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Frequently Asked Questions




    Engineers Canada Membership

  1. How do I become a member of Engineers Canada?

    2. Licensing

  2. What is the difference between a professional engineer and an engineer?

  3. Can I call myself a professional engineer because I graduated from a Accreditation Board-certified university?

  4. How do I become a licensed professional engineer in Canada?

  5. Do I need a licence to practise engineering in Canada?

  6. Can I work in Canada before I become a licensed professional engineer?

  7. How many examinations will I have to write to receive my license as a  professional engineer in Canada?

  8. Can a licensed engineer in the U.S. get licensed in Canada while still working in the U.S.?

  9. What are the requirements for licensure in the United States?

  10. If I get a licence in one province, can I work in another province?

  11. How does a professional engineer from a foreign country   become licensed to work in Canada?

  12. Can a professional engineer from a foreign country be licensed to work in Canada on a temporary basis?

  13. I just arrived in Canada. How do I find out if I am qualified to become a professional engineer?

    14. International Mobility

  14. Has Engineers Canada signed any international agreements that aid with the licensing of Canadian professional engineers to work in foreign countries (including the United States)? If so, do the agreements aid with the mobilization of foreign engineers into Canada?

  15. I received my education in a foreign country that is not a signatory to the Washington Accord. Subsequently, my qualifications were accepted by a Washington Accord economy and I was licensed there. What must I do to be licensed as a professional engineer in Canada? Can I claim a waiver of written academic exemption?

  16. I am a licensed engineer in a Washington Accord economy with many years of professional experience. Do I have to start like a young engineer to be licensed in Canada?

  17. Do some foreign applicants for licensure in Canada receive preferential treatment based on international agreements?

  18. Do American engineering firms require a Canadian P.Eng. on staff to perform work in Canada, or can the firm work as a sub to a Canadian P.Eng.? 

  19. Can Canadian engineers register with FEANI (the European Federation of National Engineering Associations or Ordres) and obtain the European Engineer (Eur Ing) designation?

  20. How can I apply to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Engineering Mobility Forum Registers of Professional Engineers?

  21. Is there such a thing as reciprocity for an American professional engineer (PE) to work in Canada?

  22. Are Canadian university graduates accredited with a professional engineering body? If so, am I also eligible to be accredited as my degree is recognized by Engineers Australia?

  23. As an Engineer-in- Training (EIT) in Australia, and a member of my provincial licensing body, who will soon earn his P.Eng.,  how do I become   recognized in Australia?

  24. How do I know if the degrees I take are transferable to Canada or if I would have to take any equivalency exams?

  25. How can I find out if the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board accredits my program?

    26. Job Searching

  26. Can you provide me with information about how to find a job in Canada, including employer lists, engineering job prospects in different provinces and cities, and expected salaries?

    27. Other

  27. What is a P.Eng.?

  28. What does substantial equivalency mean?

  29. Is the P.Eng. recognized in the United Kingdom?

  30. What official names do engineers have in Britain, Canada, and the United States?

  31. I have encountered a person who places the letters "CE" after his name and tells people that this indicates an engineering degree, i.e. "Computer Engineer". Is this a legitimate designation?

  32. Do you need to keep yourself current through courses etc. to remain an engineer? 

  33. Is there a Canadian university that offers correspondence courses as part of a Accreditation Board-certified engineering degree?

  34. If someone is convicted of mischief under the criminal code but has all the requirements for licensure, can he/she still become a licensed professional engineer?

    Engineers Canada Membership

    [top]  

  1. Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Engineers Canada. However, our sole members are the 12 provincial and territorial licensing bodies that regulate the engineering profession in Canada and license the country’s professional engineers. We do not offer membership to any other individuals or groups.

