Certificate of Foundational Geoscience Knowledge 

Department of Earth Sciences 

Overview 

Legislative acts in most Canadian Provinces restrict the practice of professional geoscience to individuals registered with the provincial professional association. In New Brunswick, for example, professional practice is defined as "reporting, advising, evaluating, interpreting, processing, geoscientific surveying, exploring, classifying reserves or examining related to any activity (a) that relates to the earth sciences or the environment; (b) that is aimed at the discovery or development of oil, natural gas, coal, metallic or non-metallic minerals, precious stones, or other natural resources or water or that is aimed at the investigation of surface or subsurface conditions of the earth; and (c) that requires, in that reporting, advising, evaluating, interpreting, processing, geoscientific surveying, exploring, classifying reserves or examining, the professional application of the principles of mathematics, chemistry, physics or biology through the application of principles of geoscience" (New Brunswick Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, SNB 2015, c, 9). 

Across Canada, the professional associations, who are responsible for licensing of Geoscientists (P.Geo.), typically follow the guidelines of the Geoscientists Canada GKE publication (Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada, 2019). GKE academic requirements are ~40 courses (typical of a four-year geoscience university degree) in specific geoscience courses within three knowledge streams. The requirements also list specific foundational Science and Geoscience course topics that should be covered in each stream. These academic knowledge requirements are covered in five broad groups: 1A & 1B Foundational Sciences; 2A & 2B Foundational Geosciences and 2C Other Geoscience/Science topics (GKE 2019). At UNB, there are four-year academic programs in the Department of Earth Sciences specifically designed to cover all five broad groups in order to meet current requirements expected by the professional associations. 

It is also possible for people who are taking, or have completed, different academic programs to apply to a professional association if they meet course requirements listed in the GKE. The Department of Earth Sciences offers two foundational certificate programs to aid in meeting these requirements. The certificates relate to Groups 2A and 2B of the aforementioned five broad groups. They are the main foundational Geoscience groups and form the core of the GKE academic requirements. Groups 1A, 1B and 2C have more variable requirements, to enable flexibility for applicants from different academic programs, and which can differ for each individual. These latter groups are not part of the Department’s foundational certificate program, but the department [is planning to/does] provide "Certificates of Supplementary Geoscience Knowledge" that may aid completion of 2C requirements.  Foundational Geoscience Knowledge Certificates are not available to students whose major is in a geoscience. 

Note 1: Geoscientists Canada periodically reviews the GKE and minor changes in requirements may occur from time to time. The UNB ESCI Certificate Programs are designed to meet the specific grouping designated by the GKE (as of 2019) for the Foundational Geoscience Groups 2A and 2B. Professional licensing is a decision of individual Professional Associations and depends mainly on the academic requirements and experience of an applicant. Those interested in obtaining P.Geo. status should also contact the appropriate professional association (in NB, APEGNB) regarding full requirements.  

Note 2: Certificates of Foundational Geosciences are not available for students enrolled in major or honours programs delivered, or jointly delivered, by the Department of Earth Sciences.   

Note 3: Transfer credits can only be considered for prerequisites, not as alternatives to the courses listed in the certificates.  Additionally, credit will not normally be awarded for courses completed more than five years prior to student’s return to university study, in accordance with the norms already in place by the Registrar’s office. 

Certificate of Foundational Geosciences (Part 2A) 

For the 2A Group of requirements leading to licensing as a professional geoscientist across Canada, the course credits are the same in all three streams.  Most of the courses indicated below will require prerequisites (ESCI 1001 or ESCI 1052 or ESCI 1012 or ESCI 1041 or equivalent, and the accompanying lab course, either ESCI 1006 or ESCI 1057, ESCI 1017 or ESCI 1046, ESCI 1026; and ESCI 2131) or permission of the instructor. 

There are four (4) required courses for completion of part 2A.  The UNB equivalent course in these areas include the following: 

- ESCI 2142 Mineralogy & Petrology 

- ESCI 2211 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy 

- ESCI 2321 Structural Geology I 

And one of 

- ESCI 1703 Field School or   

- ESCI 2703 Field School 

Certificate of Foundational Geosciences Knowledge (Part 2B – Environmental- and General-Geoscience Stream options) 

For the 2B Group of requirements leading to licensing as a professional geoscientist across Canada, the course credits differ between streams.  The Department of Earth Sciences can enable completion of either the Environmental or General Geoscience stream's academic requirements through this certificate (the Geophysics stream is not available). 

Five (5) different courses are required for the Part 2B certificate.  Several of the courses require prerequisites, including courses that are taken as components of the Part A certificate; MATH 1013 or equivalent; and either CHEM 1012 & CHEM 1017, or PHYS 1052 & PHYS 1092, or equivalents.  Choose the stream appropriate to your interests, then choose at least one, and not more than two, courses from each subgroup, as follows:   

General Geoscience Stream 

Environmental Geoscience Stream