Courses
SUBSOIL SALINITY TOOL (SST) VERSION 3.0
The Subsoil Salinity Tool (SST) Version 3.0 is a software tool used to assess, manage, and guide remediation of salinity impacts. It is an approved regulatory tool by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) and Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), and can be used to generate Tier 2A and 2B Subsoil Remediation Guidelines (SRGs) for chloride, SAR and sodium. Training course offerings include two distinct options – a full 4-day certification course and a 1-day overview course. Each course touches on the following topics, though in substantially more detail in the full certification course than the 1-day overview course:
purpose, basis, and benefits of the SST
key receptors and risks related to salinity / chloride contamination
what guidelines are relevant to salt contamination and where they should be applied
variables that drive the movement of salinity / chloride within soils and water
layout and content of the SST User Manual
key information required to perform an SST assessment
minimum site investigation requirements
reporting requirements
typical case examples
A 1-day advanced course is also offered for already-certified practitioners that will extend further into a range of advanced SST techniques.
Further details of each course are provided below:
Full 4 day certification course
This 4 day course includes over three days of instruction on theory, software tool operation, and case studies, with the exam on the fourth day (four-hour comprehensive exam). Students achieving a passing mark (80%) will obtain EPA certification and a certificate number registered at EPA for submitting SST derived SRGs. The course will include instruction on the newest update of Version 3, along with some comparisons to previous versions to provide context. Successful completion of the course including passing the exam will result in SST certification allowing the formal submittal of SST assessments. Please contact Equilibrium for information about government rates.
Date:
October 27-30, 2026
Venue:
Courses are offered virtually/online
Cost:
$1550 + GST (full course including certification exam)
$1325 + GST (full course but taken as an audit without certification exam (no prerequisite to already have taken the course. Does not result in certification)
$825 + GST (previously-certified practitioners wishing to retake the full course as a refresher (no exam since already certified)
Additional Information:
If you are interested in registering, please send completed registration forms to sstinfo@eqm.ca.
Payment arrangements can be made by contacting accounting@eqm.ca.
1 day overview course
This 1 day overview course will provide an overview of the Subsoil Salinity Tool (SST), and is intended for a range of audiences for whom a high-level understanding of salinity impacts and techniques for their investigation and remediation is important but who do not require specific formal certification. This could include producers, project managers, field investigators, representatives of various government or regulatory agencies, or a range of other positions. For those who require formal certification to use the SST and sign-off on assessments submitted to EPA or AER, the full multi-day certification course (including exam) should be considered instead. All the topics listed at the top of this page will be covered at a high-level in this overview course, and will be based on the newest update of Version 3. See registration form for government and student rates.
Date/Time:
November 3, 2026
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Venue:
Courses are offered virtually/online
Cost:
$550 + GST
Additional Information:
If you are interested in registering, please send completed registration forms to sstinfo@eqm.ca.
Payment arrangements can be made by contacting accounting@eqm.ca.
1 day advanced course
This 1 day course is intended for already-certified practitioners, and will include a range of advanced SST techniques that will extend beyond the prescriptive Tier 2A/2B SST approach into less prescribed Tier 2C submissions. Examples of topics to be covered include advanced subarea optimization techniques, soil salvage and reuse methods, the use of stepped guideline profiles, discussion of under-used parameters, backfill considerations, and additional advanced topics including illustrative case studies. The course will be based on the newest update of Version 3, along with some discussion of potential future updates to the tool.
Date/Time:
November 5, 2026
8 a.m - 4 p.m
Venue:
Courses are offered virtually/online
Cost:
$750 + GST
Additional Information:
If you are interested in registering, please send completed registration forms to sstinfo@eqm.ca.
Payment arrangements can be made by contacting accounting@eqm.ca.
Tier 2 Organic Contaminant Guidelines
This 1 day course provides an overview of Tier 2 guideline calculation techniques for a range of organic contaminants, including discussion of additional considerations, complications, and advanced techniques. It considers the important BTEX and F1-F4 fractions, as well as a range of other organic contaminants such as PAH’s, alcohols/glycols, and chlorinated solvents. Other less common contaminants with sufficiently well-defined physical, chemical, and toxicological properties will also be discussed.
A user-friendly custom software tool will be used to facilitate the calculations, accessed as a modern, subscription-based web-application. It allows generation of soil and groundwater guidelines for standard BTEX and F1-F4 fractions, including soil vapour aspects. A suite of additional other organic contaminants is also included, and will be expanded over time. A range of QA/QC and calculation audit features are also included, with additional features to be added over time.
Features and capabilities will be added over time, including updates to maintain consistency with current Tier 1 guidelines. Short video updates will be provided free-of-charge to all active subscription holders (live, with recordings provided) to describe any updates / upgrades as they are released. Software access will be provided on the course date, with instructions provided during the course.
Date/Time:
November 12, 2026
8 a.m - 4 p.m
Venue:
Virtually/online
Cost:
Course only $725 + GST
This fee includes the cost of the course only. If you have previously taken the course or are currently enrolled for the upcoming course you are elgible for the 1-year subscription to the software at $575 + GST. Optional annual renewal is $220/year thereafter, giving ongoing access to all updates and upgrades.
Course+Software $1300 + GST
This fee includes the course itself ($725) plus a 1-year subscription to the software ($575 when bundled with course).
Optional annual renewal is $220/year thereafter, giving ongoing access to all updates and upgrades.
Software only $675 + GST
This fee includes a 1-year subscription to the software without the course. This fee is for those that have not previously taken the course.
Optional annual renewal is $220/year thereafter, giving ongoing access to all updates and upgrades.
Additional Course Offerings
Basic toxicology
Contact us for additional details on content and availability.
Custom Course Development
Contact us for additional information regarding custom designed courses for government groups or individual organizations.