1. APEGGA Assistant Director of Registration
Getting Licensed as a Professional Engineer, Geologist, or Geophysicist with APEGGA
PARK POWELL, P.Eng.
APEGGA Assistant Director of Registration
The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta

2. Focus – helping you understand how to become licensed with APEGGA
AGENDA
Overview of the Canadian engineering and geoscience licensing system
Introduction to APEGGA
Registration with APEGGA – process, procedure, forms
Questions and answers
Focus – helping you understand how to become licensed with APEGGA

3. Engineering Licensure in Canada

4. For Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists
Licensure in Canada
For Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists

5. The Canadian System
In Canada engineering and geoscience are regulated professions
No one can practice engineering or geoscience without being licensed – “RIGHT TO PRACTICE”
No one can call themselves and engineer or geoscientist without being licensed – “RIGHT TO TITLE”
The licensing system was developed to ensure that only qualified and capable individuals are allowed to practice in the professions.

6. The Canadian System
In Canada the engineering and geoscience professions are regulated provincially.
There is a regulatory body in each province and territory.
There is separate and unique legislation in each province/territory.
The professions are self regulated and self governing.
There is no federal regulatory body.

7. PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC IS PARAMOUNT
The Canadian System
In Alberta APEGGA has been given the authority and responsibility to regulate the professions of engineering, geology and geophysics.
APEGGA is the only body in Alberta or Canada that has the authority to issue a license to practice engineering, geology or geophysics.
PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC IS PARAMOUNT

8. The Canadian System
Being licensed in any one province does not give you the right to practice in any other province.
You must be licensed in each province that you practice in.
You can be licensed in all provinces/territories if necessary.
Most common is licensure in 2 or 3 provinces where work is being performed.

9. The Canadian System
In order to obtain a license in Alberta you will need to apply to APEGGA.
In order to obtain a license in another province you will need to apply to the association representing that province/territory.
Caution: Each province has slightly different requirements.

10. Engineers Canada
Engineers Canada – formerly CCPE – Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
Engineers Canada is not a regulatory body and has no jurisdiction and no authority.
Engineers Canada was created by the 12 provincial regulatory associations to act as a resource and assist in standardizing requirements across Canada.

11. Engineers Canada Initial/Informal Assessment (IA)
An academic assessment for immigration purposes
A positive IA assessment meant that the person was suitable for immigration. It does not mean that the person was fully qualified for licensure in any Canadian jurisdiction.
It has no bearing on APEGGA’s evaluation of qualifications for licensure.

12. Engineers Canada EIEAP – Replaced the IA program.
Not an assessment of academic qualifications for licensure in Canada.
Assessment for immigration purposes to help people to make informed choices when applying for entrance to Canada.

13. Geoscientists Canada
Geoscientists Canada (formerly Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists) is not a regulatory body and has no jurisdiction and no authority.
Geoscientists Canada was created by the 12 provincial regulatory associations to act as a resource and assist in standardizing requirements across Canada.

14. Academic Assessments
APEGGAs Board of Examiners is the only body under the EGGP Act that has the authority to evaluate qualifications for licensure.
Evaluations done by other bodies have no bearing on whether a person meets the qualifications for licensure with APEGGA.
CCPE IA or EIEAP
IQAS
WES

15. Summary – the Canadian System
Regulated Profession
Provincial Jurisdiction
Must be licensed in each province
APEGGA in Alberta

16. APEGGA

17. APEGGA – Who and What are We?
Created in 1920 by the Alberta Government
Created to regulate the practice of engineering, geology and geophysics in Alberta.
Governed by the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Act of Alberta (EGGP).
Primary role is to ensure the protection of the public by ensuring that professional members are qualified, capable and practice competently and ethically.

18. APEGGA – Who and What are We?
Currently over 59,000 members.
Over 6000 applications for licensure were received in 2010.
Of those applications approximately one-third (2000) were from foreign trained graduates in all three professions.
APEGGA has offices in Calgary and Edmonton with approximately 70 staff overall.

19. APEGGA – Who and What are We?
Registration – evaluates qualifications for licensure.
Discipline – monitors members to ensure they are practicing skillfully, ethically and professionally.
Investigation – works in coordination with discipline to investigate complaints against members.
Compliance – policing non-licensed individuals or businesses that are practicing the professions or using a professional designation.

20. Registration

21. Five criteria for Licensure
Academics
Require original transcripts
Experience
Require Work Experience Records
References for all work to be counted
Character
From references and self declaration
English Language
TOEFL or Handwritten letter
Professional Practice
NPPE

22. Professional Licensure
Professional Engineer, Geologist or Geophysicist
Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
Must meet the FIVE CRITERIA
Foreign Licensee
Not a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident

23. Professional Licensure
Member In Training
Engineer in Training – EIT
Geologist in Training – Geol.IT
Geophysicist in Training – Geoph.IT
Must satisfy only TWO CRITERIA
Academics
Good Character
Note: Experience is not reviewed or considered.

