Launched by PSAC in 1995, the Petroleum Competency Program (PCP) is now managed by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada. The PCP is a groundbreaking initiative that certifies workers using a standard to determine the ability of a worker to perform specific activities to agreed-upon expectations. The program lists the tasks and skills involved in doing a job, describes their safe and effective application in typical working conditions and specifies the criteria that should be used to judge how a worker applies them. More details are available in the PCP Fact Sheet.

Occupations Certified under the PCP  

To date, over 30 competencies have been developed for the petroleum services industry. People actually working in each of these jobs developed and approved the competencies.  Pumping services, snubbing, transportation and specialized trucking, well testing and wireline services are all represented in the positions already developed. They include:

Cased Hole Services

• Driver/Operator
• Supervisor
• Endorsements

Oil and Gas Transportation Services

• Bed Truck Operator
• Boom Truck Operator
• Bulk Haul Truck Operator
• Multi-Wheel Truck Operator
• Swamper
• Trucking Supervisor
• Winch Tractor Operator 

Slickline Services

• Assistant Operator
• Slickline Operator (2 levels)
• Endorsements

Snubbing Services

• Assistant Operator
• Snubbing Operator (3 levels)
• Snubbing Supervior (2 levels)

Well Testing Services

• Well Testing Supervisor (3 levels)

PSAC's technical committees - Well Testing, Snubbing, and Transportation - monitor and make recommendations to update the standards of competence for the occupations in their sector as industry practices and technology changes.

For more details on the competencies, the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada's website has brochures outlining each of the levels of competence here: http://www.petrohrsc.ca/english/projects/pcp/occupations.cfm 

Designated Occupation Status 

Three job families -- Well Testing Supervisor, Oil and Gas Transportation Services and Snubbing Services -- have received Alberta Apprenticeship Board certification as "Designated Occupations" since 2005. This certification is comparable to being awarded a Journeyman Certificate in a trade and is the equivalent of the official Apprenticeship designation.

The Province's acknowledgement of these occupational competencies is an important step in the industry's efforts to establish common occupational standards and identify individuals who meet them. Not only does the PCP contribute towards a safer and more competent workforce, but it also provides a career path for individuals working in the oilpatch and those just enering the industry.

Certificate Holders

For a list of individuals who received their competency certificates in 2008, click here. 

PSAC also wishes to thank the many PSAC member companies who support the PCP.

Become Involved!

If you're interested in becoming involved in the PCP, or require further information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (403) 264-4195.