Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) Scoring

The CBA scoring scale is used to rate an applicant's ability to perform engineering functions. For engineering applicants to be eligible for a Professional Member or Licensee licensure, the APEGA Board of Examiners requires them to have work experience that is validated by Professional Engineers (P.Eng.) or Senior Equivalent Practitioners in engineering which can be supervisors, managers, colleagues, or clients with direct knowledge of the applicant’s work. In Canada, it is expected that the validators are Professional Engineers (P.Eng.).

Applicants must demonstrate professional level experience and expertise in 22 key competencies Fulfillment of each competency is rated on a scale of 0 – 5.    The applicant will provide a self-assessment for all the competencies on the Competency Based Assessment Tool (CBAT) e-Form. Validators will review the examples assigned to them and will provide a score based on their assessment of the applicant’s abilities during the time the validator supervised or took technical responsibility of the applicant's work.

Key competencies in each of the categories require a minimum score of 1 for the applicant to be eligible to apply to APEGA. Each competency category requires an overall average of 2 or 3. Please note the overall average must meet or exceed the minimum level. 

Screenshot of the Competency Based Assessment Tool

Technical Responsibility

Taking technical responsibility can mean authenticating the work or conducting a detailed review of the applicant’s technical work.

Technical Competencies

Category 1 – Required Category Score: 3

The scoring system for applicants’ abilities in technical aspects of their work is:

Level 0: Little or no exposure to the competency

Level 1: Training Level: a general appreciation and awareness of the competency is required

Level 2: Requires knowledge and understanding of objectives: uses standard engineering methods and techniques in solving problems

Level 3: Carries out assignment of moderate scope and complexity; is typically seen to be prepared to assume professional engineering responsibilities

Level 4: Carries out responsible and varied assignments requiring general familiarity with a broad field of engineering and knowledge

Level 5: Uses mature engineering knowledge, independent accomplishments, and coordination of difficult and responsible assignments

All validators who are validating competencies in Competency Category 1 should have a title of P.Eng. if they are validating work that was performed in Canada. This requirement is due to the technical nature of the key competencies. If applicants cannot provide a P.Eng. for competencies in Category 1, a detailed description of ‘why’ must be included in the application.

Non-Technical Competencies

Categories 2, 4 & 5 – Required Category Score: 3

Categories 3 & 6 – Required Category Score:< 2

The scoring system for applicants’ competency in communication, financial and project management, team effectiveness, professional accountability, and social, economic, and environmental accountability is:

Level 0: Little or no exposure to the competency

Level 1: Training Level: a general appreciation and awareness of the competency is required

Level 2: At a level of limited experience; carries out activities of limited scope and complexity; requires knowledge and understanding of objectives

Level 3: Approaching a professional level; carries out activities of moderate complexity

Level 4: Working at a professional level; carries out responsible and varied activities

Level 5: At a mature professional level; independent coordination of difficult and responsible activities; independent accomplishments and coordination of difficult and responsible assignments

If an applicant’s self-assessment score is lower than the minimum score for each key competency or the required overall average level for each competency category, the application will not meet APEGA's minimum eligibility requirements, and they will not be able to submit the CBAT.

According to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, APEGA's Board of Examiners (BOE)  is the decision-making body on all applications for membership with APEGA. The BOE's review and final decision is based on an applicant's academic credentials, relevant work history, demonstrated core competencies, and validator feedback.

Read about the Competency Based Assessment Tool