Apply to APEGA as a Licensee or Professional Member
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].
APEGA offers two application types for individuals who want to become a professional engineer or professional geoscientist: licensee and professional member.
Both application types have the same academic and work experience requirements to practise engineering or geoscience. The difference is that licensees are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Support for Newcomers to Canada
If you are an internationally trained engineer or geoscientist planning to apply to APEGA, resources are available to help you understand the registration process, including academic credential evaluation, application requirements, and steps towards licensure. You can also read success stories from newcomers to Canada who have successfully navigated the application process.
Application Requirements
Before proceeding further, please be sure you have reviewed the requirements for licensure and are eligible to apply, as all application fees are non-refundable.
Requirements to Become a Professional Engineer
To become a professional engineer, you must meet the following competency-based assessment (CBA), academic, and regulatory requirements.
- Have 48 months of engineering work experience
- Demonstrate 22 key competencies
- Provide valid references and validators
Download the CBA Guide for
Professional Engineering Applicants
Additional Requirements
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- Proof of identity
- Competency in written and spoken English
- Completion of National Professional Practice Exam
- Good character and reputation
- Graduation from a university program that is:
- accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, or
- a related program that the Board of Examiners considers equivalent
Requirements to Become a Professional Geoscientist
To become a professional geoscientist, you must meet the following competency-based assessment (CBA), academic, and regulatory requirements.
- Have 48 months of geoscience work experience
- Demonstrate 29 key competencies
- Provide valid references and validators
Download the CBA Guide for
Professional Geoscience Applicants
Additional Requirements
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- Proof of identity
- Competency in written and spoken English
- Completion of the National Professional Practice Exam
- Good character and reputation
- Graduation from a university program that:
- satisfies Geoscientists Canada’s Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada guide, or
- is a related program that the APEGA Board of Examiners considers equivalent
Licensee Requirements
The requirements to become a licensee are the same as those for a professional member, except applicants do not need to have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
Starting your Application With APEGA
You must have 48 months or more of engineering or geoscience experience acceptable to the APEGA Board of Examiners (BOE) to apply to become a licensee or professional member.
If you have fewer than 48 months of engineering or geoscience experience, gained in Canada or internationally, you must apply as a member-in-training.
You are expected to have completed the academic requirements before applying for a licensee or professional member designation. If the academic review identifies a significant deficiency in your application, the BOE may decide not to review your submitted work experience.
To begin your application, you must:
- create an account through myAPEGA
- complete the Determine Your Application Type questionnaire, which will identify the appropriate application to start
- start the online application
Using Artificial Intelligence Tools
APEGA requires the content of all application forms and work experience documents to be detailed and descriptive. You must complete these forms yourself using information from your own work experience. While artificial intelligence (AI) can be a helpful tool, AI-generated content is often generic and may not accurately reflect your individual experience as required by APEGA.
Professional Member and Licensee Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New applicants (not members-in-training) | $500 |
| Current APEGA members-in-training | $325 |
| P.Eng. or P.Geo. registered in another Canadian province or territory | $250 |
| Registering a second designation | $500 |
| Changing designation | $500 |
| Former APEGA licensed professional reinstatement | See Return to Practice |
These prices do not include GST and are subject to change. Application fees are non-refundable.
How to Pay Your Application Fees
The easiest and quickest way to pay is online! You can submit payment in the following ways.
Log in to myAPEGA and pay by credit card.
Visa, Mastercard, or American Express
Call 1-800-661-7020 and pay by credit card.
Visa, Mastercard, or American Express
Pay via online banking.
Payee: APEGA
Account number: your APEGA ID or Permit Number
Mail or bring a cheque to the APEGA office.
Payable to APEGA, with your APEGA ID or Permit Number on the cheque
APEGA does not accept cash payments, and we cannot process credit card or debit payments at our office. If you are unable to pay your dues using one of the methods listed above, please contact [email protected].
Application Deadlines
The application process has several stages with deadlines that must be met.
1. Application completion
Once you start an application in myAPEGA, you have 90 days to complete all 12 steps in the online application system and pay the application fee. If you do not complete your application within this time, it will be deleted.
2. Outstanding requirements (post-payment)
After paying the application fee, you have 90 days to submit any outstanding requirements. If the requirements are not received within this time, your application will be withdrawn.
3. Final documentation
Once your application is assigned to an APEGA Registration staff member, you have 90 days to provide all final documentation as instructed. You can view outstanding documentation requirements in the online application system within the myAPEGA portal. If the required documentation is not received within this time, your application will be withdrawn. APEGA staff may request additional documentation.
