Information you need to know to work as an Engineer or Geoscientist

Information you need to know if you would like to practice as an Engineer or Geoscientist:

In Alberta, you must be registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) to practice as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo). You cannot call yourself a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist nor use the word Engineer or Geoscientist in your job title unless you are registered with APEGA.

Note: While you may not call yourself a Professional Engineer/Geoscientist unless accredited by APEGA, you may work under the direct supervision of a P. Eng/P.Geo licensed by APEGA while working on your Canadian experience.

What are the licensure requirements for internationally educated Engineers/Geoscientists?

Internationally educated engineers/geoscientists must apply to APEGA for an evaluation of qualifications and fulfill the following seven criteria for licensure:

Academic Requirement A minimum four-year bachelor’s degree majoring in engineering or geoscience is required for you to be accepted as a professional engineer or geoscientist. If your post-secondary degrees are from a university outside of Canada, you must obtain a WES (World Education Service) ICAP report. After registering with APEGA and receiving an ID number, you will be directed to the WES website to continue the application process.
Experience Requirement A minimum of four years of acceptable referenced experience, which includes a minimum of one year of acceptable referenced Canadian experience, are required to earn Professional Engineer or Geoscientist status. You may apply for Professional Membership when you have 48 months or more of engineering/geoscience experience. You may start the application process before attaining the minimum of one year of Canadian experience. If you have less than four years of work experience, then you must apply as a Member in Training under the category of Engineer in Training (EIT) or Geologist in Training (GIT). Applicants seeking licensure as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) must submit their experience through the Work Experience Record (WER). Professional Engineers must complete two forms to confirm their work experience: the Work Record Validator List (WRVL) and the Competency-Based Assessment Tool (CBAT). The WRVL measures the duration of an applicant's experience, while the CBAT captures the content.
Valid references As part of your application as a Professional Member or Licensee, you must have at least 3 references who can validate a minimum of 48 months of work experience.
Good Character and Reputation APEGA applicants must submit a Character Declaration form which is provided within the online application system. With this form, you will verify:
- your identity
- whether you are or have been registered with any other Canadian engineering or geoscience professional licensing body
- that you are of good character and reputation
Permanent Residence Status in Canada or Canadian Citizenship If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for professional membership. Please see the APEGA website for information about acceptable forms of proof and document submission standards. If you are neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident but still wish to independently practice engineering or geoscience in Alberta, you may be eligible for a Licensee license. For more information, check the Licensee page on the APEGA website.
English Language Competency If English is not your native language or your undergraduate courses were not in English, you must show your competency in written and spoken English before registering as a Professional Member, Licensee, or Professional Licensee. The Board of Examiners (BOE) will assess your English Language Competency (ELC) through the descriptions provided in your Work Experience Record, and the verification of your associated references. Please be aware that the BOE may request additional information to prove ELC if your Work Experience Record does not show sufficient evidence of competency in English. This will be communicated to you in your decision letter from the BOE. NOTE: Applicants prior to January 1, 2018 had to prove English Language Competency through TOEFL results or a handwritten letter. If you applied before January 1, 2018 you will still need to submit a TOEFL score or handwritten letter showing your English Language Competency.
Successful Completion of the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE).

All applicants for professional engineer status must write the NPPE whether they are Canadian or internationally trained.

Note: APEGA will assess both your education and your work experience and compare them to Canadian requirements. If you do not meet the academic requirements, you may be required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering or the Fundamentals of Geology exam or a course-by-course exam schedule. APEGA may waive an exam assessment where an applicant has demonstrated a number of years of acceptable referenced engineering or geoscience experience.

A provisional license may be granted to internationally educated engineers who have met all the requirements established by APEGA except for the one year of Canadian work experience. A provisional license shows employers that all the other criteria have been met by the applicant. The provisional license is intended to help applicants gain employment.

What are the education requirements for Engineers/Geoscientists in Alberta?

NOTE: Licensing bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards.

In Alberta, to become a Professional Engineer or Geoscientist, applicants must hold a four-year undergraduate degree and/or graduate degree. The course requirements can be found under the APEGA website under Acceptable course equivalents and syllabi.

In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions offer four-year degree programs in engineering:

in Edmonton The University of Alberta
in Calgary The University of Calgary

In Alberta, the following post-secondary institutions offer four-year degree programs in geoscience:

Note: Before studying engineering at other Canadian institutions, please ensure that the program has been accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?

If English is not your native language or your undergraduate courses were not in English, you must show your competency in written and spoken English before registering as a Professional Member, Licensee, or Professional Licensee.

For applications received before January 1, 2018, the acceptable methods to prove English Language Competency are a score of 100 or more on the TOEFL exam, or a 1 - 3 page handwritten letter describing how you used English to communicate in an engineering or geoscience academic or work environment and how you gained spoken and written English proficiency.

For applications received after January 1, 2018, the Board of Examiners (BOE) will assess your English Language Competency (ELC) through the descriptions provided in your Work Experience Record, and the verification of your associated references. Please be aware that the BOE may request additional information to prove English Language Competency if your Work Experience Record does not show sufficient evidence of competency in English. This will be communicated to you in your decision letter from the BOE.

To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations. Please note, APEGA recommends that you take the TOEFL from Educational Testing Services Canada.

What resources and supports are available for internationally educated Engineers/Geoscientists?

Directions for Immigrants offers Study Groups to help you prepare for the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE) and the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exams. Visit the Study Groups page for more information on this service and eligibility criteria.
The APEGA Mentoring Program offers members an opportunity to improve soft skills and to partner with an experienced individual who can provide advice and assistance with the engineering profession in Alberta. Additional services for members can be found on the APEGA website.
Directions for Immigrants offers workplace communication groups to help you integrate into the Canadian work environment. The Clear Communication for Business workplace communication group is designed to help internationally educated professionals fine-tune their communication skills with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. In one week, you will learn through role-play and scenarios the nuances and expectations of the Canadian business culture. Topics include active listening, assertiveness, conflict resolution, problem solving, and teamwork. Visit Clear Communication for Business for more information.

What information resources are available for Engineers/Geoscientists?

Additional Occupational Information

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Directions for Immigrants
Bow Valley College, West Campus
219, 300 - 6th Ave. SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0G5
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