    Professional engineers in Canada (licensed engineers possessing the P.Eng. and/or ing. designation) are members of the engineering licensing body in the jurisdiction where they work. For more information concerning Engineers Canada and its membership, please visit http://www.engineerscanada.ca/e/co_cms.cfm

    2. Licensing

    [top]  

  2. A professional engineer is licensed to practice engineering and to take responsibility for his/her work, while an engineer is not. An engineer works under the supervision of a professional engineer. To become a professional engineer one must earn their P.Eng. designation (“ing.” or “Eng.” in Quebec) by graduating from an accredited engineering program, completing an internship program, and successfully completing a professional practice examination. Visit www.peng.ca for more information.

    3. [top]  

  3. In order to become a professional engineer in Canada, you must be licensed in the provincial/territorial jurisdiction in which you are employed.  Graduating from a Canadian Accredited Engineering Program is only one step in the licensure process. An engineering graduate must have between three to four years of on-the-job engineering work experience (depending on the jurisdiction) under the supervision of a Professional Engineer, as well as pass a professional ethics exam, to obtain a P.Eng. (“ing.” or “Eng.” in Quebec). The best way to ensure that you take all the required steps as quickly and easily as possible is to register as an engineer-in-training with the engineering licensing body in the province or territory where you are working.

    4. [top]  

  4. The licensing of professional engineers (P.Eng.) is the responsibility of the 12 provincial and territorial regulatory bodies. You will need to contact the association or order where you intend to work for specific requirements.

    In general, to be licensed as a professional engineer by a provincial or territorial engineering licensing body, candidates must:

    -          Hold an undergraduate degree in engineering from an educational institution listed in the Engineers CanadaList of Foreign Engineering Educational Institutions and Professional Qualifications; or

    -          Hold an undergraduate degree from an engineering program accredited by an engineering body that has signed a mutual recognition agreement with Engineers Canada; or

    -          Hold an undergraduate degree from an engineering program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (Accreditation Board) of Engineers Canada; or

    -          Demonstrate the required academic knowledge through the completion of exams assigned from the Engineers Canada Examination Syllabus; or

    -          Complete three or four years of engineering work, depending on the licensing body, under the supervision of a licensed engineer. Experience obtained outside Canada may be acceptable if sufficient documentation is provided. A minimum of 12 months experience must be in a Canadian environment to ensure familiarity with Canadian codes and standards.

    -          Write and pass a professional practice examination on professional practice, ethics, engineering law and liability.

    -          Be of good character and reputation.

    -          Be proficient in English (French in Quebec, English or French in New Brunswick).

    For Engineering International-Education Assessment Program - contact mailto:evaluation@engineerscanada.ca

    5. [top]  

  5. Yes, by law, no one can practise as a professional engineer in Canada without a licence. Each provincial or territorial association or ordre governs licensing of engineers, and sets the standards for the profession to serve and protect the public on the provincial or territorial government’s behalf. After you are licensed by an engineering association or ordre, you are known as a “professional engineer”, and may use “P.Eng.” after your name (“ing.” or “ Eng.” in Quebec). In Canada, it is against the law to practise engineering or to use the “P.Eng./ing.” designation after your name unless you are licensed by an engineering association or ordre.

    6. [top]  

  6. Yes, but only if a licensed professional engineer takes responsibility for your work. Until you become licensed, it is against the law in Canada for you to approve engineering drawings or reports, to use the title “engineer” or “professional engineer” (or any title like it), or to offer any engineering services to the public. You may do most other technical work legally, subject to other professional laws (such as the architecture or land surveyors acts).

    7. [top]  

  7. Your provincial or territorial engineering association or ordre will tell you what examinations you have to write to become a member. You will first have to demonstrate your experience and education in an evaluation. They will then give you exams, which are offered in most provinces and territories in English only (French in Quebec and French or English in New Brunswick).

    8. [top]  

  8. Yes, please contact the engineering licensing body in the province or territory you plan on working in for more information. 

