Maintaining Professional Competence

It’s About Certification, Not Graduation

The scope of certification is professional, not educational. The emphasis is on training, skills and professional development, and not only on access to information. Skills development involves the ability to apply and implement, and not just the ability to know. Professionalism is about competence, not knowledge.

A degree indicates what you know; a professional designation states what you can do, built on what you know. You earn a degree once, and become a graduate; you renew professional status annually, as a commitment to your own career. To earn a degree you take tests to measure the acquisition of knowledge and awareness of information; to earn and keep professional status you practice your profession.

The professional designation is a public statement of competence and integrity, and a commitment to train for the future. The real test of professionals is not the process they undergo to earn the designation in the first place, but the career paths they pursue and the careers they create as a professional. A profession is a life choice.

The value of your designation is integrally linked to your professional competence and personal career growth. As a P.Log. you are committed to life-long learning.

Programs for Members

Professional Obligations

In accordance with the Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Conduct, you accept the obligation [#2 of 6].

To yourself and your profession: I will guard my competence and effectiveness as a valuable possession and work at maintaining them despite changing circumstances and requirements. Furthermore, I will maintain high personal standards of moral responsibility, character and integrity when acting in my professional capacity.

Due to my obligation to myself and my profession, I will:

  • Not knowingly allow my competence to fall short of that necessary for reasonable execution of my duties;
  • Conduct my professional affairs in such a manner as to cause no harm to the stature of the profession;
  • Take appropriate action on reasonably certain knowledge of unethical conduct on the part of a colleague.

Maintaining your P.Log. annually involves three critical requirements:

1. Active Participation in The Professional P.Log Community

As a P.Log. you are encouraged to actively participate in the professional community and contribute to it by (not limited to):

  • Maintaining an online professional profile, via LinkedIn for example
  • Leading a discussion or sharing an industry related video, article, blog post, event on any industry topic via our LinkedIn Group or our weekly e-newsletter The Low Down (contact us at loginfo@loginstitute.ca if you have something you would like to publish)
  • Contributing to a discussion led by another P.Log.

2. Recertifying Competence

Continuous professional development (CPD) is a key part of the annual maintenance of your P.Log. designation. Annually, you can opt to complete one online module for continuous professional development or submit other courses and activities you have undertaken for approval.

The option of an online module will be provided to you by the Institute upon payment of your P.Log. professional fees at no further cost to you. You can enroll and complete this module at any time within the applicable professional year. Details on the modules will be outlined in the confirmation you receive upon payment of professional fees.

3. Annual Professional Fees

The professional membership year begins on November 1 and ends on October 31 annually. The deadline to ensure you retain your P.Log. is November 30. To allow you sufficient time to process the renewal notice, the renewal process begins as early as July each year.

Failure to renew professional membership in the Logistics Institute will result in loss of professional status: you will no longer be able to use the P.Log. designation. As stipulated by the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, and included as ‘Section 14: Membership Dues’ in the new By-law of the Canadian Professional Logistics Institute, “Members shall be notified in writing of the membership dues at any time payable by them and, if any are not paid within one (1) calendar month of the membership renewal date the members in default shall automatically cease to be members of the Corporation.”

Using the secured e-commerce feature, you can renew your P.Log membership online. Upon approval of payment, a receipt will be issued and sent by email.