Determining Substantial Equivalency Related to Credentials Evaluation

Jim Smith, P.Eng.Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Topics1. Professional engineers in Canada2. Assessment systems3. Mobility

Themes- current practices - mobility (history and current practices)

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

The Engineering Profession in Canada

1. Provinces responsible for licensing, discipline and enforcement

2. Provinces create the legislative framework

3. Associations for self regulated professions.

4. Right to title: all those practicing engineering must be registered.

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Self Regulated Professions

Resources (people and funds) from membership

Province establishes legislative framework

Professional associations - staff and volunteer organizations to manage registration, discipline, education etc.

The national organization – provincially funded & (some) government (project) funding

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

The Engineering Profession in Canada

• 160,000 registered Engineers in 12 jurisdictions

• National academic and experience standards

• Provincial associations are responsibility for registration

• Standards and best practices facilitated through multi-association organization (CCPE)

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Evolution of licensure:

1. Academic assessment by educators

2. Limited experience assessment done by educators

3. Expand both academic and non academic assessment methods

4. Focus and expand on methods

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Standards for registration:

– Education– Practical competency & experience– Continuing competency and professional

development

Multi stakeholder system– Individuals, industry, educational

institutions, associations, government

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

- national body established by licensing bodies

- leadership for national and international systems, issues and initiatives

Tools

- committees, task teams focused on professional systems or specific issues

- standards and guidelines (best practices)

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

CCPE Assessment Systems:

- CCPE has 2 Boards to establish standards. *Accreditation (CEAB)

*Qualification (CEQB)

- Boards formed from licensing body reps.

- Boards establish the standards and guidelines provinces implement within their legislative framework

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

10

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Education:1. Accreditation Board (CEAB) plus Deans

- Academic standard for Canadian universities2. Qualification Board (CEQB)

- Syllabus for exam program for non-CEAB programs

3. CCPE - Evaluate Foreign degree programs for equivalency

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Education Standards & References:

1. CEAB – accredited Canadian University list

2. CCPE

- foreign degree list (recognized or substantially equivalent)

- immigration application assessments

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Mutual Recognition Agreements (4):

1. Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology - A.B.E.T. (U.S.)

2. Washington Accord (Recognition based on equivalency of accrediting organizations)

- Ireland, U.K. Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, U.S. South Africa

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

13

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Mutual Recognition Agreements (4):

3. Between CTI (France) – substantially equivalent engineering programs and reciprocity of professional designations.

4. NAFTA – Canada, U.S., Mexico. (Implemented by Canadian associations and Texas)

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Education Accreditation Method

Academic Acceptance

Academic Action

Canadian Eng. Degree

CEAB review Yes None

Recognized Degree

CEAB, mutual recognition

Yes – P.E. None

Yes - exempt

Foreign Eng. Degree

Washington Accord; List,

Non-List

No Exempt; Exams or upgrade

Technical Diploma

Not accepted by CEAB

No Exams or degree

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

15

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Experience and Character:

Qualification Board (CEQB) establishes following guidelines

– Admission to the Practice of Engineering

– Code of Ethics

– Professional Practice Exam

– Continuing Professional Development

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

16

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Mobility - National

The Canadian licensing bodies have a national agreement (IAMA) that provides for mobility and expedites licensing of engineers in Canadian provinces.

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Inter-association Mobility Agreement

The IAMA works because of each licensing body adheres to guidelines for registration.

The agreement recognizes the final authority within each jurisdiction (not withstanding clause)

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

18

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Mobility – International

CCPE and some Provinces are actively pursuing mutual recognition agreements with other countries and states.

Barriers are regional legislative differences, lack of knowledge of other systems

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

CCPE Summary:

• CCPE, the national council for professional engineering that is directed and supported by each province’s licensing body.

• The accreditation process & standards used by all our licensing bodies.

• Creation of recognition and mobility programs with several countries.

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

20

Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

CCPE Summary (cont’d)• System success due to relationships among

the provinces and across all levels of government.

• CCPE expanding the quality, content, depth and accessibility of the foreign degree database.

• CCPE studying registration methods and impact on foreign trained engineers.

Presented at the 2005 CLEAR Annual ConferenceSeptember 15-17 Phoenix, Arizona

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Speaker Contact Information

Speaker name: Jim Smith, P. Eng

Organization: Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Address: 180 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario

Phone: Office: (877) 408-9273 Cell:(780) 832-4466 Fax: (613) 230 5759

E-mail: smithj3@telusplanet.net

Website: www.ccpe.ca