Part 1: The Route to P.

Eng
Part 2: Experience Reporting and CompetencyBased Assessment
Part 3: Other Requirements

Ausenco Sandwell
November 23, 2011

The Route to P.Eng.

1.

Education
- Examinations or
- Accredited Bachelors Degree or Equivalent

2.

4 Years Satisfactory Experience under

Professional Supervision
- Experience, Training and Development
- 1 year in Canadian Environment

3.

Law & Ethics

- Seminar
- Professional Practice Examination

4.

Good Character

Becoming an EIT
To apply:
- Submit an EIT Application Form
- Arrange to have your transcripts sent from your university
- Submit a certified proof of identification
** Application fee can be waived if you are applying within 12 months of
graduation
*** Graduates with degrees recognized by the following
bodies/agreements are considered academically qualified:
- CEAB
- ABET
- Washington Accord
**** Applicants with degrees that are not accredited will be subject to an
academic review and possible academic examinations

Pre-Graduation Experience Credit

Bachelors in Engineering
Candidates can receive up to a maximum of 12 months credit for pre-grad
experience (e.g. co-op, summer work)
Only applicable if completed after 2nd year of undergrad onwards
Must meet Satisfactory Engineering Experience requirements

Diploma in Technology, Technologist Experience and Bachelors

Degree in Engineering
Candidates who obtained a technologist diploma and worked as technologists
before completing a Bachelors degree may be eligible for an additional 12
months credit (in exceptional circumstances).
Must meet Satisfactory Engineering Experience requirements
Additional 12 months must show progression beyond what a co-op student
would earn

Post-Graduate Degree Experience Credit

Candidates can receive up to a maximum of 12 months EACH for
a Masters or Ph.D. degree.

should be in the same (or related) discipline as the rest of

the four years of experience

Must be a thesis-based (not course-based) Masters

e.g. M.A.Sc. From UBC (thesis-based) ; not M.Eng. from UBC

(course-based)

Evaluated against Satisfactory Engineering Experience

requirement
Teaching of subjects where there is no application of
engineering principles does not count
Cannot be counted towards Canadian Environment
experience requirement (min 1 year of 4)

EIT to P.Eng Application

When an EIT applies for P.Eng Registration, the following needs to
be provided/completed:
1)

P.Eng Application form

2)

3)
4)
5)
6)

(fee determined by whether it was paid in full or waived at time of

EIT/GIT application)

Work Experience Details

Reference forms (at least four forms are needed)
Professional Practice Examination
Law & Ethics Seminar
Additional Information:
* Transcripts (only required if another degree has been completed since EIT
application)
* Proof of citizenship (only required if not provided at time of EIT
application)

Work Experience Requirements

Acceptable work experience includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Application of Theory
Practical Experience
Management of Engineering
Communication Skills
Social Implications of Engineering
Sustainability
Sponsorship
Experience in a Canadian Environment

1. Application of Theory
Meaningful participation required in:

Analysis - collecting data, feasibility/economic assessments

Design & Synthesis component selection, product
specification, reliability & maintenance

Testing Methods applying testing methodologies and

techniques to meet specifications

Implementation Methods optimization techniques,

cost/benefit analysis

*** Show how you solved problems using appropriate theoretical &
practical Engineering/Geoscience principles.

2. Practical Experience

Work originated by you and not solely in review of work of others

Practical Limitations of Systems; Methods

Local Conditions, Risks

Site Visits; Site Meetings; Fieldwork (sampling, inspection,

supervision)

Significance of time in engineering process (workflow, scheduling,

equipment wear out, corrosion rates, replacement scheduling)
Importance of codes, standards, regulations and laws that govern
applicable engineering activities
Exposure to entire design cycle

7. Sponsorship (References)

References are Key to the Registration Process

provide the basis for judgment of reviewers as to the level of ability as
a professional
Comment on your ability to independently practise professional
engineering
Policy on Referees and References states that credit may not be
given for experience that cannot be validated by a referee and an
interview may be required
Provide a letter of explanation if you will have difficulty providing
the necessary references
If the referee is not a Professional Engineer, he/she will be asked to
provide a resume to establish professional equivalency.

7. Sponsorship (References) contd

Referees
Must have first-hand (detailed) knowledge of your work
Minimum of 2 Canadian or U.S. professional engineer
references to verify Canadian or U.S. experience
Experience outside Canada/U.S. referee must be equivalent
to P.Eng. in country in which experience was gained
Referees for as much work history as possible, with a
minimum of 4 years

At least 2 should have directly supervised your work

At least 1 should share the same discipline as you

At least one from outside your employer is preferred

8. Minimum 1 Year of Experience in a

Canadian Environment
Must be:

Supported by undergraduate and/or

postgraduate academic formation
Supported by a minimum of 2 Canadian and/or
U.S. professional engineer/geoscientist referees
Who have supervised the work and are in the same
discipline as the applicant

Broad-based and at the level of complexity and

responsibility demonstrating progression
towards readiness for professional registration

Special Requirements (Discipline Specific)

Software Engineering
Naval Architectural Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Forest Engineering
Computer Engineering
Marine engineering
Integrated Engineering

Check website for updates!

