Work Experience for Professional Licensee Applicants
The Board of Examiners (BOE) will examine the nature, quality, duration, and currency of your experience.
The most important factor in the assessment of your work experience is the demonstration in the work experience documents of your professional application of engineering theory.
Application of engineering theory is the professional application of the applied sciences through design, analysis, design review, problem-solving, or similar aspects of engineering.
The BOE will assess your application of engineering theory for both the total experience requirement and the defined scope of practice (DSOP) experience requirement.
Aspects of work experience such as routine testing, routine maintenance, construction, routine assembly, project management, or project coordination are not normally considered a demonstration of the application of engineering theory at a professional level.
Applicants who fail to demonstrate the minimum experience requirements or the minimum reference requirements may be refused or deferred.
To protect against applicants who falsify work experience, use fraudulent references, impersonate references, deploy fake websites, or use other unethical practices, APEGA conducts quality assurance audits and may independently confirm the validity of reference responses through phone, email, or other means. Applicants found using unethical practice will be immediately investigated by APEGA.Defined Scope of Practice for Professional Licensees
A professional licensee is registered to practise engineering or geoscience within a defined scope of practice (DSOP) and has all the authority, obligation, and liabilities of a professional member. A DSOP is a written description of an individual’s specific area of professional expertise. Your DSOP will define the limitations of your independent professional practice in engineering or geoscience.
A DSOP for a professional licensee in engineering will only include engineering activities as defined in the Engineering and Geoscience Professions (EGP) Act, while one for a professional licensee in geoscience will only include geoscience activities as defined in the EGP Act.Read the definitions of engineering and geoscience activities
Engineering Scope of Practice Conditions
Only the following activities can be used in an engineering scope:
- reporting on
- advising on
- evaluating
- designing
- preparing plans and specifications for
- directing the construction of
- directing the technical inspection of
- directing the maintenance of
- directing the operation of
For any activity above used in an engineering scope and for every item in an engineering scope the work must have required the professional application of the principles of mathematics, chemistry, physics, or any related applied subject.
Any items that do not meet these conditions are not accepted in an engineering DSOP.
Geoscience Scope of Practice Conditions
Only the following activities can be used in the scope:
- reporting
- advising
- evaluating
- interpreting
- processing
- geoscientific surveying
- exploring
- classifying reserves
- examining
For any activity above used in a geoscience scope and for every item listed in a geoscience scope, the work must have required the professional application of the principles of mathematics, chemistry, physics, or biology through the application of the principles of geoscience.
Any items that do not meet these conditions are not accepted in a geoscience DSOP.
Submitting your Work Experience Records
Applicants must read and understand the following documents before applying to become a P.L. and before completing the work records.
Download and complete both of the following forms for your P.L.(Eng.) application
Download and complete both of the following forms for your P.L.(Geo.) application
Apply for a Change of Defined Scope of Practice
To apply for a new defined scope of practice, you must be a current professional licensee registered with APEGA, and you must have a minimum of two years of professional-level engineering or geoscience work experience in the new proposed defined scope of practice under the supervision and control of a P.Eng. or P.Geo. registered as an active member of APEGA during the supervision time period.
Please complete the following requirements and submit these to [email protected].
- Complete the Request for Change in Defined Scope of Practice form (see below)
- Complete the Work Experience Summary Record and the Defined Scope of Practice Record. You must show a minimum of two years of professional level engineering or geoscience work in the new proposed defined scope. This work must have been performed under the supervision and control of a P.Eng. or P.Geo. who was an active registered member of APEGA during the time of the supervised experience
Download the Request for Change in Defined Scope of Practice Form