    9. [top]  

  9. Registration is done on a state-by-state basis. There are variations in applying requirements and some states have their own exams that you must write. Visit the following websites for more information:

    National Society of Professional Engineers – www.nspe.org

    The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology – www.abet.org

    National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying – www.ncees.org

    10. [top]  

  10. You may only practise engineering where you are licensed. However, there is a national mobility agreement between all the provinces and territories that allows you to move between provinces and territories without having to repeat the entire licensing process. Contact your provincial or  territorial association or ordre for further information.

    11. [top]  

  11. In Canada, the licensing of professional engineers (P.Eng.) is the responsibility of the 12 provincial and territorial regulatory bodies. Contact the provincial or territorial association or ordre where you intend to work for specific licensing requirements. A professional engineer who has graduated from an accredited program from a Washington Accord economy should have no difficulty in registering. Click here for more information about International Mobility.

    12. [top]  

  12. Yes, several of Canada’s 12 provincial and territorial regulatory bodies that license professional engineers have temporary licences for foreign engineers working in Canada on a temporary basis. Contact the regulatory body where you and/or your firm intend to work for more information.

    13. [top]  

  13. Contact the engineering licensing body in the province or territory where you want to be licensed. You can contact Engineers Canada at evaluation@engineerscanada.ca and we will refer you to the appropriate licensing office.

    14. International Mobility

    [top]  

  14. Yes, much of Engineers Canada's international activities involve the negotiation of mutual recognition agreements with other engineering organizations that minimize the need for examination of the credentials of applicants seeking to register as professional engineers in either country.  They facilitate international mobility for Canadian engineers, and help to protect the public’s safety by ensuring that non-Canadian engineers seeking licensure in Canada are fully qualified.

    Please note: International agreements are intended to simplify the evaluation of a candidate's qualifications. They do not override the licensing bodies' authority to evaluate and grant licenses, according to their legislation. Please visit Engineers Canada’s website for further information on International Mobility agreements.

    To date, Engineers Canada has signed four international agreements.  They are explained below, with links to further information:

     

    ¨       ENGINEERS CANADA-ABET AGREEMENT (Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET) for the United States andEngineers Canadafor Canada);

     

    ABET is an independent American organization responsible for the accreditation of university engineering and college engineering technology programs.  Engineers Canada and ABET have mutually agreed that the accreditation systems for undergraduate engineering programs in the U.S. and Canada are comparable. Graduates from accredited engineering programs in each country meet the academicrequirements for licensure in both countries.

    To practise engineering in the United States, a Canadian professional engineer must still apply for a licence in the American jurisdiction in which he/she wishes to work, and must contact U.S. immigration authorities for their requirements. The usual American licensure requirements are graduation from an accredited program (Canadian degrees are usually accepted); four years of engineering experience; and 16 hours of examinations (eight hours of fundamentals common to all disciplines and eight hours of principles and practices of a specific discipline).

    Registration is done on a state-by-state basis and there are variations in licensure requirements. In some states, there is also a separate structural engineering licence. View the following websites for more information:

    National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) - www.nspe.org

    Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET) - www.abet.org

    National Council of Engineering Examiners and Surveyors (NCEES) - www.ncees.org

    Please Note: The ABET agreement does not cover your academic qualifications if you are a professional engineer in Canada who received an undergraduate degree from a university outside of Canada. ABET pertains only to Canadian and American education. However, if you were educated in a country that has signed the Washington Accord, your academic qualifications may well be transferable under that agreement. Contact the state in which you wish to work for specific licensing requirements.

     

    ¨       ENGINEERS CANADA-CTI AGREEMENT (Mutual Recognition Agreement for the Practice of Engineering between La Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI) for France andEngineers Canadafor Canada);

     

    CTI is responsible for accrediting the engineering institutions in France that award the title of "ingénieur diplômé".  Signed in October 1999, the Engineers Canada-CTI agreement recognizes that the processes used to accredit undergraduate engineering programs in France and Canada are substantially equivalent.  Any engineer licensed by a Canadian association or ordre is considered an ingénieur diplômé in France, and there are no further professional or licensing requirements for Canadian engineers who wish to work in France.