Guidelines on Practice Areas

Project and Construction Management

Sales Engineering
University Faculty Experience

Check website for updates!

When to apply

4+ years of experience
o

Have support of P.Eng colleagues and supervisor(s)

Progression of experience and responsibility to a professional
level

Pre-grad + 3 years of experience

o
o

Pre-graduation experience should be under P.Eng Supervision

NO automatic credit for pre-graduation experience - it is subject
to review
Must show progression in experience and responsibility from
pre-grad to professional level
Suggest apply between 3-4 years experience

Presentation of Work Experience for Review

In a chronological format (include month/year)

Describe in detail what you did

What, when, where, how, with whom, under

whom, how big, how much ($)
Problems, solutions
Minimum length 10 pages, maximum length 20
pages

Work Experience Cont

Record:
Project titles, dates
Companys name and dates there
Supervisors name/title

Give a description of the work you did:

Including details of your responsibilities
Typical projects and your role

Sample Employment Record

Employer Name
Employer Address
Email and/or phone number
Dates of Employment: From (YYYY/MM) To (YYYY/MM)
Position:
Company description: This should be a very brief description of the
company
Major responsibilities and activities:
Major Project Description: Please briefly describe how your work
satisfied each aspect listed in the Satisfactory Engineering Experience
Guideline

The Online Reporting System

Purpose
To improve feedback on experience prior to applicants applying
for P.Eng. registration. Through this system, trainees and senior
student members of APEGBC (MAPS) can report their
experience online in six to twelve month increments so that
experience credits can be accumulated during the pre and post
graduation periods as part of the 48-month experience
requirement to apply for licensure.
Who can use it?
Engineers-in-Training (EITs), MAPS Student members
Supervisors
P.Eng Experience Reviewers

How it works
The candidate will create a work period for a block
between 6 to 12 months (Work periods must be entered
in chronological order)
The work period will then be submitted to the candidates
supervisor for review and approval
Once approved, the work period is locked from being
edited and is submitted to APEGBC
It is then assigned to a reviewer who is a member of our
Online Review Committee who is either a P.Geo or P.Eng
matching the discipline and expertise of the candidate
The reviewer will then make a credit recommendation
and provide feedback for the experience reported

Competency-Based Assessment
A new competency-based system for the evaluation of work
experience has been developed and piloted, and a new
online tool will soon be made available for completing,
validating and reviewing applications
It is currently an option for experience reporting for those
applying through three areas of practice: Structural, Civil:
Municipal/Infrastructure, and Electrical: Power and Industrial
Provides better guidance to
o Applicants
o Reviewers and Interviewers
o Employers

Elements and Definitions

Competency:
Competency can be defined as the ability to perform the
tasks and roles of an occupational category to standards
expected and recognized by employers and the community
at large.
APEGBCs Competency Framework outlines the common
competencies related to work experience that are essential
for Professional Engineers in all disciplines to ensure
effective practice and public safety.

Elements and Definitions

Competency Category:
o

Categorical groupings of competencies or skills (ie. Technical,

Communication, Project and Financial, Team Effectiveness, etc.)

Key Competencies:
o

An identified skill-set, or knowledge-base which the candidate must

have attained. There are 3-10 Key Competencies per Competency
Category.
Indicators: Specific examples of activities, actions, skills or behaviors
that could demonstrate the achievement of a Key Competency

Competency Rating Scale (0-5)

o

The rating scale outlines the required level of competence required

to satisfy the requirements for professional registration

APEGBC Competency Framework - Categories

1. Technical Competence
2. Communication
3. Project & Financial Management
4. Team Effectiveness
5. Professional Accountability
6. Social, Economic, Environmental & Sustainability
7. Personal Continuing Professional Development

For Example: Technical Competence Category

Overall Competence Level Required: 3, with a minimum of 1 in each Category.

