Competency-Based Assessment Tool

The Competency-Based Assessment Tool (CBAT) is an electronic form designed to capture the applicant’s understanding and achievement of the 22 key competencies required for registration as a Professional Engineer or Licensee.

Watch the full Competency-Based Assessment playlist on YouTube

The Competency-Based Assessment Tool (CBAT) can only be completed after the applicant has submitted their Work Record Validator List (WRVL).

    Complete and submit your CBAT process graphic

    • A series of steps for submitting the Competency-Based Assessment Tool within the APEGA membership application.

      • Simplified drawing of a computer monitor with five completed checkboxes and the text: Start the online application. Complete the first five steps
      • Step 6: Complete and submit the WRVL (Work Record Validator List)
      • Step 6, highlighted to indicate this is the current step: Complete and submit your CBAT (Competency-Based Assessment Tool)
      • Next: Finish application submission and pay
      • Second submit on WRVL and CBAT
      • MRefQ (Modified Reference Questionnaires) and VRFs (Validator Response Forms) received
      • Application in queue to be processed, VORFs (Validator Overall Reference Forms) to be requested

    What are Competencies?

    Competencies are skills or knowledge that APEGA has identified as crucial to the professional practice of engineering. They are based on the applicant’s decisions, behaviors, or applications of skill or knowledge.

    To demonstrate their levels of skill in each key competency, applicants must draw examples from their previous engineering experience to include in their CBAT form. When completing each page of the form, applicants will provide:

      • Situation: At least one situation which you have proved competency in
      • Actions: Several actions you took within the situation that support your competency
      • Outcome: An outcome of the summary of your actions. This should include a basic summary of the solution, product, process, or other outcome of the situation and the actions.
      Venn diagram showing that Situation, Actions and Outcome overlap

      The CBAT form includes skills and behaviours called indicators. Indicators are:

      • Generalized examples that can be used as a guide to illustrate how the applicant may have achieved a given competency
      • They do not have to be fully met to be deemed as competent
      • The indicators provided by APEGA serve as a framework for the applicant to determine which aspects of their work experience apply for each key competency
      • They can also highlight deficiencies the applicant may have

      The applicant will include specific details of their personal work experience for every competency. Do not copy and paste the generic indicators provided.

      Read more about CBAT Indicators

      APEGA’s Board of Examiners will assess the applicant’s competency on the information they and their validators provide – and nothing else. Be sure to focus on:

      • Technical and theoretical skills and knowledge and how they contributed to the situation and action that positively or negatively affected the outcome
      • Providing details about the decisions that were made as the applicant
      • Writing in first person (“I” statements instead of “we”) to show ownership of the actions.

      Competency-Based Assessment Tool Evaluation Criteria

      Scoring

      Each competency will be evaluated against a score from 0 – 5

      • 0 demonstrates no awareness for the competency
      • 5 shows a mature level of practice with the competency

      Details of Example

      The details of the examples should put a strong emphasis on Application of Theory and Practical Experience.

      Application of Theory in the respective discipline must include:

      • selecting solutions and solving problems
      • preparing and checking designs or interpretations
      • providing evidence of sound technical judgement and practices
      • demonstrating familiarity with the use and application of pertinent technologies, procedures, systems, and programs

      Although the experience can include the “collection and analysis of information and data”, this should not be a major component of the experience.

      Practical Experience must include:

      • being exposed to work-site operations
      • recognizing limitations in designs, interpretations or recommendations, and understanding the application of pertinent codes and regulations
      • understanding the interdependence of disciplines, systems, and activities, and developing working relationships

      The BOE will consider increased technical competency and increasing levels of responsibility when evaluating the experience.

      Validation of Work Experience

      Validation of work experience must be completed by a validator—someone who assesses the applicant's competencies and verifies that the work description is adequate and was completed by the applicant.

      Each validator will be asked to score and comment on the applicant’s ability in each assigned competency, and so must have direct knowledge of the applicant's work, must have provided suitable professional supervision of the applicant throughout the work period being validated, and have reviewed the applicant's work. An indirect manager providing review at a high level may not have adequate familiarity with the work.

        Learn more about validators and what they need to do

          • For technical competencies (category 1):
            • The validator is expected to hold a P.Eng. designation from a Canadian engineering association
              • Validators with a different professional designation may be considered—if their designation has a practice area or scope of practice that includes the applicable competency.
              • This includes professional licensees, professional technologists, professional geoscientists, or professional engineers with an American engineering association.
            • For non-technical competencies (categories 2‑6):
              • A validator with a P.Eng. or who is otherwise a practitioner in engineering is preferred but not required
            • For technical competencies (category 1):
              • If the validator does not hold a P.Eng. with a Canadian engineering association, they are required to be a practitioner in engineering with equivalent credentials to a P.Eng.:
                • have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in an engineering discipline
                • at least 4 years of engineering work experience.
              • Validators should clarify their engineering credentials by providing their résumé
            • For non-technical competencies (categories 2‑6):
              • A validator with a P.Eng. or who is otherwise a practitioner in engineering is preferred but not required
            • Family members or relatives
            • Validators who don’t have direct knowledge of the applicant’s work

          The acceptability of the validator is at the discretion of the APEGA Board of Examiners. The acceptability (education and experience) of the validator is based on when the validation forms are completed, not when the competency is demonstrated.

          Click to download the CBA Guide

          After the applicant has submitted and paid for their application, they must submit the CBAT again. This allow the VRFs to be sent out.