so if, after attempting the certification exam, an applicant feels they are too specialized (or there is some other issue with the exam related to their field of practice), they can be reviewed by the Board for alternative assessment activities (such as a technical report).
Here is a list as of January 1, 2018 of post-secondary programs in Alberta with, or currently applying for, TAC Accreditation and will be recognized as part of the ASET application process. Applicants who graduated in the specified dates* will have their education recognized and will be exempt from writing the ASET Certification Exam:
Lakeland College
| Program |
Program Level |
Recognition Dates |
| Power Engineering Technology (2 Years) |
Technician |
Apr 1/18 - Apr 30/19 |
| Power Engineering Technology (1 Years) |
Technician |
Apr 1/18 - Apr 30/19 |
Lethbridge College
| Program |
Program Level |
Recognition Dates |
| Civil Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Engineering Design and Drafting Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Geomatics Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
| Program |
Program Level |
Recognition Dates |
| Biomedical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Chemical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Chemical Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Civil Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Computer Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Construction Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/24 |
| Electrical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Electronics Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Engineering Design and Drafting Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Geological Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Geomatics Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Instrumentation Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/22 |
| Materials Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Nanotechnology Systems |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Network Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Petroleum Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
Red Deer College
| Program |
Program Level |
Recognition Dates |
| Electrical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/18 - Apr 30/19 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/18 - Apr 30/19 |
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
| Program |
Program Level |
Recognition Dates |
| Chemical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/19 |
| Chemical Laboratory Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/21 |
| Civil Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/23 |
| Electrical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/21 |
| Engineering Design and Drafting Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/22 |
| Geomatics Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/21 |
| Instrumentation Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/21 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/22 |
| Petroleum Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/22 |
| Power Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/17 - Apr 30/22 |
| Welding Engineering Technology |
Technologist |
Apr 1/13 - Apr 30/22 |
*Dates in the article are manually update when information is made available. To view the full list of accredited Canadian progams, refer to the provided link below.