Pregraduate Work Experience for Geoscience Applicants

As of April 11, 2026, all professional geoscientist applicants are required to use the competency-based assessment (CBA) process when applying to APEGA. Read more about this change.

If you started your application before April 11 and have questions about the previous process, please contact [email protected].

If you are applying for a professional member or licensee designation with APEGA, you may receive work experience credit from the APEGA Board of Examiners (BOE) for experience gained before completing your geoscience, geophysics, or geology undergraduate degree.

The BOE may grant up to 12 months of credit for geoscience work you obtained after completing two years of acceptable post-secondary education in geoscience, geophysics, or geology. This experience may be at either a technologist or professional level.

Pregraduate work experience credit can only be granted once you are academically qualified. The review of this credit is separate from the academic review.

Types of Work Experience Credit

There are two categories of pregraduate work experience.

  • Co-op and internship programs
  • Summer work or other work experience

Requesting Pregraduate Work Experience Credit

To request pregraduate work experience credit, complete and submit a Work Experience Record (WER) covering the period of your pregraduate work experience. Complete the form as follows.

  1. In the top section, provide the following information:
    1. your employer’s name
    2. the dates you worked for that employer
    3. your position title
    4. the country in which you did the work
    5. your supervisor’s name and designation
    6. the name and designation of the reference who took responsibility for your work
    7. your reference’s contact information (email or mailing address)
  2. Select either Employed – Full Time or Employed – Part Time in the drop-down menu. Do not select Student for this work record.
  3. Enter a brief overview of the position.
    1. Indicate whether the pregraduate experience was at a professional level, a technical level, or both. If both, divide the total months between professional and technical experience.
  4. Provide details of your position at the professional level, technical level, or both.

Part-time experience that overlaps academic studies is typically not considered as acceptable experience.