Key Competencies
1.1 Demonstrate knowledge of regulations, codes, standards, and safety - this includes local engineering procedures and
practices as applicable
1.2 Demonstrate knowledge of materials, or operations as appropriate, project and design constraints, design to best fit
the purpose or service intended and address inter-disciplinary impacts.
1.3 Analyze technical risks and offer solutions to mitigate the risks

1.4 Apply engineering knowledge to design solutions

1.5 Be able to understand solution techniques and independently verify the results.
1.6 Safety awareness: be aware of safety risks inherent in the design; and Demonstrate Safety
1.7 Awareness on-site and possible safety authorization/certificate as appropriate
1.8 Demonstrate understanding of systems as well as of components of systems
1.9 Exposure to all stages of the process/project life cycle from concept and feasibility analysis through implementation
1.10 Understand the concept of quality control during design and construction including independent design check and
independent reviews of design, field checks and reviews.

Competency Self Assessment Examples

Under each Key Competency you are asked to describe and
cross-reference the example of your recent engineering
activities that best demonstrates your achievement of the
competency.
Must describe situation, action, outcome for each example
Must have a Validator to verify the examples that you
include

Sample Indicators - Structural

Competency Category 1 Technical Competence

Overall Level: 3

Competencies

1.1

Demonstrate knowledge of regulations, codes,

standards, and safety - this includes local engineering
procedures and practices as applicable

1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

6.

7.

Identify and comply with legal

and regulatory requirements for
project activities.
Prepare Permit Applications
Incorporate knowledge of codes
and regulations in design
materials.
Prepare reports on standards and
project compliance.
Recognize the need to design for
code compliance while achieving
constructability.
Experience with use of applicable
Canadian codes and standards for
design, construction and testing
Ability to research and apply
suitable international codes as
needed.

Competency Based Assessment

Recommended as an option for experience
reporting in three areas of practice: Structural,
Civil: Municipal/Infrastructure, and Electrical:
Power and Industrial
Additional discipline-specific indicators being
developed in Metallurgical, Mechanical: Building
Systems and Building Enclosure

Online Tool for Competence Assessment

Online Tool for Competence Assessment

To be available for EITs/P.Eng. Applicants
January 2012
If you are interested in using the online tool
and you are applying in Structural, Civil:
Municipal/Infrastructure, or Electrical:
Power and Industrial, please contact Allison
Brownlee (abrownlee@apeg.bc.ca)
Group presentations and further guidance
available

Options for Experience Reporting

Current system

Competency Based Assessment System

Key Features

Key Features

Available for all disciplines

Recommended if you are applying in

Structural, Civil:
Municipal/Infrastructure, or Electrical:
Power and Industrial

Has online interim reporting (if initiated

soon after grad) or paper based
reporting after 48 months of experience.

Has online reporting and evaluation

system for completing and submitting
your application; paperless

Most Common Interviews

The Experience Review interview determines whether the candidate

has satisfied all of the experience requirements and has demonstrated
a progression of experience and responsibility to a professional level

The Looking to Exempt interview determines whether the candidate

has acquired equivalent knowledge and expertise of the discipline
through experience and applied engineering principles to the degree
that confirmatory exams can be waived

The Out-of-Discipline Interview is required when an applicant has

graduated in one discipline and is working in a different discipline and
determines whether additional courswork, exams or experience is
needed

The Professional Practice Exam (PPE)

A Law & Ethics based exam with questions general enough to be

answered by candidates from all disciplines of Engineering or
Geoscience.
Offered quarterly (January, April, July, October)
100 multiple-choice questions to be completed within two hours and
followed by a one hour essay section.
Two recommended study books that can be purchased from APEGBC.
To be able to write the PPE, candidates must be:

An EIT or applicant for P.Eng membership.

It is recommended that they have at least 24 months of experience.

Typically 90% who write pass at each session

English Language Competency Policy

Effective January 2012, ALL applicants will be required to write the one
hour essay section as part of the Professional Practice Exam.
The essay section will involve:
o
o
o

Choosing ONE out of three topics provided

Usually questions dealing with ethical/legal issues
Will often require the development of real or fictional scenarios as part of the
answer
Topics will often contain multiple sub-questions

For more information, please see the website.

The Law & Ethics Seminar

A two day seminar offered quarterly in the lower mainland

(Usually one month before the PPE)
Teaches practical law, occupational health and safety,
employment law and professional practice and ethics for
engineers and geoscientists
Is also available in CD format for purchase (Available anytime)
Applicants must have either attended the seminar or purchased
the CD set before getting registered as a P.Eng or P.Geo.

Timelines for Review of Experience

From Documents complete (experience, references)
o

1-3 months to first review

Additional information required (triggers Registration

Committee review)
o

+ 2-3 months to review information

Interview required
o
o

1-2 months to arrange interview

1 month for interview results to be reviewed and approved

Total Review Time = from 1 to 9 months

Questions?

Register@apeg.bc.ca

abrownlee@apeg.bc.ca

604-412-4856

1-888-430-8035

www.apeg.bc.ca