24. Professional Licensure
Professional Licensee.
Minimum academics required are two years of post secondary education acceptable to the Board of Examiners.
Six years of experience related to the profession.
Assigned a specific Defined Scope of Practice.
License to practice independently within that scope of practice.
Has the same duties, obligations and responsibilities as a professional member.

25. Professional Licensure
Provisional Licensee.
Granted to foreign trained individuals who meet all of the requirements for membership except the one year Canadian experience.
A designation that can show potential employers that APEGGA has qualified your credentials and only the one year of Canadian experience is required before full licensure.

26. Board of Examiners Executive Board of Examiners
Determines whether applicants meet the requirements for registration
20 Academic Examiners
20 Experience Examiners
3 Public Members
Meets 11 times per year
(once per month except July)
Full Board of Examiners
Deals with policy issues and appeals
Includes the executive Board plus 3 public members and 3 Members at Large.

27. Registration Processing. All documents received
File sent to Academic examiner - recommendation
File sent to experience examiner – recommendation
File to Board of Examiners
Times vary based on
the number of applications
Time to receive documents – translations, references
Complications with an application

28. ACADEMICS

29. Academic Requirements(Engineering) -How Does APEGGA Evaluate These?
CEAB- Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (Canadian engineering programs)
MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreements) with US, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, HK, South Africa France Japan and Singapore
FDL (Foreign Degree List) – undergraduate degrees in engineering
Non-FDL - undergraduate degrees in engineering not found in one of the three categories above
Non-Engineering Degrees – eg. NAIT/SAIT technology diploma, Math degree, Physics degree

30. Academic Requirements -Starting Point Evaluations for Engineering only
CEAB
-0 exams
-0 exams
MRA
Probably 0 exams
Probably 0 exams
FDL
-FE Exam
-FE Exam
Non-FDL
-FE Exam
-FE Exam
Non-degree
Up to 24 exams
(course-by-course)
Up to 24 exams
(course-by-course)

31. FE Confirmatory Exam -Why is it Assigned?
Confirm the quality and understanding of your undergraduate engineering degree
The assumption is you have an undergraduate degree in engineering. If you don’t have this you will be assigned exams (up to 24) on a course-by-course basis
Covers broad range of material already taken in your degree
Must write exam, can not take university course equivalent instead

32. Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
Administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
8 hours long, problem solving type of exam.
4 hour morning session - general - all disciplines.
4 hour afternoon session – choice of specific discipline or general engineering.
70% required for a pass.
2 exam sessions per year
April/May and October/November
Information at

33. Geoscience Confirmatory Exams
Since there is no accreditation anywhere in the world for geology or geophysics education a three exam confirmatory assessment is given to foreign trained graduates.
A course by course gap assessment is done for those graduates from institutions in North America.
Geoscientists Canada maintain a national educational knowledge base of required courses that satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in Canada.

34. Course-by-Course Exams
Assigned to fill academic deficiencies not to confirm an undergraduate engineering degree
Can either write APEGGA exams or take approved university course equivalents

35. APEGGA Technical Exams
3 hours long, problem solving type of exams
technical exams in your engineering discipline
at a level taken by Canadian engineering students in their undergraduate degree
prepared by professors at the U of Calgary and U of Alberta that teach those subjects
2 exam sessions per year
April/May and October/November

36. Waiving FE Exam Waive Exams? Masters or PhD CEAB or MRA institution
Same or closely related
discipline
-technical in nature (containing
significant engineering design
and analysis)
-course work must be complete

37. EXPERIENCE

38. Experience: Quantity 4 years required once academically qualified
At least one year equivalent North American engineering experience – in most cases this means one year Canadian engineering experience
Must be Referenced

39. Experience: Quality - the 5 Elements
1. Application of Technical Theory
2. Practical Experience
3. Development of Management Skills
4. Development of Communication Skills
5. Development of the Understanding of Societal Implications

40. Experience - Quality
The Board of Examiners places more emphasis on the first two elements than on the last 3 elements
The Board wants to see evidence of direct engineering experience
Understanding of first principles
Problem solving
Refer to “Experience Requirements for Licensure- A Guideline” for more detailed information

41. Levels Of Experience
Technologist Level - technician or technologist level
capped at 12 months maximum
Professional Level - professional level
- typically 36 months required
- minimum 24 months required if experience credit given for post-graduate degree

42. Construction Engineering & Management
This type of work must have the following attributes to be acceptable for full credit.
Has full knowledge of the project and liaises with the project owner. Responsible for planning, implementing and finalizing projects. Ensures timeliness, cost, quality and safety. Includes risk assessment, project scope and deliverables, scheduling, site inspections, procurement, resource management, managing people and environmental considerations.
Application of theory must be present.
Minimum 1 year of theory along with 3 years Construction E & M
Can be factored if there is no evidence of the application of theory in the work..

