|
APEGGA and other professional associations are
becoming increasingly concerned about the non-registration
of engineers who relocate from other provinces. The problem
arises when professional engineers, registered and in good
standing in the province they've left, neglect to contact
the new association about registration.
Many don't realize that registration in the new province
is a requirement in order to practice or even use a title
that implies they are registered. This applies whether they
are practicing as an independent, an employee or employer.
In one of their yearly national meetings, discipline and
enforcement officials from each provincial association discussed
how they would locate and contact these individuals. The most
effective way, the meeting decided, would be to annually exchange
lists of members who have relocated. For example, APEGGA sends
a list of its members who are now residing in Ontario to Professional
Engineers Ontario, and PEO reciprocates.
For several years the APEGGA Compliance Department has been
actively contacting individuals who have neglected to apply
after moving to Alberta from other provinces. Initially we
sent a letter asking whether or not they are actively engaged
in the practice or using a restricted title. The response
was minimal.
As a result, we developed a one-page, user-friendly questionnaire.
It has three simple questions, asking whether or not individuals
are actively practicing, using their professional designation
or using a restricted job title in Alberta.
The response rate has substantially improved since we adopted
this system. The program has been in place since 1998, and
has, with the odd exception, received excellent reception
and cooperation from those contacted. To date, registrations
due to the Out of Province Program's efforts total approximately
360.
The reasons for not applying for registration vary. Some
non-registrants genuinely don't realize they have to, or they
procrastinate. Some are unaware of or don't understand the
current mobility agreement, and are under the misconception
that everyone moving here has to write the Professional Practice
Exam.
Through diligent work and co-operation, the provincial associations
and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers have made
much progress in simplifying and improving mobility. As a
result of these efforts, Canada's 12 territorial regulatory
engineering associations signed an historic agreement on June
18, 1999, which eliminates virtually all inter-provincial
barriers to the free movement of licensed engineers between
jurisdictions.
Signed during the annual meeting of the CCPE, the Inter-Association
Agreement on Mobility of Professionals Within Canada ends
the requirement for engineers to be licensed for five consecutive
years in one provincial or territorial jurisdiction -- before
they can relocate to a second jurisdiction and be fully licensed.
It also makes it easier for engineers to hold licenses in
more than one province or territory at the same time.
Under the terms of the agreement -- provided they are members
in good standing of the provincial or territorial regulatory
engineering association in their home jurisdiction, they can
apply for and obtain a license to practice in another jurisdiction.
In most cases, the only requirement is that the engineers
agree to abide by the continuing competency of that jurisdiction.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Q. If I am a member in good standing in another Canadian
association, am I required to write the Professional Practice
Examination to become registered with APEGGA?
A. Most Canadian associations have had a professional
practice examination in place for a number of years. Some
transferees have written an examination for another association,
and it's deemed equivalent to the one APEGGA applicants write.
Others are exempt because membership in their home association
had no such requirement at the time they first registered.
|
