REGULATORY
the applicant gains further experience. Applicants and supportive employers can then focus their energy in the right places, sending new information to the board sooner.
be especially beneficial for ITAs. Last year, APEGA received over 9,200 applications, and nearly half of the applicants were interna- tionally trained. With CBA, applicants are given clear direction on specific competencies and the levels needed to obtain a Professional Engineering licence in Alberta. With the current process, applicants are asked to describe at least 48 months of work experience. The Board of Examiners then connects competencies to the experience described. Asking applicants to make those connections and measure their value up front makes more sense for everyone. The experience part of the board’s job is then about agreeing or disagreeing, partially or entirely, and asking for targeted experience when necessary. Because CBA is a self-assessment tool, applicants will often determine right away that they need to improve particular competencies — before they submit their CBA documentation to APEGA. Applicants understand early in the process what competencies it takes to be a Professional Engineer. They become partners in the process. CBA is a fair, objective, and transparent way to measure an applicant’s work experience and competencies, especially when experience is obtained outside of Canada. Even if the experience is not typical to Alberta — working in a rubber factory, perhaps — the competencies developed may be well suited to the province. If the board finds that an applicant lacks competence in a certain area, the new system will make it easy for examiners to outline exactly what competencies need to be built upon while
WHAT’S NEXT?
An online, competency-based assessment tool and a companion online self-assessment tool are expected to go live by late 2016. Before that, APEGA will consult stakeholders, including the Board of Examiners and applicants, to develop an Alberta core competency framework. A pilot project will be undertaken mid-year to test the tools and the process. APEGA isn’t the only engineering regulator joining APEGBC in adopting CBA. Several other engineering regulators are investigating the system’s merits, although APEGA is the furthest along. CBA will replace APEGA’s current work experience review pro- cess only. Applicants will still be required to meet academic qualifi- cations and have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
HOW WILL CBA AFFECT EXISTING APPLICATIONS?
When the new system is brought online, individuals with applications in process will have the option to update their documentation using CBA. More details on all aspects of CBA will be published: • in future editions of The PEG • online at apega.ca • online in the Member Self-Service Centre
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