The Safety Codes Council is responsible for the training and certification of all safety codes officers in the province of Alberta.
- Entry qualifications include a combination of prior education, credentials, and work experience to demonstrate base competency in skills relevant to working as an SCO in each discipline. For example, to become certified as a Group A Electrical SCO, individuals must have completed formal training relevant to the scope of the discipline such as Journeyman Electrician, Electrical engineering technologist diploma, or an Electrical engineering degree and formal work experience.
- Base Competency Courses and Technical Courses are the formal training that the Council requires individuals to complete in order to demonstrate general and technical competency in their discipline.
The Council may establish additional certification requirements aligned to the required competencies of each discipline.
The menu at the bottom of this page contains information outlining entrance qualifications and required training for each discipline that individuals are required to complete in order to be certified as a safety codes officer.
Out-of-Province Applications
The council recognizes equivalent out-of-province certifications. Additional courses on Alberta's legislation, codes, and standards may be required. Please contact our office to have your credentials evaluated at certification@safetycodes.ab.ca or 780.413.0099.
Where to start?
Applications for certification and registration for training at the Council are handled by our online system, Council Connect. As a guest, you can view the Learning Path for each discipline, which outlines required courses. You can create a login identification to submit your qualifications for review, register for courses, and apply for certification.
Prequalification Review
Before registering in courses or applying for certification, you must submit a "prequalification review" through Council Connect at a cost of $50. The prequalification review allows you to confirm that you meet entrance qualifications before registering for courses. The Certification team assesses all prequalification reviews before submitting to the Administrator of Certification for their decision. The Administrator notifies applicants of their decision by email. If your application is successful, you may begin taking courses towards the completion of your certification.
Once the Council receives all required documentation, a decision is typically made within four days.
Alternative Documentation
If you are unable to provide required documentation, please contact one of our Program Advisors by calling 780.413.0099 or emailing certification@safetycodes.ab.ca.
Registering for Courses
Once you have completed your prequalification review, you may register for courses on Council Connect. If you have taken courses that you believe should be considered for equivalency, you may submit an equivalency request, or by contacting the Certification department.
Application for Certification
Once you have met all requirements for certification, you can submit your application using Council Connect. A final decision on your application is typically made within 5 days of the Council receiving all required documentation. The cost to apply for certification is $75.
Maintaining Certification
Certifications are valid for a period of three years. SCOs must complete any required code update training or additional requirements to maintain their certification as well as mandatory continuing education credits. You can renew your certification using Council Connect. The cost for renewal is $75. Renewals are typically processed within 3 days.
Working as an SCO
When you have successfully completed all of the requirements and are certified as a safety codes officer, you must be given the authority to administer the Safety Codes Act. Accredited organizations submit an application for a Designation of Powers for each safety codes officer they employ.
Appeal of Certification Decisions
As outlined in the Safety Codes Act, you may appeal a written decision by the Administrator of Certification regarding certificates of competency. If you disagree with a decision by the Administrator, please contact the Certification Department to discuss your concerns. If you are unable to resolve your concerns and would like to formally appeal the decision, please refer to the Council's appeals process.
