RATIONALE:

Special consideration is a term that has many connotations and is seen by many as the granting of registration to individuals under criteria and requirements less stringent than the traditional academic or examination route. In the past "grandfathering" has been associated with Special Consideration and the practices and procedures under the Special Consideration category have been ill defined and possibly inconsistently applied.

In the first instance, it must be made clear that Special Consideration is not an "entry" application process. An individual does not apply for Special Consideration but is provided that "avenue" of assessment upon recommendation of the Board of Examiners following the normal review procedure of a standard application for membership.

The second point to be made is that special consideration applicants must provide proof of their equivalency as a Certified Technician in the specific discipline being sought.

DEFINITION AND SCOPE:

A mature applicant is a person with considerable relevant experience comparable to the Profile for a Certified Technician, but who is not eligible for registration because he / she lacks some of the formal academic requirements for registration.

An individual may, if his / her candidature is approved by SASTT's Registration / Examination Boards, seek to fulfill the academic requirements for registration as a Certified Technician under the Association's Special Consideration for
Mature Applicants Policy.

Successful applicants will be awarded Certified Technician status in Saskatchewan but will be a special consideration and may not necessarily be transferable to other provinces.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must:

• Apply for registration or reclassification using the standard applicant process.

• Have a minimum of Saskatchewan Grade 12 or equivalent with algebra, geometry-trigonometry, and a science.

• Be involved with technical and professional organizations related to their field of employment.

• Display an on-going effort to reclassify and / or maintain their level of training by completing related training courses including both in-house and other agency courses.

• Have attained a position demonstrating a level of proven competence which would have allowed them to be recommended for registration had they satisfied the normal academic requirements, and to have held such a position over a period of at least fifteen years.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

Upon being accepted as a candidate for Special Consideration, the following documentation will be requested:

• An autobiographical statement, resume, and detailed summary of work experiences.

• A detailed description of any courses or training that the applicant may have taken.

• A detailed listing of competencies that have been mastered by the applicant.

EVALUATION:

The applicant's autobiographical statement, resume and detailed summary or work experience will be reviewed to determine the character, communication abilities, attitudes, and general "technical" background".

The applicant's competency statements will be evaluated against the competencies required for the discipline of registration being requested (see note below).

When competency in the technician category is not immediately evident from the statements and documentation provided, the evaluators should consider preparing supplemental oral interview or exam questions that would satisfy any
uncertainties that are noted in the review. While the prime objective is to consider the applicant in view of the traditional academics, and experience requirements, and typical profile, to ensure consistency of registration, the actual profile of the individual as presented in the submission will be considered in broader terms by the evaluators.

NOTE:

It is highly unlikely that an applicant will have documented all competencies for a technician with the appropriate combination of levels, etc. as would be traditionally required. The most easily assessed will be those applicants who provide evidence of competency in all areas required in the appropriate Standard. In the pure academic areas of maths, physics, etc. where on the job acquired knowledge and skills are difficult to document and therefore considerable leeway may be granted if the individual has mastered all
technical competencies as a higher level.

Where an applicant does not match the traditional requirements, but is being recommended for registration in the technician category, the evaluators must provide a written statement detailing the basis on which the recommendation is being made. 

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