Path to Licensure Fraser Valley Branch November 23, 2015

Presenter Jason Ong –Manager, Exams, Geoscience Registration & Member-in-Training Program

Agenda Overview of the application process for P.Eng/P.Geo licensure Reporting of Engineering or Geoscience experience Validation of experience by supervisors/colleagues Law & Ethics requirements

APEGBC APEGBC regulates the practice of professional engineering and professional geoscience in the province of British Columbia under the authority of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

Regulatory Functions

Member-in-Training Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Geoscientist-in-Training (GIT) status is granted to individuals who meet: Academic requirements Are currently working toward their 4-year work experience requirement

Professional Member P.Eng/P.Geo. Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)/Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) registration is granted to individuals who meet: Academic requirement 4-year work experience requirement (1-year in Canadian “Environment”) Professional practice exam and Law & Ethics Seminar requirement Good character requirement

Academic Eligibility For Engineering - Accredited Degrees (Engineers Canada) - Recognized Degrees from countries with mutual agreements - Un-accredited Degrees with an accredited post-grad degree and/or examinations For Geoscience - Adherence to the geoscience syllabi (Possible examinations if courses missing) Academic Reviews are conducted upon applying

Entry to Practice

Experience Requirements Must provide evidence of four years of satisfactory engineering or geoscience experience. One year must be in a Canadian environment or one deemed equivalent upon review. Pre-graduation experience (e.g., co-op, summer work) may count up to a maximum of one year. Experience as a certified technologist may qualify. Post-graduation experience is cumulative up to a maximum of two years (one year for M.Sc. and another for a Ph.D).

Reporting Experience GEOSCIENCEENGINEERING Report-Based (template provided) Competency-BasedCompetency-Based (Online) PDF Reference FormsCompetency examples validated online

Geoscience Experience Geoscientists Canada has recently developed a Competency Framework for Professional Geoscience at an entry to practice level –Competencies applicable to all geoscientists: 1. Scientific method 2. General geoscience 3. Communication & reporting 4. Information technology 5. Organization & management 6. Professionalism 7. Professional development 8. Ethics –Competencies applicable to discipline of geology/environmental geoscience: 1. Planning 2. Acquisition 3. Interpretation 4. Integration

Competency Experience Reporting System Recently upgraded and mandatory for new P.Eng applicants as of June 1 st, 2015 Applications in the Competency format are submitted, validated and assessed online through the Competency Experience Reporting System Currently used by: Student Members and EITs: Keep track of their progress as they gain the necessary knowledge and experience Applicants: Complete and submit their work experience details and Competency Self Assessment online. Validators and Assessors

Objectives Transparency and Objectivity – ensure requirements are clear and easily understood by applicants, reviewers, employers, all parties Consistency and Equity – uphold and maintain consistent standards for entry into the engineering profession Guidance and Confidence on the path to becoming a professional engineer

Overview Competency Framework – outlines the common competencies related to work experience that are essential for Professional Engineers in all disciplines to ensure effective practice and public safety Competency Categories – 7 broad groupings of competencies E.g. Technical Competence, Communication Key Competencies – identified skill-set or knowledge-base that can be demonstrated in practice 3-10 per Competency Category, all essential for registration

Overview cont’d Indicators – specific examples of activities, actions, skills or behaviours that could demonstrate achievement of a Key Competency Generic and/or area of practice specific Competency Rating Scale (0-5) – Outlines the required level of competence required to satisfy the requirements for professional registration 0: no exposure, 1: training level/awareness, 5: mature engineering level Be realistic and honest with yourself!

Competency Framework 1.Technical Competence – Level 3 2.Communication – Level 3 3.Project & Financial Management – Level 2 4.Team Effectiveness – Level 3 5.Professional Accountability – Level 3 6.Social, Economic, Environmental & Sustainability – Level 2 7.Personal Continuing Professional Development – Level 3

Technical Competence 1.1 Demonstrate knowledge of regulations, codes, standards, and safety 1.2 Demonstrate knowledge of materials, or operations as appropriate, project and design constraints, design to best fit the purpose or service intended and address inter- disciplinary impacts. 1.3 Analyze technical risks and offer solutions to mitigate the risks 1.4 Apply engineering knowledge to design solutions 1.5 Be able to understand solution techniques and independently verify the results 1.6 Safety awareness 1.7 Demonstrate understanding of systems as well as of components of systems 1.8 Exposure to all stages of the process/project life cycle 1.9 Understand the concept of quality control during design and construction 1.10 Transfer design intentions to drawings and sketches; Understand transmittal of design information to design documents.

