1.INTRODUCTION
The Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada (GKE) publication (issued March 2019) is utilized by academic, industry, government, and regulatory sectors as a reference document to support entry into, regulation of, and ongoing practice of geoscience as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Canada. Unlike the engineering profession, which utilizes formal accreditation of academic engineering institutions to ensure that baseline educational qualifications of candidates are met, the geoscience profession relies on a set of national baseline academic requirements rather than specific institutional accreditations. Applicants who meet the academic requirements are first registered as Geoscientists-in-Training (GITs), before completing work experience competencies to be designated as fully licensed P.Geos.
The GKE publication includes an important geoscience knowledge standards matrix that identifies compulsory and supplementary science/geoscience and other courses, deemed critical for providing a strong academic standard for the regulation and practice of geoscience in Canada.
Geoscientists Canada, through the Canadian Geoscience Standards Council (CGSC) and the Geoscience Admissions Officials (GAOs) (GAOs are the admission officials who work for the Regulators), is updating the current GKE publication and its associated geoscience knowledge standards to ensure it reflects the advancement and evolution of the academic, industry and government geoscience landscape in Canada. The geoscience knowledge standards has been in its current form since 2008 and, although a review was intended every five years, it has not been formally reviewed since 2013.
As part of the formal review, CGSC is seeking feedback on the current geoscience knowledge standards, as outlined in the GKE, from provincial regulators, academics, industry, and government.
This survey is seeking input from professionals in two key areas of geoscience practice:
1. Industry, including individuals involved in hiring, supervising, or directing the work of P.Geos. GITs, as well as those who regularly work with or interface directly with P.Geos. and GITs.
2. Government, including individuals involved in hiring or supervising P.Geos., GITs within local, municipal, provincial, territorial, federal or other government agencies.
Your experiences and insights are essential to updating the GKE. Your feedback will help assess whether the current knowledge requirements and skills adequately prepare geoscientists for competent professional practice.
All responses will be treated as confidential and used only to support this review. The survey will take less than 20 minutes, and respondents can change their answers on any survey page until they complete or exit the survey.
We sincerely appreciate your time and contribution to this important national initiative.
Please complete this survey by October 16, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Janis Dale, PhD, P.Geo., FGC
Chair - CGSC
daleja9@gmail.com
The GKE publication includes an important geoscience knowledge standards matrix that identifies compulsory and supplementary science/geoscience and other courses, deemed critical for providing a strong academic standard for the regulation and practice of geoscience in Canada.
Geoscientists Canada, through the Canadian Geoscience Standards Council (CGSC) and the Geoscience Admissions Officials (GAOs) (GAOs are the admission officials who work for the Regulators), is updating the current GKE publication and its associated geoscience knowledge standards to ensure it reflects the advancement and evolution of the academic, industry and government geoscience landscape in Canada. The geoscience knowledge standards has been in its current form since 2008 and, although a review was intended every five years, it has not been formally reviewed since 2013.
As part of the formal review, CGSC is seeking feedback on the current geoscience knowledge standards, as outlined in the GKE, from provincial regulators, academics, industry, and government.
This survey is seeking input from professionals in two key areas of geoscience practice:
1. Industry, including individuals involved in hiring, supervising, or directing the work of P.Geos. GITs, as well as those who regularly work with or interface directly with P.Geos. and GITs.
2. Government, including individuals involved in hiring or supervising P.Geos., GITs within local, municipal, provincial, territorial, federal or other government agencies.
Your experiences and insights are essential to updating the GKE. Your feedback will help assess whether the current knowledge requirements and skills adequately prepare geoscientists for competent professional practice.
All responses will be treated as confidential and used only to support this review. The survey will take less than 20 minutes, and respondents can change their answers on any survey page until they complete or exit the survey.
We sincerely appreciate your time and contribution to this important national initiative.
Please complete this survey by October 16, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Janis Dale, PhD, P.Geo., FGC
Chair - CGSC
daleja9@gmail.com