In the past several years of writing Articles about the Process of Engineering Licensure in Alberta for Internationally Educated Engineers – I already received dozens of questions and inquiries. This is a good sign that Internationally Educated Engineers are prioritizing to undergo this process and eventually go back to their Profession after migrating to Canada.
For this Edition of the Alberta Filipino Journal – I will be discussing again the Academic Documentation Requirements. Most Provincial Engineering Regulating Association follows the same Academic Requirement Documentation. So, whether you are migrating to Ontario, Manitoba or other Province, the Academic requirements are the same and it is covered by the rules of the ngineers Canada.
Filipino immigrants in Canada graduated from different college and university in the Philippines wherein their credentials were evaluated by third party organization and make recommendations to APEGA on what their education is equivalent to Canadian education system.
The APEGA outlined a process on how to submit your academic documentation requirements to the World Education Services (WES).
All applicants will be evaluated against the APEGA syllabus in engineering and geoscience. Applicants who do not meet academic requirements could be refused, prescribed examinations to make up perceived deficiencies or asked to write confirmatory examinations to confirm the quality, depth and breadth of their education.
Basic guidelines were published in the APEGA website to wit the courses taken in the Philippines will be compared to the acceptable course equivalent and syllabi. The course lists are available at the APEGA website and is available at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary that match APEGA’s course equivalents. The syllabi and exams explains what the course and technical exams will cover. Engineering applicants must complete the requirements listed under Preliminary and Basic Studies and Complementary Studies, as well as the requirements specified for their specific discipline.
The final review of academic documents is done by APEGA’s Board of Examiners (BOE), and it is the BOE that ultimately determines their depth, breadth, and acceptability.
World Education Services (WES) is an academic-assessment agency designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to provide educational credential assessments for degrees earned outside of Canada. WES is the only academic-assessment agency recognized by APEGA, and only International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) reports are accepted.
A WES assessment that states you have a “4-year undergraduate degree” is only the first step in the academic assessment process. APEGA’s Board of Examiners must also conduct a full review of your academic credentials.
WES ICAP Report:
• Verifies the authenticity of your academic documents.
• Establishes the equivalent level of your academic credentials compared with the Canadian university system.
APEGA’s Board of Examiners:
• Reviews your degree to ensure it is a degree in engineering or geoscience.
• Confirms the acceptability of the course content and performance of your degree.
• Ensures that your degree meets the legal requirements for licensure.
How to Obtain a World Education Services ICAP Report
1. Register for APEGA’s Member Self-Service Centre, and receive your ID number. This ID number will be required to order your WES Report.
2. Follow the instructions to continue to the WES website for the next step of the application process.
3. Follow the instructions provided by WES. If you already have an evaluation report from WES, you may need to upgrade that report to an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).
4. WES will send the completed evaluation report to APEGA digitally.
Physical copies will not be accepted.
What you need to do:
You must have an APEGA ID number before you begin a WES application.
Follow the steps below to complete your WES application:
1. Select Canada for your evaluation.
2. Select WES Standard Application.
3. Add Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) as a recipient.
4. Select WES ICAP Course-by-Course as the evaluation type (required by APEGA).
If you already have a WES application, it must be upgraded to a WES ICAP Course-by-Course evaluation.
Follow the country-specific document requirements and arrange for your documents to be delivered to WES.
The roadblock for most Filipino Engineers in continuing this application process is when they got a credential evaluation that states “3-year diploma” wherein the only option left is to take the Technical Exams which entails a lot of preparation and cost. And at the end of the day, it is still your decision whether you are going to pursue your professional status as Engineer or re-direct your path toward a Technologist. Pursuing your path toward a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) is governed by The Association of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET). The process is different and also the requirements.
For more advises on specific case in pursuing your application – please contact me at cereno@ualberta.ca or mmcereno@gmail.com.
