Apply to APEGA as a Licensee or Professional Member
APEGA has two different application types to become a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist, and these are a Licensee or Professional Member. A Licensee or Professional Member have the academic and experience requirements to practice engineering or geoscience, but the only difference is that a Licensee does not have Canadian Citizenship or is not a Permanent Resident.
APEGA requires the content of all application forms and work experience documents to be detailed and descriptive. These forms must be completed first-hand by the applicant taken from their personal work experience. We understand that artificial intelligence (AI) is a helpful tool, but content generated by AI is generic and does not outline individual situations, as required by APEGA.
Requirements for Applicants
To become a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Alberta, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) Requirements
CBA Requirements
- 48 months of engineering work experience
- Meeting of 22 key competencies
- Valid References & Validators
Additional requirements
- Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
- Proof of Identity
- Competency in written and spoken English
- Completion of National Professional Practice Exam
- Good character and reputation
- Graduation from a university program that:
- is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board
or
- is a related program that the Board of Examiners considers to be equivalent
Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) Requirements
- Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
- Proof of Identity
- Competency in written and spoken English
- Completion of the National Professional Practice Exam
- Good Character and reputation
- Graduation from a university that:
- Meets the requirements of the Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements
Or
- is a related program that the APEGA Board of Examiners considers to be equivalent to the above
- 48 months of geoscience work experience
- Valid references
Licensee Requirements
The requirements to become a Licensee are the same as a Professional Member however applicants to become a licensee do not need to meet the Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status requirement.
Starting your Application With APEGA
Applicants must have forty-eight (48) or more months of engineering or geoscience experience acceptable to the APEGA Board of Examiners (BOE), to apply to be a Licensee or a Professional Member.
If an applicant has less than forty-eight (48) months of engineering or geoscience experience gained in Canada or internationally, they must apply to become a Member-in-Training. If their undergraduate degree is not in engineering, geology, or geophysics, APEGA recommends applying to become a Member-in-Training.
Applicants are expected to have completed the academic requirements prior to applying for a Licensee or Professional Member designation. If during the academic review of a Licensee or Professional Member application a significant deficiency is found, the Board of Examiners may decide not to review the submitted work experience.
To apply for a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist license, applicants will have to:
- Create an account through myAPEGA
- Start the online application
- Complete the "Determine your Application Type" questionnaire that will indicate the type of application being started
APEGA adheres to the privacy standards under the Personal Information Protection Act regarding the collection, disclosure, and use of personal information. It is the applicant's responsibility to personally complete all components of the application. APEGA does not accept third-party submissions and will only answer questions from the applicant.
Professional member application fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New applicants (not members-in-training) | $500 |
| Current APEGA members-in-training | $325 |
| P.Eng. or P.Geo. registered in another Canadian province or territory | $250 |
| Registering a second designation | $500 |
| Changing designation | $500 |
| Former APEGA licensed professional reinstatement | See Return to Practice |
These prices do not include GST and are subject to change. Application fees are non-refundable.
How to Pay Your Application Fees
The easiest and quickest way to pay is online! You can submit payment in the following ways.
Log in to myAPEGA and pay by credit card.
Visa, Mastercard, or American Express
Call 1-800-661-7020 and pay by credit card.
Visa, Mastercard, or American Express
Pay via online banking.
Payee: APEGA
Account number: your APEGA ID or Permit Number
Mail a cheque to APEGA Head Office in Edmonton.
Payable to APEGA, with your APEGA ID or Permit Number on the cheque
APEGA does not accept cash payments, and we cannot process credit card or debit payments at our offices. If you are unable to pay your dues using one of the methods listed above, please contact [email protected].
Document Submission
There are multiple stages of the application process that have deadlines that must be met.
1. Once an application is initiated in myAPEGA , applicants have ninety (90) days to complete all twelve (12) steps of the Online Application System. If the steps are not finished within the time allotted, the application is deleted.
2. After the applicant has paid for their application (post-payment), they have ninety (90) days to provide any outstanding requirements. If the requirements are not provided within the time allotted, the application will be withdrawn. Application fees are non-refundable.
