Canadian Geoscience Standards Board Terms of Reference, v.3

The Canadian Geoscience Standards Board (CGSB) is a standing committee of the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG). The CGSB provides guidance to the constituent associations of CCPG on matters relating to professional qualifications and practice. A major objective of the CGSB is to encourage the adoption of common standards for geoscience registration and to facilitate the transfer of members of the constituent associations from one jurisdiction to another in Canada.

1. Mandate
   1. to establish and maintain liaison among the provincial and territorial registration authorities and associations of professional geoscientists in Canada, and to assist them in:
      1. coordinating, correlating, and standardizing their activities, particularly in the areas of registration of geoscientists, mobility of registered practitioners, and interprovincial practice;
      2. developing and maintaining appropriate standards in the geoscience professions;
   2. to act on behalf of, and to present the views of its constituent associations and other geoscience organizations in matters that are national or international in scope, including international registration, licensure, or certification of geoscientists, and reciprocal practice;
   3. to affiliate with, join, or enter into arrangements or agreements with any society, association or other body having objectives similar or comparable to those of the Board.
   4. to ascertain the equivalency of accreditation programs in other countries, in order to recommend mutual recognition agreements with foreign bodies, and to monitor the activities of those bodies with which mutual recognition agreements have been signed.

   The CGSB will establish a set of procedures under which it will operate, and may amend these periodically, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors of CCPG.

   The CGSB may, in carrying out its functions and responsibilities, deal directly with the constituent association members of CCPG, other organizations, and individuals.

   The CGSB does not have jurisdiction over the provincial and territorial registration committees or boards of examiners, but extends full co-operation and assistance to them.

2. Responsibilities
   1. The CGSB will meet at least annually, or more frequently at the request of its Chair and (or) the CCPG Board of Directors.
   2. The CGSB has the responsibility to publish and periodically update national guidelines and examination syllabi for professional registration in the geosciences. These syllabi may be used by constituent associations to confirm the acceptability of candidates for licensing.
   3. The CGSB has the responsibility to assess geoscience education across Canada in order to establish the extent to which Canadian geoscience degree programs meet or exceed educational standards acceptable for licensing as a geoscientist in Canada. The CGSB will maintain and make available to constituent associations, a current list of geoscience programs which it considers to meet or exceed such standards.
   4. The CGSB has the responsibility to provide recommendations to constituent associations on all issues of national mobility in the practice of geoscience. This includes recommendations of both academic and experience requirements, as well as items such as professional development, mentoring, and codes of ethics.
   5. The CGSB has the responsibility to conduct research into foreign geoscience programs, to determine the extent to which such programs can satisfy requirements for licensing in constituent associations in Canada.

3. Composition
   1. The CGSB includes a representative from each territorial and provincial licensing authority or association of geoscientists.
   2. Each licensing authority or association appoints its representative, whose role is both to represent the appointing body and to report to the appointing body the business of the CGSB.
   3. Provision will be made for orderly rotation of CGSB membership so as not to disrupt the CGSB' business. A 1/3 turnover annually, resulting in complete turnover every three years, may be desirable initially. The term of appointment of any representative remains the final decision of the appointing body.
   4. The CGSB appoints its own Chair, for a two-year term. This term is renewable. The Chair of CGSB attends meetings of the CCPG Board of Directors and reports on behalf of the CGSB. The Chair also carries business from the CCPG Board of Directors to the CGSB for action.
   5. The CGSB has the authority to invite observers and resource persons to assist in its de erations. Examples of potential groups or authorities the CGSB may invite observers from are CCPE, CEQB, CEAB, CCHREI, CECAB, GAC, CGC, as well as registration officials from constituent associations. The CGSB may ask to participate as an observer in the meetings of such groups or associations.

4. Membership

   The roster of membership with terms of appointment, addresses, telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail is maintained by the secretariat through the Chair.

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