|
Q & As ON THE FI QUALIFICATION STANDARD
January 15, 2007
"Workplace Issues" articles are prepared by members of ACFO's Labour Relations team as a service to Financial Officers who may encounter these issues in their workplace. These articles are for information purposes only and should not be considered standalone legal advice. As every case is different, members who believe they may have grounds for a grievance or appeal are encouraged to contact the National Head Office to discuss their case.
What is the Qualification Standard
The employer is authorized to establish qualification standards (formerly known as standards for selection and assessment) in relation to education, knowledge, experience, occupational certification, language and other qualifications for each occupational group pursuant to Section 31(1) of the Public Service Employment Act.
The FI Qualification Standard provides for the minimum requirements to be used when staffing FI positions in the public service. The Qualification Standard must be adhered to by deputy heads for all appointment processes and deployments.
Where can I find a copy of the FI Qualification Standard?
You can find an electronic copy of the current FI Qualification here:
www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/hrmm-mgrh/QualStandard/section02_e.asp#fi
Can the employer require additional qualifications above the Qualification Standard?
On any particular appointment process, the employer may require more qualifications than the minimum provided for in the Qualification Standard. For example, the employer can, and often does, require both a university degree and a designation for FI-03 and FI-04 appointment processes.
What is 'Grand-Parenting' and when does it apply?
When the employer changed the Qualification Standard in 1987 and 2004, FIs were deemed to meet the minimum qualification standard for at least the FI level they occupied at the time the Qualification Standard was changed. Therefore, employees in indeterminate FI positions on August 1st, 2004, who did not possess the required education level are entitled to the following grand-parenting.
- Incumbents of FI-1 positions are deemed to meet the minimum education standard for the FI-1 level based on their education, training and/or experience. They must possess the formal education for appointment to higher levels.
- Incumbents of FI-2 or higher positions are deemed to meet the minimum education standard for those levels based on their education, training and/or experience.
Employees who were grand-parented as a result of the FI conversion effective June 23, 1987, are also entitled to the above grand-parenting provisions provided they have remained continuously employed, since that date, under the Public Service Employment Act. Their entitlement is based on their last classification level in the FI Group.
What if I am in an acting position or student employment program?
The Qualification Standard must be adhered to by deputy heads for all appointment processes and for all intra-group and inter-group deployments and deployments from separate agencies, except:
- Student Employment Programs designated by the Treasury Board; and
- Acting appointments of less than 4 months in duration.
How is it determined whether my courses satisfy the two years of post-secondary education requirement for FI-01 positions?
It is the recognized educational institution that determines if the courses taken by a candidate correspond to two years of a post-secondary program at that institution.
Who determines whether my education meets the specialization requirement?
The term "specialization" refers to a significant number of courses in a particular field of study as determined by the manager. These courses must have been taken in a recognized educational institution (for the FI-1 level) or university (for FI-2 and above) but not necessarily within a post-secondary or degree program in the required specialization.
Where can I find out more about Qualification Standards?
The FI Qualification Standard is subject to rules and interpretations that are set out in the case law, legislation and policy. If you require clarification on the application of the Qualification Standard, please call a Labour Relations Officer at the ACFO National Head Office at 613-728-0695 for assistance and guidance.
|
