|
PE Licensure Outside the United States
Canada | Mexico
| UK | Europe
(EUR ING) | Philippines
CANADA
In Canada, the title "P.Eng." designates the status of
a professional engineer. This is analogous to the title
"PE" in the United States. Approximately 160,000
professional engineers are registered in Canada.
There are ten provinces and two territories in Canada, each with its own licensing
body, commonly called "the engineering association." Engineering in Canada is
self-regulated, which means the Canadian government has delegated the responsibility
for administering engineering legislation to the profession.
All Canadian undergraduate engineering (B.Eng., B.E.Sc., and B.A.Sc.) programs
are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), a standing
committee of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE). The CEAB
uses volunteer professional engineers from across Canada, with members from
both industry and academia. CEAB performs functions in Canada that are parallel
to those performed by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology
(ABET) in the United States.
Each association has an Academic Review Committee (ARC) or Board of Examiners
that reviews the academic qualifications of licensure applicants. Applicants
from CEAB-accredited programs automatically meet the academic licensure requirements.
All other applicants are reviewed by the Board of Examiners (or ARC) and are
required to take one or more technical examinations covering all traditional
subjects in engineering curricula. Therefore, it is possible for engineers who
were educated outside Canada, scientists, and technologists to become Professional
Engineers in Canada. Almost 8% of all Canadian professional engineers have obtained
their licenses by taking technical examinations.
In part because of CEAB's close monitoring, candidates for the P.Eng. title
who are graduates of Canadian B.Eng. programs are not tested in engineering
principles after graduation. However, to receive the P.Eng. title, the provincial
engineering associations have additional requirements beyond the B.Eng. degree.
These typically involve additional work experience past graduation, letters
of reference, and an examination (known as the Professional Practice Examination,
PPE) covering ethics, intellectual property protection, and provincial law.
This "law and ethics exam" is based on a national syllabus established by the
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, but it is administered by each province.
For example, applicants in Quebec must be familiar with aspects of Napoleonic
law, while applicants in English-speaking provinces must be familiar with elements
of English common case law. Applicants must be fluent in the language of business
used in their province or territory.
Recently, several of the associations have introduced structured Engineer-In-Training
or mentoring programs. These programs require new graduates to keep log books
and, in some associations, to be interviewed by the licensing body during their
four-year internship.
Six of the twelve associations have implemented mandatory continuing competence
or practice review requirements. The remaining associations either have established
voluntary systems or are in the process of developing other competence evaluation
systems.
In 1999, the Canadian Professional Engineers achieved internal mobility with
the signing of an Inter-Association Mobility Agreement. Essentially, this agreement
allows members in good standing expedited admission into the other associations.
Reciprocity with the United States
The Canadian licensing process does not satisfy any of
the state requirements for examination. Because of
this, Canadian engineers will find themselves pursuing
the same examination process as US citizens: taking the
FE and PE exams in the states where they desire to
perform consulting services.
A six-nation mutual recognition agreement (the "Washington Accord") signed
in 1989 recognized the essential equivalence of the accreditation processes
for engineering education in these countries. This makes it easier for Canadian
engineers to prove that their degrees are "ABET equivalent."
A few US states are willing to waive the FE examination requirement for Canadian
engineers meeting minimum experience requirements. Approximately half of the
US states have provisions for issuing "temporary engineering licenses" to non-US
engineers.
The effect of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has not been
significant.
Description of the Law and Ethics Exam
The law and ethics exam typically contains short
questions on legal definitions and key precedent-
setting cases, professionalism and professional
practice, regulation of the profession, and the
Engineers Act. The exams are usually two to three hours in
length. Within a province or territory, all engineers
take the same law and ethics exam, regardless of
discipline.
Passing rates are usually high--70% and above. Language is often a cause of
failure.
Many provinces use a machine-graded, multiple-choice exam--the so-called "National
Professional Practice Examination" developed by the Association of Professional
Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA). This examination
is closed book and two hours in duration. There are 100 multiple-choice questions.
All questions are common to the professions of engineering, geology, geophysics,
and geoscience. The examination is graded as pass/fail. A detailed report indicating
areas of weakness is available to candidates who fail. There is no penalty for
wrong answers (i.e., for guessing). The minimum passing score is 65%, although
psychometric adjustments may be made by APEGGA to ensure that, over time and
among groups of candidates, pass/fail decisions are made consistently. The grade
is final, and there are no appeals.
In Ontario, exams also include written essay questions concerning fictitious
legal cases. The fictitious legal cases are based on actual case law. Additional
questions cover ethical dilemmas (i.e., "what would you do" questions). These
exams are three hours in length and require essay responses.
Review Materials for the Canadian Law and Ethics Exam
Books
Law for Professional Engineers, D.L. Marston, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. (1996)
Canadian Professional Engineering Practice and Ethics, Second Edition,
G.C. Andrews and J.D. Kemper. Saunders College Canada. (1999) ISBN 0-7747-3501-5
Reference guides covering intellectual property protection ("A Guide to Patents,"
"A Guide to Trademarks," "A Guide to Industrial Designs," and "A Guide to Copyrights")
can be obtained from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).
The provincial engineering professions act, manual of professional practice,
and code of ethics published by the association.
Relevant safety regulations, such as an Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Sample Examinations
Contact your professional engineering association.
More Information on Canadian PE Licensure
Provincial and territorial associations are accessible
from the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers'
(CCPE) website, www.ccpe.ca
Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta
(APEGGA)
Head Office, 1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Ave.