43. Supply Chain Management
Includes purchasing, contract administration, quality control and inspection
Generally little evidence of the application of theory
Factoring is to start at 0.25 and can be raised by the examiner if there is better evidence of the application of theory
Must have a minimum of two years of the application of theory in your discipline and the rest in this field factored at 25%

44. Project/Cost Controls Engineering
Includes cost estimating, cost tracking, planning, scheduling, change management and management progress reporting
Minimum of 2 years of application of theory with the remaining project/cost controls engineering experience to be factored at 0.25
Factoring is to start at 0.25 and can be raised by the examiner if there is better evidence of the application of theory

45. Sales Engineering A salesperson with technical knowledge.
Has technical knowledge about the product and service being sold.
Uses this knowledge to determine a client’s needs
Sees a project through from the first contact with the buyer, through to completion
Identifies technical issues and solves problems.
Can be factored if there is no evidence of the application of theory in the work

46. Waiving Exams Based on Experience
Waive Exams?
Experience Required
At least 10 years for FDL degrees, geology and geophysics degrees
At least 12 years for non-FDL degrees
Overseas experience will be counted if referenced
Must be solid engineering level work
Increasing technical competence and levels of responsibility
Must be referenced

47. Experience
In all of the cases above the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the application of theory in their experience.

48. One Year Equivalent North American Engineering Experience
1 year Canadian experience
Why?
What?
-engineering level
-under supervision and control
of a P.Eng.
-P.Eng supervisor will be
required to supply a Reference
Questionnaire
-Codes and standards
-climate conditions
-culture
-ethics
-business practices
-work environment

49. One Year Equivalent North American Experience
Must gain this experience working under the supervision and control of a professional member.
Post graduate experience for a completed Masters or PhD does not satisfy the one year equivalent North American experience requirement.
Acceptable experience can be obtained in a university setting but it must be outside the Masters or PhD program.

50. Description of Work Experience
Must use the prescribed Work Experience Record form – no other form is acceptable
Work Experience Summary – single page
Work Experience Record Details – one page for each job or position
Require detailed chronological information on job positions, titles, job descriptions, assignments, and duties and responsibilities with emphasis on the engineering content of the work experience
Evidence of Increasing Technical Competency and Levels of Responsibility

51. Description of Work Experience
The experience record must focus on the application of engineering or geoscience principles.
Detail the actual duties that you performed
Focus on the 5 quality elements of experience

52. References -Who Can Be a Reference?
Reference must have first-hand personal knowledge of your work experience
References should be from engineers or geoscientists – supervisors or clients
Preferred references are from Professional Members in supervisory roles
If Reference Questionnaire is completed in a language other than English, APEGGA will have it translated at our expense

53. References -How Many are Needed?
Minimum of 3 references but more might be required
Provide reference names and addresses on the Work Experience Record.
KEY- need references to cover the entire work history
TIP: If you want the Board to consider waiving exams based on 10 years of experience we will need references to cover at least 10 years of experience
eg if you had 6 jobs over 10 years we will need at least 6 references

54. Discuss registration requirements with your Supervisor to ensure you are getting the right type of training and experience for registration
Most Supervisors know they will be asked to be a Reference but it is a good idea to confirm this with them now
Contact references ahead of time to advise them they will be receiving Reference Questionnaire forms from APEGGA and ask them to complete and submit those forms to APEGGA as quickly as possible

55. Waiving Examinations -Based on Experience
If you want the Board to consider waiving exams based on experience you should apply for P.Eng or FLIC, not EIT.
This is because experience is not a requirement for EIT status and the Board does not evaluate experience for EIT applicants.

56. Reconsiderations & Appeals
If you think that there has been information missed or not reviewed you can request a Reconsideration of a Board decision
Must provide new or additional information within 30 days of receipt of your letter.
$150 reconsideration fee
If the Reconsideration is denied you can request an Appeal to the Full Board from an unsuccessful Reconsideration
Must provide new or additional information within 30 days of receipt of your letter
$150 fee

57. English Language Competency (ELC)
TOEFL
Handwritten Letter
and
Canadian P.Eng. References OR
-600 on paper test
-250 on computer
Test
-100 on internet test
-letter explaining why you are
Competent in the English language
-Canadian P.Eng references also
comment on your ability to
communicate in English

58. Professional Practice Exam

59. Professional Practice Examination (PPE)
All applicants must write PPE
Tests applicants’ knowledge
of law, ethics, and professionalism

60. – Purchase through APEGGA office or borrow one from a friend.
Professional Practice Exam - Content
Professionalism
Professional Practice
Regulatory Authority Requirements
Law and Legal Concepts
The EGGP Act
Study Kit - $155
– Purchase through APEGGA office or borrow one from a friend.

