By promoting uniform, high standards in engineering governance, fostering the profession’s expansion throughout Canada, and fostering public trust, Engineers maintain the honour, integrity, and interests of the engineering profession. They have been advocating for the provincial and territorial organisations that licence the 300,000 engineers in this country and govern engineering practise for more than 80 years.
The Licensing System
You must possess and maintain a licence from one of Canada’s engineering authorities in order to practise engineering in the country. Although each regulator has its own unique requirements for licence, there are generally five standards that must be met:
Academics: Possess an engineering degree from an undergraduate programme recognised by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, or hold an equivalent degree.
Work experience: Meet the province or territory’s criteria for engineering work experience before you can apply for a licence there.
ethics and competence: Pass the Professional Practice Examination (PPE), a test of your knowledge of the laws affecting engineers, the professional standards to which you will be held accountable, ethical standards, and other issues like patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
Good moral character is a requirement.
Mobility Across Canada
Engineers who hold a licence in one province or territory are required, according to the Canadian Trade Agreement, “to be recognised as capable of working by a regulatory authority in another territory or province which regulates that occupation, without having to undergo huge extra training, job experience, investigation, or assessment, unless an exception has been posted.” This is critical for maintaining national availability of engineering expertise and information as well as for ensuring labour mobility.
What to except
Your regulatory would demand an applications for licensing and payment of a fee if you currently possess a licence in Canada and are submitting an application to another Canadian jurisdiction. Most also call for a CV outlining professional experience and a character reference (references).
The regulator will next get in touch with the other states where you currently hold a license to confirm that you are still in good standing as a licenced engineer.
More specific documentation may be required by some regulators. The regulator should be consulted in order to validate any additional requirements.