22 Key Competencies & Indicators for CBA Applications

To become a Professional Engineer or Licensee with APEGA, applicants will need to complete a competency-based assessment (CBA). The following descriptions of the 22 key competencies and their indicators will help plan assessment answers. Applicants need to include specific details of their personal work experience for each competency. A copy and paste of the provided indicators will not be accepted.

Read about the Competency-Based Assessment Tool Click to download the CBA Guide

Competency Category 1 – Technical Competence

1.1 Regulation, Codes, and Standards

Demonstrate knowledge of regulations, codes, standards, and safety – this includes local engineering procedures and practices as applicable

Identify and comply with legal and regulatory requirements for project activities
Incorporate knowledge of codes and regulations in design materials
Prepare reports assessing project compliance with codes, standards, and regulations
Recognize the need to design for code compliance and ensure ability to construct, ability to operate and ability to maintain, once constructed

1.2 Project and Design Constraints

Demonstrate knowledge of materials, or operations as appropriate, project and design constraints, design to best fit the purpose or service intended and address inter-disciplinary impacts

Demonstrate knowledge of materials, operations, project, and design constraints (i.e., cost, design, material, labour, time, budget, production)
Demonstrate understanding of, and coordination with, other engineering and professional disciplines

1.3 Risk Identification and Mitigation

Analyze technical risks and offer solutions to mitigate the risks

Demonstrate familiarity with system protection and/or damage/hazard mitigation objectives, philosophies, practices, procedures, and functions
Identify risk areas including causes of risks and their impacts
Develop risk management/mitigation plans
Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between technical risk and public safety issues

1.4 Application of Theory

Apply engineering knowledge to design solutions

Prepare technical specifications
Demonstrate use of theory and calculations to arrive at solutions
Demonstrate the development of a unique design solution that could not be accomplished with a standard design solution

1.5 Solution Techniques

Understand solution techniques and independently verify the results

Demonstrate an understanding of the engineering principles used in the application of computer design programs and show/describe how the results were verified as correct
Participate in an independent review and verification of solution techniques or analysis methods

1.6 Safety Awareness

Be aware of safety risks inherent in the design, and demonstrate safety awareness; on-site and has potential safety authorization/certificate as appropriate

Identify, incorporate, and/or participate in review of safety considerations, procedures, and equipment as they apply to system operations and/or maintenance programs
Demonstrate specific knowledge of safety regulations
Incorporate explicit human and public safety considerations in design and all other professional activities
Understand and account for safety risks associated with processes. Identify relevant protection equipment and process modifications to mitigate safety risks

1.7 Systems and Their Components

Demonstrate understanding of systems and components of systems

Demonstrate an understanding of each element in a process
Demonstrate an understanding of the interactions and constraints in the behaviour of the overall system
Manage processes within the overall system (monitor and, where needed, modify processes to achieve optimum outcomes)

1.8 Project and Life Cycle

Exposure to all stages of the process/project life cycle from concept and feasibility analysis through implementation

Demonstrate awareness of project concerns and roles of other stakeholders in the project stages:

Identification: generation of the initial project idea and preliminary design
Preparation: detailed design of the project addressing technical and operational aspects
Appraisal: analysis of the project from technical, financial, economic, social, institutional, and environmental perspectives
Preparation of specifications and tender documents: preparation of tender document, inviting and opening of tenders, pre-qualification, evaluation of bids, and award of work
Implementation and monitoring: implementation of project activities, with on-going checks on progress and feedback
Evaluation: periodic review of project with feedback for next project cycle

1.9 Quality Control

Understand the concept of quality control during design and construction, including independent design check and independent reviews of design, field checks, and reviews

Conduct checks, including field checks, to verify the validity of design
Complete quality management plan checklist, and follow quality management plan
Prepare quality control plans, including frequency and test parameters, for specific processes or products
Evaluate test results, determine adequacy, and develop recommended action
Demonstrate peer review
Demonstrate completed project, systems, or subsystems meet project objectives in terms of functionality and operational performance

1.10 Engineering Documentation

Transfer design intentions to drawings and sketches; understand transmittal of design

Review designs of others and communicate findings and issues, including suggested alternatives
Demonstrate communication of ideas and concepts to project team members
Demonstrate understanding of the value of project completion reports and lessons learned. Reports to application in future projects by self or others.
Produce sketches, notes, documentation, and design documents to prepare proposals, preliminary, and final design drawings for acceptance by the client and approval by regulatory authorities

Competency Category 2 – Communication

2.1 Oral Communication

Communicate in a simple and concise manner
Communicate official project data with team members, clients, and contractors
Express both technical and non-technical issues and ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical personnel
Present to technical and non-technical groups; presentations to superiors and subordinates; internal (colleagues) and external (clients) presentations
Present project parameters to the public
Demonstrate active participation in and contribution to meetings

2.2 Written Communication

Tailor communications to the intended audience
Ability to write and review technical documents
Ability to write clear memos and reports to both technical and non-technical personnel
Use drawings and sketches to demonstrate key points and concepts
Ability to write a report on a technical subject
Ability to write areport on field observations
Take training in technical report writing
Work with common office software programs and browsers

2.3 Reading and Comprehension

Ability to review technical documents, to understand the implications, and to summarize key points

Competency Category 3 – Project and Financial Management

3.1 Project Management Principles

Awareness of project management principles

Awareness of resource planning, budgeting, change management, scope management, scheduling, and unforeseen issues
Understand the impacts that benefits and risks of various design solutions have on a project
Understand the needs and expectations of internal and external clients

3.2 Finances & Budget

Understand financial aspects of work

Demonstrate cognizance of project budget during design and construction
Provide technical and financial reporting and compare the options
Demonstrate the understanding of the place of finance in business decisions
Understand principles of budgeting and financing
Understand the relevant business processes
Demonstrate an understanding of working with and developing contracts

Competency Category 4 – Team Effectiveness

4.1 Resolve Differences

Work to resolve differences

Demonstrate leadership in achieving team goals and resolving conflict
Work to facilitate beneficial conflict resolution
Exposure to training in conflict resolution

Competency Category 5 – Professionalism

5.1 Professional Accountability

Demonstrate a clear understanding of professional accountability

Apply professional ethics in meeting corporate directives
Gain awareness of your limitations by asking for help as appropriate
Gain awareness of situations that could be a potential conflict of interest and how you effectively managed such situations appropriately
Gain awareness of the potential professional liability involved in all aspects of the design, construction, and inspection process
Gain understanding and awareness of the appropriate use of stamp and seal
Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and know how they apply to your position

Competency Category 6 – Social, Economic, Environmental and Sustainability

6.1 Public Impacts and Safeguards

Demonstrate an understanding of the safeguards required to protect the public and the methods of mitigating adverse impacts

Gain awareness of the potential professional liability involved in all aspects of the design, construction, and inspection process

6.2 Engineering and the Public

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the engineering activity and the public

Recognize the value and benefits of the engineering work to the public
Prepare reports regarding the impact of a project to public

6.3 Role of Regulatory Bodies

Understand the role of regulatory bodies on the practice of engineering

Recognize the importance of respecting the regional traditions and native regulations towards a project
Understand the role and regulations of other professions whose practices overlap or interface with the practice of professional engineering

6.4 Sustainability and Practice Guidelines

Be aware of any specific sustainability initiatives that have been added to practice or project guidelines that apply to your area

Gain awareness and understanding

6.5 Promotions of Sustainability

To the extent possible, recognizing your position of influence, consider how sustainability principles could be applied and promoted in your specific work

Include sustainability analysis in project descriptions
Provide a list of revisions made during the design and implementation period of the project