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Certificate of Authorization (C of A)

Under Sections 4 and 15 of the Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000 (the "Act"), in order for a corporation or (most other entities) to offer or provide services to the public in Ontario that constitute the practice of Professional Geoscience, it is required to obtain and annually renew a C of A from PGO. The purpose of such certification is to:

  • Identify corporations and other entities providing geoscience services to the public in the province,
  • Identify to the public, individuals within corporations and other entities that are in responsible charge of geoscientific work, 
  • Ensure that corporations and other entities providing geoscience services are qualified to do so, 
  • Ensure that corporations and other entities providing geoscience services are appropriately insured against professional liability.

Registered professional geoscientists who operate as one practitioner or partnerships, and who offer and provide services to the public in their own legal name (or names) are not required to hold a Certificate of Authorization (C of A). To summarize:

  1. All corporations practising professional geoscience must have a Certificate of Authorization.
  2. A partnership practising professional geoscience must have a Certificate of Authorization unless all of the named partners are registered registrants of PGO.
  3. Sole practitioners practising professional geoscience in their own names (and not through another business name) do not have to have a Certificate of Authorization.

Please note that as of March 31, 2003, it is a requirement that all corporations or other entities offering and providing geoscience services in Ontario must hold a Certificate of Authorization. The Application for a Certificate of Authorization must be completed and submitted along with supporting documentation.

There are three categories of C of A available, and each carries a different annual dues rate:

One Practitioner $309.00
Two Practitioners $509.63
Three or more Practitioners $412 x √N
(plus applicable tax)

The C of A application fee is $200 (plus applicable tax) and must be submitted along with your completed application form.  Please visit https://www.pgo.ca/registration/additionalinfo to access and download the credit card payment form.

Please email applications to applications@pgo.ca.

It is a term and condition of every C of A that the holder carries Professional Practice Liability Insurance.