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Pipeliner Competency Requirements   |   Membership

International Pipeliner Competency Directorate Credentialling Recognition Program

The Council –

The Canadian Pipeliner Accreditation Council (CPAC) was originally established as the Canadian arm of an ad-hoc industry initiative to foster effective implementation of mandatory competency management requirements for North American Pipeliners. Both the Canadian CSA Z662 and American API 1173 industry standards mandate the need to establish competency requirements for personnel working in the oil and gas pipeline sector. In Canada these requirements, as identified in the CSA Z662-19, are adopted under regulation and thereby mandatory. These requirements must include the identification of training, qualification and experience required to perform each task. With high demand for standardized criteria to evaluate organizations and personnel, CPAC began developing system prototypes in 2014, working directly with key industry organizations. A publicly available program for industry was then launched in 2016. CPAC began operating 4 distinct 2nd party industry support programs which included the Accreditation of Pipeline Training and Testing Organizations; Standardized Code Qualification examinations; Certification programs for Pipeline Inspectors and Fusion Technicians; and a Safety and Loss Management System verification audit program.

In 2019, CPAC submitted a proposal to participate as a founding member country in the development of an international body that was being structured to provide a framework for recognition and reciprocity of pipeliner credentials internationally. This proposal was accepted and CPAC was granted interim membership to participate in program development. Member guidelines and requirements were established in November 2019 and each founding member submitted a GAP assessment between their existing programs and the new international formats. CPAC will be listed as a founding organization on completion of a peer review of structural and policy changes to address the GAP. This is scheduled for May 2020. The new format will see a restructuring of offerings into 2 program areas.

CPAC currently administers the Accredited Pipeliner Index. This National Registry has been established in accordance with ISO 17024 guidelines to provide industry with an online, publicly available, credential verification tool allowing companies access to necessary information for validating documentation submitted by personnel and contractors. The security of an individual’s credentials and compliance with privacy laws is a critical concern. Based on recommendations from the 2015-2019 Chairman’s Advisory Group, the index will be updated to include only the pipeliner’s name and certificate number to allow verification against a certificate or secure ID card. With the 2019 update all pipeliners will receive a plastic ID card with anti-counterfeit measures embedded on the front of the cards.

The Code –

The Canadian Pipeliner Competency Code is developed with stakeholder input:

  • to establish minimum verifiable knowledge and skill set requirements for mandatory regulatory, code and standard task competencies.
  • to establish competency identification protocols for specific subject matter areas within a Safety and Loss Management System.

The requirements provide recommended subject matter criteria which can also be used by stakeholders for the development of internal training programs and qualification exams. The code was written to provide users with guidance for complying with the requirements of the CSA Z662 Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems document and is likely suitable for use by jurisdictions beyond Canada. The code was used in conjunction with codes and standards from other countries as a seed document for the new international guide. CPAC will publish the Canadian Deviations in September of 2020.

International Code and Standard Deviations –

CPAC publishes Canadian deviations to international pipeline documents including RP’s and standards which are not adopted by regulation. These deviations, compiled by Canadian experts allow users to apply international codes and recommended practices in accordance with the Canadian regulatory references and legal requirements. The purpose of the document(s) is to identify specific clauses within foreign publications which do not comply with Canadian requirements and identify an appropriate corrective measure to ensure suitability for use. Canadian deviations also add notice of Canadian requirements which the foreign publications may be silent.