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 AEP certification and a certificate number registered at AEP for submitting SST derived SRGs. The course will include instruction on the newest Version 3.0 (build 3.0.1) including the subsoil SAR/sodium module, along with some comparisons to the previous version to provide context for the numerous updates/upgrades in Version 3.0. 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:
April 14-17, 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 AEPA or AER, the full multi-day certification course (including exam) should be considered instead. All the topics listed above will be covered at a higher-level in this overview course. See registration form for government and student rates.
Date/Time:
April 21, 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.
Date/TIme:
Monday, April 20, 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.
Additional Course Offerings
Tier 2 Petroleum Hydrocarbon Guidelines
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Basic toxicology
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Custom Course Development
Contact us for additional information regarding custom designed courses for government groups or individual organizations.