The role of professional associations depends on the occupation. Some, like teachers and medical professionals, require membership and certification in order to work in those fields; others are unions that organize and negotiate for their members. Some organizations exist to provide credentials for their members, but participation is not mandatory for employment.

You should check to see if membership in a professional association is necessary for your chosen occupation. Regardless, it’s generally a useful place to start if you are researching your career, educational plans, and options for employment.

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials provides comprehensive lists of national and provincial professional organizations that are updated on an ongoing basis.

Additional Information

Alberta Teachers' Association is the professional organization of Alberta teachers.

Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association, Edmonton Branch, is a music teachers' organization.

Alberta Financial Careers is a Government of Alberta site that has links to all professional associations related to financial careers – as well as excellent links to training and career opportunities.

American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada This is the site for the Edmonton (Local 390) branch of the international union representing professional musicians.

Canadian Auto Workers Union is the largest private sector union in Canada. It serves the automobile industry as well as several related sectors.

Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union. CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.

Edmonton Region Home Builders' Association is an association of residential construction professionals.

Medical

Alberta Medical Association sets standards and acts as an advocate for physicians in Alberta.

Capital Region Medical Staff Association represents all physicians working in the Capital Region (Edmonton and Surrounding Area).

Registered Psychiatric Nurses Assoc. of Alberta is the licensing and regulating body for the profession of psychiatric nursing.

United Nurses of Alberta is the union of Alberta’s Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, student nurses, and mental health workers.

Project Management

The Project Management Institute Northern Alberta Chapter (PMI-NAC) is a volunteer organization founded in 1981 that covers the geographic area of northern Alberta and the NWT. Their vision is to be the pre-eminent project management leader in the Northern Alberta Chapter community so that individuals and organizations will embrace project management and attribute their success to it.

Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists promotes and furthers the study of petroleum geology and its related sciences.