    Implementation of the agreement rests with each of our 12 engineering association or ordres.  Unfortunately, Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) did not vote in favour of implementing the agreement.  Therefore, it is likely you would be assigned confirmatory examinations.  Contact PEO to determine the necessary steps in Ontario.  Depending on your experience, the confirmatory examinations may be waived. Otherwise, contact the association or ordre in the province or territory in which you would like to work for specific information.

     

    ¨       NAFTA MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENT(Mutual Recognition of Registered/Licensed Engineers by the Jurisdictions of Canada, the United States and Mexico to FacilitateMobility in Accordance with the North American Free Trade Agreement);

     

    The North American Free Trade Agreement makes provision to recognize the qualifications of professional engineers seeking temporary work in another NAFTA jurisdiction. However, the NAFTA Mutual Recognition Agreement has not yet created mobility for engineers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. While all engineering licensing authorities in Canada and Mexico have endorsed the agreement, getting the 55 licensing authorities in the United States to sign on has proven difficult. The free trade engineering services component of NAFTA has not been ratified by the U.S., therefore some individual provinces and states are contemplating their own agreements in the spirit of NAFTA. Contact your Canadian association or ordre for more information concerning individual agreements.

    The agreement’s intent is to facilitate the acquisition of a temporary licence in another jurisdiction with a minimum of effort, for example Canadian engineers who meet specific criteria would not have to write the NCEES examinations in the U.S. The recognition criteria established for the NAFTA MRA include licensure, graduation from an accredited program and 12 years of engineering experience since graduation.  Engineers who are not graduates of accredited programs require 16 years of experience, and in some cases, must have their educational formation assessed for suitability. Recognition criteria make it possible to determine substantial equivalence.

    In the context of the NAFTA MRA, “accredited” means accredited by:

    -          the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (Accreditation Board);

    -          the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in the United States ;

    -          the Consejo de acreditacion de la Ensenanza de la Ingenieria (CACEI) in Mexico.

    Each organisation publishes its list of accredited programs, so there is no evaluation done by Engineers Canada. It is up to the licensing body to assess the qualifications on a case-by-case basis.

     

    ¨       WASHINGTON ACCORD (Recognition of Equivalency of Accredited Engineering Education Programs Leading to the Engineering Degree between Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States);

     

    Signed by engineering organisations in 1989 and renewed in 1997, the Washington Accord recognizes that the accreditation systems for undergraduate engineering education programs in signatory economies are comparable. Under the Washington Accord, if you have received your engineering education through an accreditedprogram in a signatory economy your education will satisfy the academic requirements for licensure when applying for an engineering licence in any other of member countries.

    The Accord is not a right-to-practise agreement. It applies to graduates of accredited engineering programs, not the professional qualifications. Therefore, in order for the Washington Accord to apply, you need to be a graduate of a program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (Accreditation Board). The accreditation system in South Africa remains unverified by Accreditation Board.

    Links to engineering bodies in Washington Accord economies:

    Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), U.S. - www.abet.org

    or

    National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), U.S. - www.ncees.org

    Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI) - www.iei.ie

    Engineering Council in the United Kingdom - www.engc.org.uk

    Engineers Australia - www.engineersaustralia.org.au

    Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ) - www.ipenz.org.nz

    Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) - www.hkie.org.hk

    Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) - www.ecsa.co.za

    15. [top]  

  15. While one Washington Accord economy may have accepted your education as adequate for licensure in their country, others may not. The Washington Accord recognizes the equivalency of education from accredited programs only within the signatory economies.

    If you want to know whether your qualifications meet Canadian standards, you can request an Engineering International-Education Assessment Program through Engineers Canada. A favourable assessment is not a guarantee that your credentials will automatically be accepted, but the assessment does provide guidance.

    For detailed information, contact the Canadian association or ordre in the province or territory where you would like to practise.

