Professional Documents
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B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A , C A N A D A
Occupational Fact Sheet
for Internationally Educated
MARCH 2004
Prepared by:
THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS
OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
IMMIGRANT SERVICES SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
MOSAIC
Financial support from:
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Womens Services
Guide for Registration as a
Professional Engineer in BC
Disclaimer
This Occupational Fact Sheet was developed by the Association of Profes-
sional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia
(APEGBC) and the partnership of Immigrant Services Society of British
Columbia (ISS) and MOSAIC. Information in this Fact Sheet will be updated
on a regular basis. Requirements may change without notice. If you require
clarification, contact APEGBC.
Copyright
Copyright of this Occupational Fact Sheet is held jointly by APEGBC and the
partnership of ISS and MOSAIC, 2003. This Fact Sheet may be used or
reproduced by any third party for non-commercial, not-for-profit purposes,
provided that no fee, payment or royalty of any kind shall be charged by
the third party for any further use or reproduction of the Fact Sheet by any
person. Any proposed commercial or for-profit use or reproduction of this
Fact Sheet requires a written license from both the APEGBC and the
partnership of ISS and MOSAIC.
Websites
This document can be accessed on the Internet through:
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC website:
www.apeg.bc.ca
Human Resources Development Canadas website:
www.bc.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Womens Services
web site: www.gov.bc.ca/mcaws
And the websites of:
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia
#501 - 333 Terminal Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6A 2L7
Phone: 604.684.2561 Fax: 604.684.2266
Email: immserv@issbc.org
Website: www.issbc.org
MOSAIC
1522 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2
Phone: 604.254.0244 Fax: 604.254.3932
Email: employmentprograms@mosaicbc.com
Website: www.mosaicbc.com
Engineers
B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A , C A N A D A
Occupational Fact Sheet
for Internationally Educated
Table of Contents
1 11 11 Purpose of the Fact Sheet / 3
2 22 22 Who Registers Engineers in BC? / 4
3 33 33 What are My Job Prospects as an Engineer in BC? / 6
4 44 44 What are the Requirements for Registration as a Professional Engineer in BC? / 7
5 55 55 How Long Does it Take and How Much Does it Cost? / 8
6 66 66 How Do I Become a Registered Professional Engineer in BC? / 9
Checklist / 9
7 77 77 How Does the Registration Process Work? / 11
Step by Step Process / 11
Step 1: Application / 11
Step 2: Assemble Documents / 11
Step 3: Review of Academic Qualifications / 14
Step 4: Assessment of Work Experience / 16
Step 5: Law and Ethics Requirements and Professional Practice
Examination / 18
Step 6: Character Assessment / 19
Step 7: Reconsiderations and Appeals / 19
Step 8: Registered as a Provisional Member / 20
Step 9: Registered as a Professional Engineer / 20
8 88 88 Reasons for Delay in Your Application and How to Speed up the Process / 21
9 99 99 Fees / 22
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 Contact Information / 23
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Glossary / 25
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 3
1 Purpose of the Fact Sheet
This fact sheet is for internationally educated engineers, that is, those individuals
who have been educated or recognized as engineers in other countries. It provides
information on how to become registered and practice as an engineer in British
Columbia (BC). Section 11 has a glossary of commonly used terms in this fact sheet.
This fact sheet does not address immigration or detailed employment matters. (See
Section 10 for Contact Information that can assist you with immigration and
employment questions.)
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 4
2 Who Registers Engineers in BC?
A regulatory body is the organization that grants individuals the registration, license
or certificate to practice in a particular occupation.
Engineering is a regulated profession in Canada. This means that if you are working
as an engineer in Canada, you must either:
Be registered as a Professional Engineer in the province or territory in which you
are working; or
Work under the direct supervision of someone who is registered as a Professional
Engineer in the province or territory in which you are working.
Each province has its own association that registers people as Professional
Engineers. In British Columbia, this association is the Association of Professional
Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).
APEGBC offers free information sessions on applying for registration. To find out
when the next session is and to reserve your seat, send APEGBC an email at:
register@apeg.bc.ca or call 604.430.8035 or toll-free in Canada 1.888.430.8035.
Engineer versus Technologist
What is considered engineering in one country may not be considered engineering in
another. In Canada, the engineering team is made up of technicians, technologists,
engineers and others. If you are not sure where you fit in, you could do a little
research. Visit the Applied Science and Technologists and Technicians of BC
(ASTTBC) website at www.asttbc.org for information on the kind of work technicians
and technologists do in Canada.
An Applied Science Technologist (AScT) works as a member of the engineering
team, applying known engineering principles and techniques to the solution of
practical engineering problems. In this role, Applied Science Technologists practice
under the supervision of a Professional Engineer, who takes professional
responsibility for the overall project. You can compare the information on the APEGBC
website to determine whether you should apply for registration with ASTTBC or
APEGBC. You may find that, for the work you will be doing in BC, you do not need to
apply for registration at all.
ASTTBC is expected to merge with APEGBC in 2005. APEGBC will then assume
responsibility for registering individuals who have the right to the titles of Applied
Science Technologist and Certified Technician. For more information, contact
APEGBC.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 5
Moving within Canada
If you are already registered in one province in Canada and move to another
province, you will need to register again, but it is generally a simple process. Check
with the regulatory body in the province to which you are moving.
Types of Engineering Members
APEGBC offers a number of different types of membership:
Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) meets all academic and experience
requirements and is allowed to take responsibility for engineering work or practice
engineering in BC.
Provisional Member of APEGBC is an internationally trained engineer, who
meets the academic and experience requirements (minimum of 4 years
engineering experience), and still requires one year experience in Canada under
the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer. Provisional Membership helps
internationally educated engineers to find work by allowing their qualifications to
be recognized by potential employers.