Indicators - Example Key CompetencyIndicators 1.1Demonstrate knowledge of regulations, codes, standards, and safety - this includes local engineering procedures and practices as applicable 1.Identify and comply with legal and regulatory requirements for project activities. 2.Incorporate knowledge of codes and regulations in design materials. 3.Prepare reports assessing project compliance with codes, standards, and regulations. 4.Recognize the need to design for code compliance while achieving constructability.

Competency Examples Applicants select best example from their experience to demonstrate each Key Competency Examples include: Situation: A brief overview of a specific situation or problem. Action: The action that an applicant took in response to the situation, including engineering judgments made or solutions found. Outcome: The impact that an applicant’s actions, solutions or judgments generated.

Competency Examples

Validators and Assessors Validator –Verify and provide feedback on examples in applicant’s Competency Self Assessment –Provide overall feedback on applicant’s readiness for registration –Can “request revisions” if you have submitted through interim validation Assessor –Rate the examples provided for each Key Competency according to the Competency Rating Scale. –Confirms whether they believe the applicant has met the competencies at the appropriate level for registration –Only assess once entire self-assessment is submitted

References Validators Throughout your four years of experience, you need to have a minimum of FOUR people submit reference forms on your behalf Ideally, all references will be from P.Eng/P.Geo’s At a minimum, you will need two P.Eng/P.Geo supervisors Colleagues, consultants, clients, can also submit reference forms At least one reference should be from a P.Eng/P.Geo supervisor in the same discipline of your application

References Validators con’t References are Key to the Registration Process provide the basis for judgment of reviewers as to the level of ability as a professional Comment on your ability to independently practice professional engineering Provide a letter of explanation if you will have difficulty providing the necessary references If the referee is not a Professional, he/she should be asked to provide a resume to establish professional equivalency.

Law & Ethics Seminar A two day seminar offered quarterly in the lower mainland (Usually one month before the PPE) or on CD Teaches various areas of law applicable to the practice of the professions, risk management and professional practice and ethics for engineers and geoscientists Applicants must have either attended the seminar or purchased and viewed the CD set before getting registered as a P.Eng

Professional Practice Exam (PPE) A Law & Ethics based exam with questions general enough to be answered by candidates from all disciplines of Engineering or Geoscience. Offered in January, March, June, September, & November 110 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 2.5 hours. An essay to be completed in 1 hour. Two recommended study books that can be purchased from APEGBC.

The Multiple-Choice Section The Multiple-Choice section will involve: 100 Questions each containing four answer choices Answers are recorded on bubble/scan-tron sheet format Always only one correct answer choice No penalty for wrong answers The passing mark is 65% The results will be ed approximately six weeks after the exam date and prior to the application deadline for the next exam. After three failed attempts at the M/C section, one must wait one calendar year before a fourth and subsequent attempts

Sample Multiple-Choice Questions Practice Exam now available via APEGA Website 50 Sample Questions $50.00 fee to access

The Essay Section The essay section will involve: Choosing ONE out of three topics provided Usually questions dealing with ethical/legal issues Will often require the development of real or fictional scenarios as part of the answer Topics will often contain multiple sub-questions (Ensure that you answer everything the question is asking) Word limit is 750 words The passing mark is determined by a combination of the content and merit of your discussion as well as the clarity and level of communicative ability displayed.

Sample Essay Topics Specific tenets of the Code of Ethics Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Conflict of Interest Professional Judgment Maintaining good character and repute Responsibility Authorship

PPE Format Changes Oct 2015 and Onwards Current PPE Format (Until July 20, 2015 Session) New PPE Format (Effective October 19, 2015 Session) Paper-based exam Computer-based exam Available only in select locations Available at various testing centres in BC and worldwide Exam for each session offered only on one day in the morning Exam for each session offered over a three-day period with morning and afternoon sessions 3 hours total exam time 3.5 hours total exam time 100 multiple choice questions (2 hours) 110 multiple choice questions (2.5 hours) 1 hour essay section 1 hour essay section Approximately 6 weeks for results Approximately 3-4 weeks for results

Questions? For more information about the application process for P.Eng or P.Geo please visit: