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Registration Open! PEI Site Assessor Course 2025

Registration Open! PEI Site Assessor Course 2025

The dates for the classroom and field work portions of the 2025 Site Assessor Course are now scheduled for May 27-30, with May 31 and June 2 as alternative (rain) field dates. June 3 will be an optional extra help/practice day. The exam will be written the morning of June 4, 2025  (see details below).

If you have not already done so, please respond to our short online registration survey.  The survey link may be accessed here.

If you would like to complete a pre-course Site Assessor Quiz to test your knowledge, click here.

There are a limited number of seats which will be available on a first come, first serve basis. All applicants who wish to secure their spot are asked to complete your registration and payment now.

 

 

Learning Objectives

    • Use Soil Survey maps to identify potential issues before you arrive at the site (eg. poor drainage, high water table, shallow bedrock, low permeability soil, etc.)

    • Proper test-pit techniques

    • Determining soil texture, structure according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification

    • Identify high groundwater tables

    • Identify bedrock

    • In-situ permeability testing using a Pask constant head permeameter

    • Determine soil category/classification for the purpose of subdividing land and/or septic system design/selection

    • Determine appropriate disposal fields

    • Determine when septic fill is required and how much

    • Assuming all government fees are paid and the government’s minimum educational requirements are met, attendees who pass the exam will qualify for a PEI Site Assessor’s License from the PEI Government.

Course Schedule

The course will run on selected days during the period May 27 to June 4, 2025. The detailed schedule, including rain dates, is as follows: 

  • Tues., May 27 (8:00 – 5:00)  Classroom lectures
  • Weds., May 28 (8:00-5:00) Classroom lectures, lab (hand texturing soil samples), permeability testing
  • Thurs. May 29 (8:00 – 4:00) In the field doing test pits & permeability testing
  • Fri. May 30 (8:00 – 4:00) In the field doing test pits & permeability testing
  • Sat. May 31 (8:00 – 12:00) Possible alternative field day (rain date)
  • Mon. June 2 (8:00 – 4:00) Possible alternative field day (rain date)
  • Tues. June 3 (8:00 – 4:00) OPTIONAL extra help, practice, exam preparation day
  • Weds. June 4 (8:00 – 12:00 noon) Exam

 

We ask that you keep Saturday, May 31 and Monday, June 2 open in the event that field work needs to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Tuesday, June 3 will be an optional drop-in day at the Rodd Royalty Hotel in Charlottetown for extra help and practice.

Where?

    • Various sites for field work in Queens and/or Kings County, to be announced. Your own transportation will be required.

Course Fees

Early bird course registration fees will be $1650 + HST = $1897.50 per person if payment is received in full on or before Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Otherwise, registration fees are:

  • $1700 + HST = $1955.00 if payment is received on or before Friday, May 23, 2025
  • $1750 + HST = $2012.50 if payment is received after Friday, May 23, 2025

Registration fee includes most printed materials: handouts, site assessment reference charts and aids.

Other Costs

    • A suitable constant head permeameter and hand auger is required equipment for PEI licensed site assessors. The cost of this equipment is not included in the course fee. ETC’s Pask Constant Head Permeameter Kits will be provided for use by attendees during the course.
    • Any applicable government certification fees (eg. site assessor license fee, contractor license fee) are not included in the ETC course fee.
    • Lunch/meals are not provided.

Who Should Attend?

    • Individuals who wish to become certified as a PEI Licensed Site Assessor.
    • Site assessors, regulators, engineers, technicians who wish to refresh or update their knowledge, get questions answered, and learn about new developments in the field of site assessment.
    • Septic installers, general contractors, technicians, real estate agents, who want to learn more about site assessment, lot categorization and septic systems.

Note: The Government of PEI has minimum educational or work experience requirements which must be satisfied in order to become certified as a Licensed Site Assessor.

If you are unsure, you should discuss your situation with Mr. Scott Gamble, On-Site Septic Officer, PEI Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action (EECA).

Mailing Address: 45 East Drive, PO Box 8, O’Leary, PE, C0B 1V0

Tel: 902-218-4831

Email: segamble@gov.pe.ca

If you wish to get a license, ETC strongly recommends that you get your education and/or work experience approved in writing by the PEI Dept. of EECA prior to taking the course.

About the Lead Instructor

Kelly Galloway, P.Eng., is a Civil Engineer with over 30 years experience, 25 years with her own consulting firm, Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. Kelly’s areas of expertise include all aspects of on-site wastewater management. Kelly is a voting member of the CSA B65 Technical Committee which was responsible for the creation of a new national Installation Code for Decentralized Wastewater Systems. She also chaired the Soil Absorption System Task Force for CSAB 65. Kelly has developed and delivered training courses and seminars for the public and private sector in PEI and NB, and has consulted on the development of NB and BC’s Technical Guidelines.

Other Information (subject to change)

    • Those wishing to become certified as PEI Site Assessors will have an opportunity to write the examination at the end of the course on the morning of Weds. June 4.
    • Passing mark for the course to be set in consultation with the PEI Government but is anticipated to be a minimum overall mark of 75%.
    • Government of PEI regulations require 2 years of acceptable related post secondary education to become certified as a Licensed PEI Site Assessor. Suitable practical work experienced may be accepted in lieu of post secondary education. It is is the responsibility of each attendee to confirm the acceptability of their education (or practical work experience).

Refund, Non-attendance & Cancellation Policy:

    • If the course must be cancelled by ETC for any reason (eg. insufficient registrations, instructor illness, etc.), registration fees will be refunded.
    • If in the opinion of the instructor, you have missed too many aspects of the course, you may be disqualified from writing the exam. In some cases, it may be possible to complete the missed material at a later date through individual, one-to-one or small group instruction. However, this is not guaranteed and the provision and timing of any potential make-up session(s) would be solely at the discretion of the instructor. Significant extra fees for instructor time (at $175/hr) and machine rental (if applicable) would apply.
    • Course fees will not be refunded if the government denies certification due to the applicant not meeting educational criteria, or for not passing the exam.

 

Not sure if you would benefit from attending the Site Assessor Course? Would you like to get an idea of the kind of material that will be covered? Click here to take an anonymous multiple choice quiz and test your current knowledge.

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