61. Professional Practice Examination -Exam Type and Format
100 question, multiple choice
2 hours, closed book
Pass/Fail with 65% minimum
Grade is Final
Offered 4 times per year, typically in up to 20+ locations around North America

62. Applying to Write PPE
- EIT, Exam Candidate or Student or active applicant for P.Eng or EIT
Apply using PPE Application Form – found in Application for Registration package
PPE fee - $140
For forms and more information refer to APEGGA web-site at

63. General Information Apply using Application for Registration form
can download Application documentation from APEGGA web-site
Experience Requirements for Licensure - A Guideline
on the APEGGA web-site (part of Application for Registration package)

64. Application for Registration -Documents to Complete
“Application for Registration” form
Name and contact information of at least 3 references (more than 3 references may be required)
“Request for Academic Documents” form - send it to your university not to APEGGA
Copy of proof of Canadian Citizenship or permanent resident status
application fee
ELC documentation at some point

65. Applicant Identification
Once you have submitted your application to APEGGA you will receive a member number such as
M12345
Use this number for any correspondence with APEGGA.

66. Transcripts and Certificates of Graduation
APEGGA must receive original transcripts and Certificates of Graduation directly from your institutions
Use the “Request for Academic Documents” form to instruct your institutions to send your transcripts and Certificates of Graduation directly to APEGGA

67. Transcripts and Certificates of Graduation
- APEGGA will get them translated at APEGGA’s expense
If APEGGA does not receive direct confirmation from your university, the Board will not waive exams based on experience and will also specify which exams you must write

68. Documentation -Summary
Academics
-transcripts/cert of graduation
Experience records
references
Experience
-application form
-references
Character
PPE
- PPE exam
TOEFL
-letter plus references
ELC
Other
-Can citizen/PR Card

69. Length of Time to Evaluate Applications
Usually takes 6 to 12 months to complete the evaluation of an applicant’s qualifications
Will vary depending on how long it takes to receive all the required documentation
May take longer if translations required

70. Writing Exams - Guidelines
Exam assessments must be started within 2 years of the Board review date.
A course by course exam assessment can be satisfied by taking university level equivalents or by writing the APEGGA exams.
A confirmatory assessment can only be satisfied by writing the FE exam.

71. “Eligible for Registration” - What Does This Mean?
Job advertisements often indicate that an applicant for the job must be “eligible for registration” with APEGGA. What does this mean?
It means different things to different employers
To some employers this might mean a person must be eligible for registration immediately
To other employers it might mean that they think the person has the skills & abilities to do the job and as long as the person is willing to apply to APEGGA that’s okay even if they have to write exams or meet other requirements

72. APEGGA Services & Benefits
-Mentoring programs
-Resume Referral Service
-Insurance Program & other Member Benefits
Refer to APEGGA web-site for more info

73. APEGGA Mentoring Programs
Pool A: employed members
Work related soft skills
Pool B: unemployed members
Job search related skills
Resume preparation
Interviewing
Networking
For more information contact: Arlene Lack.

74. APEGGA Resume Referral Service
Computerized job registry system
Employers list positions and contact information
Individuals list 50 word descriptions
Searchable by key words, geographic areas and other variables
Over 1000 job postings this year so far

75. APEGGA Resume Referral Service
Searchable by both the employers and the individuals
Individuals can search the posted jobs
Individual can contact employer directly
Employers can search the 50 word descriptions supplied by individuals
Employer can ask APEGGA to send them the individual’s resume

76. APEGGA Resume Referral Service
For more info contact:
Sandy Roth at
Or see the “Careers” section of our web-site

77. Mobility Must be licensed in each province in which you practice
Can be registered in more than one province at the same time
Inter-Association Mobility Agreements (IAMA)
signed in 1999 for P.Eng
signed in 2001 for P.Geo
IAMA transfers – streamline the application and evaluation process

78. Contact Information
APEGGA Web-site ‘
IEG section
Application Forms and instructions
Mark Tokarik, LL.B., P.Eng – Director of Registration
Bill Santo, P.Eng – Assistant Director
Park Powell, P.Eng – Assistant Director or

79. Questions?
Thank You!