Appeal Process and General Information

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your application regarding certification, please follow the appeal process as mentioned below. ABSA has procedures for review and we consider each situation with a great deal of care.

Please Note: An appeal must be made to ABSA’s Vice President of Technical Services within 30 calendar days of when the applicant received written notice of the decision being disputed.

First, contact the ABSA Safety Codes Officer (SCO) who provided the decision to ensure that you understand the decision accurately and that there is no additional information you could provide that could change the decision.

Next, if you are still dissatisfied, the appeal process can be initiated by sending an email or by writing a letter to the ABSA’s Vice President of Technical Services to express your concerns.

Note: In keeping with the Fair Registration Practices Act, the ABSA Safety Codes Officer who made the initial decision will not participate in the Appeal Process.

Mail: 

ABSA

Attention: Vice President, Technical Services

9410 20th Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6N 0A4

Email: exams@absa.ca

Please include the following information in your email:

• Your ABSA file number (if you have one)
• The decision you received that is the source of your dissatisfaction and the date the decision was made
• What did you ask or apply for?
• What response did you receive?
• Why is the response not to your satisfaction?
• Did you attempt to resolve your dissatisfaction with the SCO providing the decision?
• Is there additional information that you can provide that might influence the original decision?

The subject line of the email should include ”Complaint” or “Appeal”. ABSA will confirm receipt within 2 business days and a decision on an appeal will be made available to the applicant within 10 business days.

We are always looking for ways to improve the service we provide our clients without compromising our commitment to public safety. Your concerns are important.

ABSA is committed to providing services with impartiality. All employees are required to review and sign ABSA’s Impartiality and Confidentiality Agreement on an annual basis. Risks to impartiality are evaluated in accordance with ABSA’s Enterprise Risk Management Policy.

ABSA acknowledges its responsibility for the impartiality of its services and understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out its activities manages conflict of interest and ensures the objectivity of its activities.

ABSA is a not for profit organization, independent from commercial, financial or affiliation relationships.

ABSA policies and procedures are developed and implemented to ensure a fair and consistent application to all affected parties.

ABSA and its employees do not:

• engage in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, purchase, ownership, use, or maintenance of pressure equipment items inspected
• engage in activities that could compromise its impartiality
• seek to influence decisions that might further their private interests

ABSA and its employees do:

• provide formal compliance guidance or advice through the delivery of training seminars, and published documents
• provide informal and impartial advice to interested parties
• provide fair and consistent certification processes for applicants and candidates

INTRODUCTION :

As part of its role in administering Alberta’s pressure equipment safety programs under the Safety Codes Act, ABSA maintains recognized standards with respect to certification of applicants transferring from another region and/or country. In accordance with the Fair Registration Practices Act, ABSA makes application and certification requirements publicly available and allows for the submission of alternative proof of an applicant’s qualifications/credentials when original documentation is not available and/or accessible to the applicant.

PURPOSE:

On occasion, applicants may find themselves in exceptional circumstances, where retrieving or accessing original documents required for certification is made difficult or impossible. These circumstances may include—though are not limited to—war, natural disaster, cyber attack, and/or political persecution. ABSA has thus developed a policy that provides applicants the opportunity to submit alternative proof of qualification if they can demonstrate that adequate and sufficient attempts were made to procure documentation.   

POLICY:

 In the event that original documentation cannot be obtained, ABSA may require that an applicant provide any or all of the following:

• a written explanation detailing efforts made to obtain original documents and why attempts to do so were unsuccessful
• copies of correspondence (letters, email, etc.) between applicant and relevant institutions that indicate applicant’s efforts to obtain original documents
• copies of documents directly from applicant or other available sources
• professional portfolio, including a detailed list of past employers (with contact information) and relevant courses/training
• letters/affidavits from verifiable personal, professional, and/or educational references

CONCLUSION:

Upon review of all material provided in lieu of original documentation, ABSA will evaluate if an applicant meets the required prerequisites or certification. If ABSA determines that further documentation is needed, the applicant may be instructed to submit additional information or, conversely, take part in supplemental training and/or a supervised period of practice.