Alberta Regulation 11/2026, filed under the Professional Governance Act, establishes the General Regulation framework governing professional regulatory organizations in the province. The regulation sets out detailed processes for applications for designation as a professional regulatory organization, the criteria for evaluating such applications, procedures for amalgamation, requirements for annual reporting, and standards for governance, ethics, and public transparency. Its purpose is to ensure that professional regulatory organizations operate in a manner that protects the public interest, maintains professional standards, and provides clarity and accountability to both professionals and the public.

Applications for designation as a professional regulatory organization must include a completed form and all information required by the form, as published under the Act. A professional governance officer evaluates these applications using comprehensive criteria, including whether the association represents an identifiable profession, whether regulation will safeguard life, health, safety, or economic interests, and the potential impact on access, education, quality, efficiency, and cost of professional services. Other factors include the risk to the public from incompetent or unethical practice, alignment with trade and labor mobility agreements, the sufficiency and proportion of members in the profession, the association’s purpose and governance, financial stability, and long-term viability. The Minister of Advanced Education considers these same factors and any additional relevant matters when deciding whether to recommend designation to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

The regulation also governs applications for amalgamation, which involve merging two or more professional regulatory organizations or combining them with professional associations. Amalgamation applications must include the requisite form and supporting information. The criteria for evaluating amalgamation applications are similar to those for designation and include public protection, service quality, risk management, membership appropriateness, commonality of interests, financial viability, governance, transitional planning, and the ability to fulfill statutory powers and responsibilities.

Professional regulatory organizations must produce an annual report containing comprehensive information about registration, applications, membership numbers, committee and tribunal activities, continuing competence programs, practice reviews, complaints, hearings, sanctions, alternative complaint resolution processes, and financial statements. This report ensures transparency and accountability to the public and the government.

Ethical and professional standards are central to the regulation. Each organization must maintain a code of ethics and conduct and practice standards and guidelines that define the expected conduct and minimum technical competence of registrants. Registries must include detailed information about each registrant, including their registration status, restrictions, and conditions.

Alberta (11/2026) February 3, 2026
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