Edmonton AB T5J 4A2
Phone: 780-426-3990, 800-661-7020
Fax: 780-426-1877
www.apegga.com
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE)
180 Elgin Street, Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2K3
Phone: (613) 232-2474
Fax: (613) 230-5759
www.ccpe.ca
Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB)
Contact through Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE)
180 Elgin Street, Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2K3
Phone: (613) 232-2474
Fax: (613) 230-5759
www.ccpe.ca
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Industry Canada, Place du Portage I
50 Victoria Street, 2nd Floor
Hull, Quebec, K1A 0C9
http://cipo.gc.ca
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
25 Sheppard Ave., West, Suite 1000
Toronto, Ontario, M2N 6S9
Phone: (416) 224-1100, (800)-339-3716 (within Ontario)
Fax: (416) 224-8168
www.peo.on.ca
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Deborah Wolfe, P.Eng., Director,
Educational Affairs, Canadian Council of Professional Engineers; John Stephenson,
P.Eng., PE, Toronto, ON; and Dr. Hugh Jack, P.Eng., Assistant Professor, Padnos
School of Engineering, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI.
MEXICO
Mexico awards the federal professional engineering
license after an exit exam or thesis in addition to the
successful completion of a four-year engineering
program accredited by the Federal Secretary of
Education. The exit exam is written and evaluated by
the professors at the accredited institution. The
Mexican engineer is not required to be registered to
practice before becoming employed as an engineer.
However, there is a social and professional distinction
between a graduado (one who has passed all subjects) and
a titulado en ingenieria (one who holds the title of "Ingeniero").
Successful engineers are allowed to use the prefix
"Ing" prior to their names.
At least one educational institution, Centro de Ensenanza Technica y Superior
(CETYS), accepts the NCEES FE exam in lieu of the general-knowledge exit exam.
The Mexican accreditation system requires that students perform community
service. An educational institute may also define additional requirements for
graduation. These additional requirements might include service within the educational
institution, foreign language proficiency, and professional practice in local
industry.
As a result of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico has
created an engineering curriculum accreditation board, Consejo de Acreditacion
de la Ensenanza de la Ingenieria (CACEI), which performs functions similar to
ABET in the United States and CEAB in Canada.
Texas is the only state the offers the Mexican Ingeniero a reciprocal PE license
without examination. There is no reciprocity between Mexico and other states.
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Daniel R. Robles Alvarez, PE, Boeing
Company, Seattle, WA, formerly Facultad de Ingenieria, Centro de Ensenanza Technica
y Superior, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
UNITED KINGDOM
In the United Kingdom, the title most analogous to
"Professional Engineer" is "Chartered Engineer." This
title is not granted through an examination process,
but the procedure is rigorous, nonetheless. Upon
graduation, and engineer must work for three to four
years in a supervised and structured training period.
After this on-the-job training, the engineer submits
two written papers for comment and grading by two
senior members of the institution most appropriate to their discipline. The
applicant is interviewed for several hours and then
makes a 15-minute technical presentation based on one
of his papers. Thereafter, the engineer answers
technical and professional questions from the
examiners. In the afternoon, the engineer writes two
1500-word reports in three hours on two questions--one
technical and one professional--in subjects set by the
examiners which the engineer will not have seen before.
Passing all of the elements is required before
acceptance as a member of their institution.
EUROPE
Information on the EUR ING professional designation can be found on
the European Federation of National Engineering Associations
(FEANI) website. Criteria for the EUR ING designation is described
here. Application is open only to individuals who are members of an engineering association
represented in FEANI through a National Member (a list of which appears on this site).
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Other than the United States, the Philippines are the
only country to license Professional Engineers by
examination. Various exams (the "Engineering Boards,"
"Board Exams," or just "Boards") are administered by
the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) in
Manila. These exams may be taken by any graduate of a
five-year engineering program. The only requirements are a
diploma and transcript of records issued by the
university.
The engineering disciplines have different examination and experience requirements
for licensing. For example, civil engineering and geodetic graduates take one
exam; mechanical engineers take two exams; and, electrical engineers take three
exams. Most exam problems are multiple choice and machine-graded.
The civil engineering exam is administered over two days. Mathematics and
surveying are tested on the first day. On the second day, the morning session
covers hydraulics, water supply, hydrology, and wastewater. The afternoon session
covers design and construction in concrete, steel, timber, and masonry, as well
as seismic design.
Electrical engineers who pass the first exam are designated as "Associate
Electrical Engineers." Associate EEs are limited in authority as to what they
may sign off on. After a specific number of years, the Assistant Electrical
Engineer exam may be taken. Similarly, after addition experience, the Professional
Electrical Engineer exam may be taken.
The two mechanical engineering exams are similarly separated by a certain
number of years of experience.
Reciprocity with the United States
The Philippines' professional engineering license is
not recognized in the United States. At one time,
California permitted Filipino PEs to skip the FE exam.
However, this is no longer the case.
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Edgar S. Surla, Board Certified
Civil Engineer (Philippines), Board Certified Jr. Geodetic Engineer (Philippines),
EIT (US), Project Detailer, Dick Pacific Construction, Guam.
AUSTRALIA | CANADA | IRELAND | NEW ZEALAND | UNITED KINGDOM | SOUTH AFRICA
A six-nation mutual recognition agreement signed in 1989 recognized the essential
equivalence of the accreditation processes for engineering education in these
countries. This makes it easier for foreign engineers to prove that their degrees
are "ABET equivalent."
PE Licensure Outside the United States
|
|