Professional Agrologist refers to members of the self-regulated agrology profession in Canada. A Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) is an individual dedicated to contributing to the prosperity of Canada’s agri-food industry by providing unbiased and professional expertise. Professional Agrologists are guided by a strict code of ethics to ensure that Canada’s agri-food and health products are of the utmost quality. P.Ags come from many diverse fields such as soil science, genetic engineering, animal science and agriculture business. The P.Ag. protects the interest of the public by licensing and safeguarding the competence of Agrologists. Professional Agrologists are committed to growing the industry and the business. Their purpose is also to enhance the quality of professional development for colleagues within the industry. Agrology is a self regulated profession and each province has a Provincial Agrologist Act which defines the scope of the profession and the practice of agrology. The act also defines the qualifications required for the right to practice. There are approximately 6000 Professional Agrologists in Canada, registered in 10 provincial institutes of agrologists.

Becoming a Professional Agrologist

While the process varies slightly between provinces becoming a Professional Agrologist requires a formal education in agriculture followed by an articling process. The articling process lasts approximately two years and is meant to develop a better understanding of the rights, responsibilities and obligations of a Professional Agrologist. While working with a mentor the Articling Agrologist (A.Ag.) gains experience and opportunities that will help integrate them into the profession. After completing the articling period and being evaluated by their peers the title of P.Ag. is bestowed granting with it the rights and responsibilities of a Professional Agrologist. Professional Agrologists have a continuing commitment to professional development and constantly seek to improve upon their skills and education.

Internationally educated agrologists

Recently the Ontario Institute of Agrology (OIA) in Guelph launched a new initiative to attract and develop international agrologists. Through this program newcomers to Ontario or current residents with agricultural degrees (or their equivalent) from Colleges, University or other educational institutes abroad can receive assistance from the OIA and Ontario’s professional Agrologists to get registered to practice the profession in Ontario. The program hopes to entice 300 new Agrologists over the next 3 years to add to the critically important group of Professional Agrologists. This is the first program of its kind for Agrologists in Canada although similar programs exist for engineers, teachers and medical professionals.

Provincial Institutes of Agrology

• Alberta Institute of Agrologists
• British Columbia Institute of Agrologists
• Manitoba Institute of Agrologists
• New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists
• Newfoundland and Labrador Institutes of Agrologists
• Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists
• Ontario Institute of Agrologists
• Prince Edward Island Institute of Agrologists
• Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists

Sources

• Agricultural Institute of Canada
• Alberta Occupational Profile

See also

• Agronomist
• Agriculturalist