Managing Endorsement Integrity

Members of the Training Standards Committee (TSC) have worked diligently over the last few years to create robust standards for Ground Disturbance training in Alberta, British Columbia and, most recently, Manitoba. The process of becoming endorsed to any of the standards is time-consuming and costly, which is why ABCGA/AOC and the endorsed training providers promote and protect the integrity of all the GD Standards to the highest level.

Becoming an endorsed Ground Disturbance training provider begins with an application for endorsement using the TSC Application to Access. The TSC chairs review the application to ensure it is complete and will provide their recommendation. Once approved, the training provider can begin the three-stage process in which our auditors review training program content, the training provider’s Learning Management System and the delivery of the program to ensure it meets all necessary requirements.

Stage l ensures that the program content required by the Training Standard is met. Stage II primarily ensures that the applicant’s Learning Management System meets the requirements to ensure security of personal information and the ability to report on student and instructor records. Once the auditors have reviewed and approved the first two stages, the applicant moves on to Stage III, which allows the auditor to take the full course (be it instructor-led or online) and ensures that the requirements presented in the first two stages are indeed present in the training program. After the audit is complete, and auditors provide their recommendation for endorsement, and upon approval by the TSC chair, an endorsement letter and certificate are presented to the training provider, and their endorsed program can be released to the public.

Anyone seeking an “endorsed ground disturbance” course needs to do their research to ensure the training provider they are selecting is, in fact, an endorsed provider. Websites and advertisements stating that their training programs “meet the standard” can be misleading.  “Meeting” and being “endorsed” to the standard are two separate things. Investing hard earned dollars in an un-endorsed training program that is not acceptable to most employers is expensive and frustrating. Ask to see the training provider’s Certificate of Endorsement. An endorsed training provider will proudly show it to you.

Click HERE for a list of endorsed Ground Disturbance Training Providers.

Michelle Finnigan - Administrator, Training Standards Committee