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Immigrating to Canada

* NOTE* - The Government of Canada’s Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), launched by the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, is designed to help internationally trained individuals who plan to work in Canada get their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly. Its approach includes: in-person services, a dedicated phone service, an expanded online service, increasing employer awareness, and, overseas pilot projects. For more information about the Office, please visit http://www.credentials.gc.ca/

Engineers Canada operates the Engineering International-Education Assessment Program, which assesses the educational qualifications of internationally trained individuals, comparing their education to a Canadian engineering education. It is the only assessment service in Canada specializing exclusively in engineering education credentials. It does not evaluate work experience.

The assessment is easy to understand and provides useful information for employers, universities and other officials. Applicants also receive practical information about working as an engineer in Canada. For more information on the EIEAP, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact Engineers Canada at evaluation@engineerscanada.ca

When you arrive in Canada, the steps to be taken towards obtaining engineering licensure are (this information is also available in Arabic, Classical Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English (also Microsoft Word), Farsi, French (also Microsoft Word), Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian:

STEP 1

After being granted a permanent residence visa, you should contact the association of professional engineers in the province or territory where you plan to settle.

You will be asked to submit at least the following documentation:

All documents must have certified English translations (French in Québec; a choice of English or French in New Brunswick).

STEP 2

The association reviews your university background and may assign an exam program to ensure that academic requirements are met.

The association assesses your academic qualifications, primarily the Bachelor level or first degree. Qualifications other than the Bachelor level may or may not be taken into account.

Usually, associations will assign an exam program if you do not have a Bachelor's degree in engineering from a recognized Canadian university. Examinations are assigned based on your claimed discipline or specialty of intended work. The maximum number of examinations is 20. You will also be required to take an examination on non-technical subjects (engineering economics or management).

Examination sittings are held once or twice per year, depending on the jurisdiction.

STEP 3

The association evaluates your previous engineering experience.

The evaluation is based on application of engineering theory, exposure to project management and communications skills.

Three or four years of acceptable engineering experience is required, depending on the association. Experience obtained outside Canada, may be acceptable if sufficient documentation is provided. A minimum of 12 months of acceptable experience must be in a Canadian environment to ensure that you are familiar with Canadian codes and standards.

If assigned an examination program, you are normally required to complete all examinations before the association will begin crediting engineering experience.

STEP 4

Write and pass the professional practice exam.

You must write and pass the professional practice examination on professional practice, ethics, engineering law and liability. Normally, you can write it any time after you have completed the assigned examination program.

Once all the requirements for licensure are successfully met, the association will issue you a license to practice engineering in that jurisdiction. Please be advised that it may take several years to obtain licensure in a province or territory of Canada.

Each provincial/territorial engineering licensing body has its own provisions for steps in their licensing process that you can take prior to immigrating to Canada. For more information on these steps, you can contact the association/ordre directly.

Working in Canada before being licensed

Applicants can work as engineers in Canada only if a licensed professional engineer takes responsibility for the work. It is illegal for non-licensed engineers to approve engineering drawings or reports, use the title "professional engineer" or any variation of it, or in any way offer engineering services to the public.

While a licence application is in progress, applicants may wish to register as an Engineer-in-Training with their local association to receive advice and guidance on the nature of required engineering experience.

Most other technical work (i.e. work not considered professional engineering) may be performed by non-licensed engineers without restriction, but it may be restricted by other legislation, including Architects or Land Surveyors Acts.