Engineer-in-Training (EIT) has the academic qualifications, but still requires 4
years of professionally supervised engineering experience.
Limited Licensee has a professional license to practice engineering within a
very limited area. Examples are: an applied science technologist or a chemist
whose work extends into the field of engineering.
This Fact Sheet explains the registration and membership process for Professional
Engineers. For information on the other types of membership, refer to the APEGBC
website at www.apeg.bc.ca.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 6
3 What are my Job Prospects as an Engineer in BC?
There are many different types of engineers and the job prospects depend on your
specialization and the state of the economy at the time you are looking for a job.
Certain kinds of engineers may be needed at different times. It is important to
understand that access to engineering jobs in Canada is highly competitive and that
in most fields of practice there are more individuals with engineering backgrounds
than there are engineering jobs.
It is also important to know that employers are looking for people with excellent
engineering experience and an understanding of the practice, legislated standards,
and codes associated with particular fields of practice. Employers are also looking
for those who are:
flexible to take on a variety of tasks
able to learn new skills
highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills
able to write reports
able to make presentations to clients, management and government, and
can work effectively, both independently and in a team environment.
For employment and labour market websites, please see Section 10 Contact
Information.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 7
4 What are the Requirements for Registration as an Engineer in BC?
Below are the requirements for registration as an engineer in BC. Detailed explana-
tion of these requirements and how to meet them is outlined in the Step-by-Step
process in Section 7.
Academic Requirements
If you do not have an undergraduate degree in engineering from an accredited
Canadian university program, APEGBC will assess your academic background. You
may be asked to take examinations to confirm your academic training.
Experience Requirements
To become registered as a Professional Engineer, you must demonstrate that you
have a minimum of four years of satisfactory engineering experience. At least
one of these years must be Canadian engineering work under the direct
supervision of a Professional Engineer.
Law and Ethics Requirement
Prior to becoming registered as a Professional Engineer, you will be required to
take a Law and Ethics Seminar. This Seminar teaches law, occupational health
and safety, and professional practice and ethics for engineers. You can choose to
attend a two-day seminar or submit a declaration that you have purchased and
viewed the seminar on a set of CD-ROMs.
Professional Practice Examination
Before being granted registration as a Professional Engineer, you must pass the
Professional Practice Examination. This exam tests your knowledge of Canadian
professional practice, law and ethics as they relate to engineering.
Character Requirements
To become a Professional Engineer you must be of good character and reputation.
Good character means being ethical and includes integrity, honesty, and
trustworthiness.
Note: English and French are the two official languages of Canada. However, English
is the language of commerce in British Columbia. While there are no specific English
language testing requirements, you need to be able to communicate verbally and in
writing. Throughout the registration process, your English skills are informally
assessed. The Professional Practice Examination has a one-hour essay that formally
assesses your ability to communicate in writing. If you are unable to communicate
verbally and in writing, APEGBC will recommend that you take English language
training before continuing with the registration process. You may have to pass an
English Language test to gain admission to university or college courses.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 8
5 How Long Does it Take and How Much Does it Cost?
Estimated Time
The time required to become registered with APEGBC will vary. For new applicants,
the estimated review time after all documents are received is 3-6 months. Additional
time will be required to become registered if you do not meet the academic or
experience qualifications, or other requirements identified by APEGBC.
Internationally educated engineers who do not yet have one year of engineering
experience in Canada will need to gain this year of experience before becoming
registered. The processes of completing some academic requirements and
Canadian work experience can happen at the same time if you already have an
engineering degree. You should check with APEGBC to determine when they start
counting the one year of Canadian engineering work experience.
Once you have submitted all the required documents to APEGBC, the entire process
may take from 3 months to 3 or 4 years depending on what requirements you have
to meet and how quickly you can meet them. Each situation is individual and the
time required will vary. (See Section 8 Reasons for Delay and How to Speed up the
Process.)
Estimated Costs
A number of fees are required before and after gaining your membership. These are
outlined in detail in Section 9 on Fees. You can estimate a total of approximately
$1,000 Canadian (for Application Fee, Professional Practice Examination and Law and
Ethics Seminar or CD Rom Set) paid over time to APEGBC throughout the process.
This does not include costs relating to:
Assigned confirmatory examinations
Assigned courses in your field
Fees charged by the university to send your transcript directly to APEGBC
Notarization or translation of your documents
Appeal or reconsideration fee
Final registration fee once you have completed all the requirements for
Professional Engineer or limited licensee status
Annual membership fee.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 9
Checklist
6 How do I Become a Registered Engineer in BC?
Below we provide a brief overview and checklist of the steps to be registered with
APEGBC as a Professional Engineer if you have been educated in another country.
Section 7 provides a step-by-step explanation of the application and assessment
process.
Step 1: Application
Request an application from APEGBC by phone, mail, website or
in person.
Step 2: Assemble Documents
Assemble the following documents and submit them to APEGBC:
Application form
Application Fee
Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
Demographic Information Form
Work Experience Details
Specific Discipline Requirements (if applicable)
Self-Assessment Checklist and Syllabus (if applicable)
Arrange for the following to be sent directly to APEGBC
Transcripts
Course descriptions (if applicable)
Reference forms
Ensure translation of documents, as required.
Step 3: Review of Academic Qualifications
APEGBC will do an initial check to identify if your information is
complete.
If your information is complete, they will begin the review process
with an assessment of your academic qualifications.
APEGBC will inform you whether you have the appropriate academic
qualifications or what outstanding academic requirements you need
to meet.
March 2004 / British Columbia, Canada
Occupational Fact Sheet for Internationally Educated Engineers 10
1
Notarized translation is one that has been certified as a true copy of the original by a person who
has been accredited as a translator for that language by the Society of Translators and Interpreters
of BC or government body.