     

    16. [top]  

  16. No, licensing in Canada is done at the provincial level through Engineers Canada’s 12 member associations or ordre.

    As a first step, accredited education is accepted by all associations or ordre through the Washington Accord. Many associations or ordre will accept signed proof of previous acceptable work experience to meet the experience requirements for registration. However, most associations or ordre require one year of experience in Canada supervised by a licensed Canadian engineer before you can be licensed. For that year, applicants are called Members-in-Training.

    Contact the provincial or territorial licensing body where you intend to register for specific details.

    17. [top]  

  17. No one receives preferential treatment. Everyone who applies to become a professional engineer in Canada must meet the same criteria (see Engineering in Canada). This includes applicants born and educated in Canada.

    However, international recognition agreements signed by Engineers Canada have simplified the registration process for applicants from signatory economies. Proof of graduation from an accredited engineering program in one of these economies satisfies the educational requirement for licensure in Canada.

    But, in addition, all applicants must satisfy the remaining non-educational requirements before they can be licensed.

    18. [top]  

  18. To perform work in Canada, American engineering firms require either a Canadian P.Eng. on staff, or to work as a sub to a Canadian P.Eng.

    19. [top]  

  19. Not by virtue of being a Canadian engineer. FEANI is an organization made up of engineering bodies from 27 European nations. Regarding application for the Eur Ing designation, FEANI guidelines stipulate “application is open only to individuals if they are members of an engineering association or ordre represented in FEANI through a National Member.” (The Eur Ing Designation, 1.2)

    FEANI is an observer at the Engineers’ Mobility Forum. Established by the Washington Accord signatories, the forum is exploring international engineering mobility at the professional level. 

    20. [top]  

  20. Canada’s licensing bodies welcome applications from its members for the Canadian APEC/EMF Register of Professional Engineers. Interested and qualified applicants with the following background are invited to apply:

    -          registered as a Professional Engineer in Canada

    -          registered and currently practicing in the Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, Mining, or Structural Engineering disciplines

    -          a minimum of seven years practical experience since graduation, with at least two years in responsible charge of significant engineering work

    -          demonstrated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at a satisfactory level

    Contact your provincial or territorial association or ordre for more information.

    21. [top]  

  21. No, in Canada you are required to be licensed by a regulatory body to practise engineering. Please contact the provincial or territorial association or ordre in the area you intend to work for more information.

    22. [top]  

  22. No, your engineering degree would be recognized through the Washington Accord, but you must register (not accredit, as accredit refers to educational programs) with the provincial or territorial association or ordre in the jurisdiction where you intend to work.

     

    23. [top]  

  23. As with all Washington Accord signatory organizations, your education will be recognized by Engineers Australia. Please contact Engineers Australia for further details.

    24. [top]  

  24. You can request an Engineering International-Education Assessment Program through Engineers Canada’s Engineering International-Education Assessment Program (EIEAP). EIEAP assesses the educational qualifications of individuals who received their engineering training outside of Canada, by comparing their education to a Canadian engineering education. It is the only education credential assessment service in Canada that specializes exclusively in the assessment of engineering education credentials. It does not evaluate work experience.

    25. [top]  

  25. The Accreditation Board publishes an annual listing of the accreditation history of all programs that are presently—or have ever been—accredited.

    Consult the Accreditation Board report for further information.

    26. Job Searching

    [top]  

  26. Engineers Canada is not an employment agency, and does not maintain lists of companies. Engineers Canada is the national body of the 12 provincial and territorial engineering licensing bodies that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada.

    While job searching, we suggest you improve your chances by working on your computer skills, your English or French skills, or by taking technical courses. You can contact your Canadian Consulate or Embassy for employer information, Canadian newspapers, magazines and trade journals for job postings, and provincial or territorial engineering licensing bodies for area specific inquiries including salary expectations.

    Below are other sources of information to help you with your job search:

    Canada Employment Weekly

    Tel.: 1-800-361-2580
    (Canada, U.S., Caribbean, Virgin Islands)
    Tel.:  (416) 964-6069
    Fax: (416) 964-3202
    Web:  www.mediacorp.ca

    From Consideration to Integration

    www.engineerscanada.ca/fc2i

    Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
    www.cicic.ca

    Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    www.cic.gc.ca

    Government of Canadian website
    www.canada.gc.ca

    Servie Canada Labour Market Information
    www.labourmarketinformation.ca

    Human Resources Centres
    Operated by the Government of Canada in most urban centres.

    Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's website
    www.hrsdc.gc.ca  (This site will also connect you to other job sites)

    Journals of the provincial or territorial engineering licensing bodies
    (Contact the associations or ordre directly if you are in training, or are a member)

    Local immigrant services or groups representing your own country
    Contact the provincial or territorial government and ask for referrals to settlement organisations:
    http://integration-net.ca

    Skills International's website
    This is a free on-line service. Register with an employment preparation agency in your community that has partnered with Skills International to have your skills and experience profiled on their website.
    www.skillsinternational.ca

    27. Other

    [top]  

  27. The P.Eng. (“ing.” or “Eng.” in Quebec) is your licence to engineer in Canada. Once acquired, you are a professional engineer and can take responsibility for the engineering work you do.

    For more information on the P.Eng., please visit http://www.peng.ca/

    28. [top]  

  28. In Canada, undergraduate engineering programs are evaluated on an ongoing basis by Engineers Canada’s Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (Accreditation Board) to ensure they deliver a consistent and relevant level of engineering education. From time to time, other nations request that Accreditation Board evaluate one or more of their university programs against the Canadian model.  When a foreign undergraduate engineering program has received a favourable evaluation from Accreditation Board, therefore meeting the same standards as a Canadian counterpart, that foreign program is said to be substantially equivalent.

    29. [top]  

  29. No, there is no agreement between Engineers Canada and the Engineering Council in the United Kingdom in recognition of the P.Eng. designation. However, the two organizations agree under the Washington Accord on what university training and courses qualify you to become an engineer.

    30. [top]  

  30. Engineering titles are different in Canada and Britain; the designation of professional engineer differs between Canada and the United States:

    Canadian title

    Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)
    Technologist
    Technician

    British title

    Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.)
    Incorporated Engineer
    Engineering Technician

    United States

     Professional Engineer (PE)
    Technologist
    Technician

    31. [top]  

  31. No, the proper designation for an undergraduate degree is either B.A.Sc. for Bachelor of Applied Science in a certain discipline or B.Eng. for Bachelor of Engineering in, for example, Computer Engineering. Individuals may not state that they are a computer engineer unless they are registered as a professional engineer (P.Eng., or ing. or Eng. in Quebec).

    32. [top]  

  32. Yes, engineers are to remain professionally current. As stated in the Code of Ethics: “Professional Engineers shall keep themselves informed in order to maintain their competence, strive to advance the body of knowledge within which they practise and provide opportunities for the professional development of their subordinates.

    Contact your provincial/territorial association or ordre for more information on professional development.

    33. [top]  

  33. Many Accreditation Board accredited programs include some correspondence studies, although perhaps only two to three courses within an entire program.  The courses cannot be on subjects that require time in a laboratory, unless arrangements are made for the student to take the laboratory part of the course on campus.  Furthermore, these courses must adhere to the Accreditation Board criteria, as would any on-campus course.  At the present, there are no Accreditation Board accredited programs offered entirely by correspondence studies. For a list of Accreditation Board accredited programs, refer to the list of accredited engineering programs.

    34. [top]  

  34. Being of good character is a requirement for licensure as a professional engineer in Canada.  Licensing bodies seek the answers to questions like:  “Have you ever pleaded guilty or been found guilty of any offence under any statute whether in Canada or abroad?”, and  “Are there any outstanding civil judgments against you or any civil or criminal actions outstanding against you?”

    Answering “Yes” does not mean an immediate refusal of granting a licence; each application is handled on a case-by-case basis.  If you answer “Yes” to questions like these, you must provide the associated details and indicate the steps you have taken for remediation.

    Contact your provincial/territorial association or ordre for more information.