3. Application processing starts when the application is with a Registration Program Coordinator (RPC). Applicants have ninety (90) days to provide all the final documentation as per the Registration Program Coordinator's instructions. The application will be withdrawn if the final documentation is not provided. Application fees are non-refundable.
APEGA will not process an application until all the required documentation has been submitted. Applicants can view the outstanding documentation in their myAPEGA portal.
How to Reduce Delays throughout the Application and Review Process
- Applicants full name and APEGA ID number are included with all documents and correspondence.
- The application includes all current phone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses.
- Checking the application status in the myAPEGA portal to see if any information is still outstanding.
- Submit outstanding documentation items as soon as possible.
- For CBA applications, contact and work directly with the references and validators to confirm they have submitted all required e-Forms.
- References for geoscience applications will be contacted at a later date.
Applicants can check the status of the application or update contact information by logging into the myAPEGA portal. If any documents are missing, they will be listed as not received or incomplete.
If there are any questions, applicants can email our Registration Department at [email protected] or call our Edmonton office.
Licensee/Professional Member Process
Application Submission
Applicants will start their application by visiting the myAPEGA portal, creating an account and completing the "Determine your Application Type" questionnaire. The applicant will then select the Application Category and Discipline and start their application. Once the application has been started the requirements may vary.
Processing by APEGA Staff
Once all the requirements have been submitted, an application is put into a queue to be assigned to a Registration Program Coordinator. Once assigned, the Registration Program Coordinator will go through all the documents provided to make sure they are correct. During this stage, documentation may be sent back for further information.
Review by APEGA Staff
After a Registration Program Coordinator has finished with the application, they will send it to a Professional Engineer or Geoscientist of the Registration Staff to start reviewing the documentation provided. During this step, the application may be sent back to the Coordinator if more information is needed.
Academic Review
The Academic Review looks at the applicants provided education. For more information about what education need to be provided, please review the Academic Documentation requirement.
The APEGA Board of Examiners may require an applicant to write exams if they are not a graduate of an academic program that meets the below requirements:
- Is recognized by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (for engineering applicants only)
- Meets the requirements of the Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements (for geoscience applicants only)
- Is a related program the Board of Examiners considers to be equivalent.
During this stage of the application, the application may be reviewed by multiple examiners.
Experience Review
Depending on the designation an applicant has applied for, the application will either include an online Work Experience Record (WER) or online Work Record Validator List/Competency Based Assessment Tool.
An examiner will look at the type, quality, and duration of your work experience, as well as how recent it is. The Professional Engineer or Geoscientist will provide a recommendation regarding the experience to the Board of Examiners for review and decision.
During this stage of the application, the application may be reviewed by multiple examiners.
APEGA Board of Examiners
The APEGA Board of Examiners will make a final decision based on the information the applicant provided.
Additionally,
- The APEGA Board of Examiners meets once per month, excluding July, and decides whether to approve, defer, or refuse licensure.
- APEGA Board of Examiner meeting dates are not available to the public
- APEGA staff will not release decisions over the phone
- The decision will be e-mailed by the end of the following month after the Board of Examiner meeting.
Communicating with APEGA
As part of the APEGA mandate to public safety, APEGA uses a detailed and thorough review process for all applications. This process can vary depending on the application and the quality of information that is provided. APEGA provides the Estimated Length of Review for each application type.
APEGA knows that application delays can be frustrating and APEGA is committed to efficiency and high standards making every effort to process all applications in a timely manner.
APEGA fosters an environment of respect. APEGA ensures our communication is professional, prompt, and courteous. APEGA expects the same level of professional communication from those we serve.
Document Retention
APEGA is commited to the security of an applicant's information.
Applicants have ninety (90) days to pay for and submit their application. If after the ninety (90) days, the application was not completed and paid for, APEGA will destroy all electronic and physical records related to the application to protect the privacy and personal information of all applicants.
Once an application is submitted, all associated documents (such as transcripts, World Education Services Reports, Work Experience e-Forms, reference e-Forms, and validator e-Forms) become property of APEGA and will not be returned to the applicant, a member, or any third party. This policy applies to originals, copies, and electronic documents.