Application fees are non-refundable.
How to Reduce Delays Throughout the Application and Review Process
To help avoid delays, ensure that:
- your full name and APEGA ID are included with all documents and correspondence
- your application includes all current phone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses
- you check your application status in the myAPEGA portal to see if any information is outstanding
- you submit outstanding documentation as soon as possible
Academic Documents
Ensure your application includes all relevant academic records. Depending on your academic background, this may include:
- conferred1 undergraduate degree transcript
- conferred postgraduate degree transcript
- conferred technology diploma
- non-engineering or non-geoscience degree, diploma, or university-level courses
- university entrance exams or A-level exams
- transcript2 showing all transfer credits
- certificate of graduation3
- legal name-change documentation
- World Education Services Course-by-Course International Credential Advantage Package report for education obtained outside of Canada
APEGA must receive all academic documents directly from your academic institution in an unopened envelope clearly marked with the institution's official seal or stamp. APEGA also accepts these documents through secure digital distribution platforms.
Documents That Are Not Accepted
APEGA does not accept:
- in-house training certificates
- published journals or papers
- class or university ranks or distinctions
- Conferral or conferred means that the degree has been awarded officially.
- A transcript is a list of all post-secondary courses taken, including the grades received and the degree awarded.
- A certificate of graduation confirms the degree completed and the date of graduation. If a transcript does not list the degree or date of graduation, you must request a certificate of graduation from your institution.
Checking Your Application Status
You can check the status of your application or update your contact information by logging into the myAPEGA portal. If any documents are missing, they will be listed as not received or incomplete.
If you have questions, you can email the Registration department at [email protected].
Licensee and Professional Member Application Process
1. Start Your Application
Start your application by visiting the myAPEGA portal, creating an account, and completing the Determine Your Application Type questionnaire.
After completing the questionnaire, select your application category and discipline to begin your application.
Once you start your application, the required documentation may vary depending on the application type.
2. Submit Your Requirements
Submit all required documents through the myAPEGA portal.
After you submit all requirements, APEGA places your application in a queue to be assigned to a Registration staff member.
3. Initial Staff Screening
A Registration staff member will screen the documents you submitted to confirm they are complete. They may request additional information. You are responsible for providing all required documents.
4. Professional Review
After the initial review, APEGA forwards your application to a professional engineer or professional geoscientist within the Registration team for further review.
If additional information is required, the application may return to the Registration staff member, who will contact you.
5. Academic Review
During the academic review, an academic examiner evaluates your provided education. For more information about required education documents, review the Academic Documentation requirements page.
The APEGA Board of Examiners (BOE) may require you to write exams if you are not a graduate of an academic program that:
- is recognized by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (engineering applicants only),
- satisfies Geoscientists Canada’s Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada guide (geoscience applicants only), or
- is a related program the BOE considers equivalent
During this stage, multiple academic examiners may review your application.
6. Experience Review
Your application will be reviewed for work experience and demonstrated competencies.
An examiner will review the type, quality, duration, and recency of your work experience and will provide a recommendation to the BOE for review and decision.
At this stage of the process, your application may be reviewed by multiple examiners.
7. Board of Examiners Decision
The BOE makes the final decision based on the information in your application.
- The BOE meets once per month, excluding July, and decides whether to approve, defer, or refuse licensure.
- The BOE meeting dates are not available to the public.
- APEGA staff do not release decisions over the phone.
- You will receive the decision by email by the end of the month following the BOE meeting.
Communicating with APEGA
APEGA uses a detailed and thorough review process to protect the public and maintain high professional standards. The length of the review process may vary depending on your application and the completeness of the information you provide.
APEGA provides estimated review timelines for each application type.
We understand that application delays can be frustrating. While maintaining high standards, we make every effort to process applications as efficiently as possible.
APEGA fosters an environment of respect. Our staff members communicate in a professional, prompt, and courteous manner, and we expect the same level of professionalism from those we serve.
Document Retention
APEGA is committed to protecting the security of your information.
You have 90 days to complete and pay for your application. If you do not submit and pay for your application within this period, APEGA will withdraw your application and you will need to apply again. For privacy and security reasons, APEGA does not transfer information between applications.
Once you submit your application, all associated documents—including transcripts, World Education Services reports, work experience forms, reference forms, and validator forms—become the property of APEGA and will not be returned to you, a member, or any third party. This applies to original, copied, and electronic documents.