Since 2005, the Mining Industry Human Resources (MiHR) Council has been coordinating a collaborative effort by mining sector employers, employees, educators and other stakeholders to develop a program that will recognize the skills, competencies and knowledge of its mine operations and maintenance workers.  Unlike the trades, skilled workers in these occupations have never before been awarded an industry-recognized credential that supports mobility and retention within the mining workforce.

MiHR's latest research estimates that between now and 2020, the industry will need to hire approximately 100,000 workers to both support growth in the industry and replace retiring workers.  Approximately 20 per cent of these new hires will be required in skilled occupations that have up until had now lacked a national recognition system, including production miners, development miners, heavy equipment operators and mill operators. 

Without a formal credentialing framework for these jobs, employers may struggle to evaluate the qualifications of experienced candidates and may end up wasting time and resources retraining new hires in areas where they have already demonstrated competency in the workplace.  

The Canadian Mining Credentials Program is the cornerstone of the mining industry's efforts to:

• recognize the skills, knowledge and experience of mining workers,
• provide workers with portable credentials,
• accredit training programs for mining workers, and
• enable employers to accurately and consistently verify the skills and experience of job applicants and support ongoing professional recognition for their employees.

Defining the Work We Do
The Canadian Mining Credentials Program has three components: 

1. National Occupational Standards (NOS);
2. Certification; and
3. Accreditation of Training. 

To date, under the guidance of industry development committees, MiHR has developed four National Occupational Standards - Underground Miner, Surface Miner, Minerals Processing Operator and Diamond Driller.   Certification based on these NOS for Underground Hard rock Miner, Surface Miner, Minerals Processing Operator will be nationally available in Fall 2011

Accreditation of training is under development and pilots will be completed in 2012.

Complementing Provincial and Territorial Standards
Already existing required provincial/territorial standards and assessment systems will still apply to all workers in those jurisdictions. MiHR will continue to collaborate with the relevant provincial/territorial authorities to identify commonalities  between the CMCP and the provincial systems.

Find Out More
Find out more detailed information about the Canadian Mining Credentials Program by using the menu on the left-hand side of this screen or contact Cheryl Mercer at the Mining Industry Human Resources Council at 613-270-9696 ext. 43.