The Board of Examiners was established to provide a mechanism of determining the qualifications of rural secretary treasurers and auditors. The general concept was to raise the status of appointed officials with a view to the elimination of the then prevalent practice of hiring unqualified persons at extremely low salaries.
In 1931, The Department of Municipal Affairs Act was amended to provide the Minister with power to appoint a Board of Examiners to conduct examinations of secretary treasurers and of persons desiring to qualify as rural treasurers. The power to make regulations was also included.
The first Board of Examiners was appointed in 1933, under Municipal Affairs. In May of that year, regulations were established prescribing qualifications. There were two classes of certificates - "A" and "C". In addition, Class B certificates were issued to persons who were officially appointed as secretary treasurers and had served for at least five years prior to the regulations coming into force (Grandfather clause).
The Board instituted a Course of Studies and conducted examinations once or twice a year in various court houses in the province. In 1958, the College of Commerce, University of Saskatchewan, developed a course in Local Government Administration. The required education classes were university classes in commerce.
A new course was developed that was made up of two parts, a two-year Junior and a two-year senior local government administration program with annual seminar sessions prior to examinations. This program was administered by the University of Regina, Extension Branch. The final series of examinations under the old system were conducted in April 1961.
In 1963, town clerks were included in the certification program of the Board under the same terms as those in effect for rural secretary treasurers. Class “B” certificates were issued to a number of town clerks on somewhat the same basis as that which had been issued to rural secretary treasurers.
However, basically the regulations remained the same. Any updates were done by Board policy.
The regulations have had only minor amendments since they came into existence in the ‘30s. In 1972, a “Superior A” certificate was introduced. This certificate was issued to persons who had completed the senior program in local government administration.
In 1981, a new set of regulations came into force to reflect the provisions of the revised statutes of Saskatchewan that came into effect in 1978. Since that time only minor amendments, mainly housekeeping in nature i.e. fees, adding the SIAST course, were made to the regulations. There have been no amendments at all since 1992.
Early in 2001, the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing indicated that the Province would no longer be involved with the Rural Board of Examiners. Legislation was passed maintaining mandatory certification for R. M. Administrators and the legislation also granted authority for RMAA and SARM to set up and operate a Board of Examiners. On July 1st, 2001, the new Board of Examiners came into being with 1 member appointed by the SARM (also to be the Board Chair), 1 member appointed by RMAA and a member to be appointed jointly.
Sask. Board of Examiners (Rural) "C" (entry) Certificate Requirements Educational Requirements: