Introductory Qualified Persons Training

“Building a network of professionals to support Saskatchewan agricultural producers in building a resilient agricultural industry by designing projects that both meet the requirements of approval and are adaptive to the impacts of a changing climate”.

 Since September 2015, the Water Security Agency has been implementing the Agricultural Water Management Strategy. New regulations, legislation and policies have been implemented to promote responsible drainage in Saskatchewan while supporting resilient watersheds and thriving communities.

Agriculture is a very important economic sector in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has some of the most productive farmland in the world with more than 18 million hectares, laying claim to about 40% of Canada’s cultivated farmland. Agriculture, as with most sectors, is not without challenges. Farming as a sector is complex and it is affected by many external factors, such as variable weather and market forces. This results in unpredictable aspects resulting in inherent challenges. There are also ongoing pressures related to soil erosion, pests, disease, climate change, and of course water management considerations. To achieve continued agricultural growth, Saskatchewan producers need to continue to adapt to address and mitigate pressures to their operations.

Saskatchewan is expected to experience an increase in frequency and intensity of weather-related events, which if not well managed will have negative effects on the agricultural sector. As our climate continues to change, so must the design and construction of agriculture water management projects. The sector will need the skills of professionals (called Qualified Persons or QPs) who assist landowners in designing adaptive projects that meet the requirements for a drainage approval. This course offers the introductory concepts that are important to ensure QPs have the appropriate skills and knowledge necessary to assist in the continued growth and resiliency of this sector.

To ensure qualified persons have the skills they need to help producers, the Water Security Agency has partnered with Southeast College, to provide a dynamic and informational Introductory Qualified Persons Training course that will help individuals wanting to work as Qualified Persons.

This training course is a cost-shared initiative supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) program. The Water Security Agency has partnered with Southeast College, the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, Prairie Water, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, Technology Professionals of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds to develop and offer this course.

The course is targeted at professionals who have related knowledge and experience equivalent to an undergraduate degree. This is typically professionals who have a P.Ag, P.Eng or A.Sc.t. designation; however, other professionals with experience in this area are also welcomed to take the course. After the completion of the Introductory QP Training course, a certificate will be awarded that is endorsed by Water Security Agency and Southeast College.

To register for the Introductory Qualified Persons Training course please click the link to register or call us toll free at 1-866-999-7372.

Introductory Qualified Persons Training course

• This course is a combination of online instructor led workshops and self-guided online workbooks and videos
• 15 hours of online virtual instructor led workshops scheduled during five three-hour sessions over the course of two weeks from 9:00am – 12:00pm Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays
• 7 hours of online homework that students are expected to complete
• Maximum 25 participants per class
• Tuition: Free

Class schedule/times:

Morning Classes:  Day 1   9:00  – 11:30   Day 2   9:00 – 12:00  Day 3  8:30 – 12:00  Day 4  9:00 – 12:00  Day 5  9:00 – 11:00

Afternoon Classes:  Day 1   1:00  – 3:30   Day 2   1:00 – 4:00  Day 3  1:00 – 4:30  Day 4  1:00 – 4:00  Day 5  1:00 – 3:00

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• Introductory Qualified Persons Training