When I first decided to move to Canada and work as an engineer in Saskatchewan, I thought my degree and years of experience would be enough. After all, I had worked on major infrastructure projects back home, led teams, and even managed budgets for large-scale developments.
But when I started looking into how to get licensed in Canada, I came across something called the APEGS Assessment — and more specifically, the APEGS Competency Assessment , also known as the Competency Based Assessment (CBA) .
At first, I didn’t understand why this was necessary. “I’ve been working as an engineer for years — isn’t that proof enough?” I thought.
But after going through the process myself, I realized just how important it really is — not only for licensing, but for proving that you’re ready to contribute safely and professionally to Canada’s engineering community.
Let me walk you through what I learned and why the APEGS Assessment matters more than I originally gave it credit for.
What Is the APEGS Assessment?
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientrists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) is the regulatory body responsible for licensing engineers and geoscientists in the province.
Their main goal? To ensure that every licensed professional meets Canadian standards of competence, ethics, and public safety.
That’s where the APEGS Competency Assessment comes in.
This is part of the larger Competency Based Assessment (CBA) process. It’s designed to evaluate whether your education and work experience match what’s expected of a Canadian-trained engineer.
In other words, it’s not just about what you did — it’s about how you did it, why you made certain decisions, and what impact those decisions had.
Why the APEGS Assessment Matters
Here are a few things I wish I’d known earlier:
🔐 Public Safety Comes First
Engineering affects everyone — from the buildings we live in to the roads we drive on. That’s why APEGS makes sure every engineer applying to work in Saskatchewan has the right knowledge and skills to protect public safety.
They don’t just want to know you can do the job — they want to know you’ll do it safely, ethically, and responsibly.
And honestly, that gives me peace of mind knowing that every licensed engineer in Saskatchewan has gone through the same thorough review.
🧠 Validates Your Engineering Skills
Even if you studied abroad or gained most of your experience on the job, APEGS wants to see that your skills line up with Canadian expectations.
The Competency Based Assessment helps them understand how your background translates into practice in Canada — which is especially important if you’re coming from a different education system or workplace culture.
For me personally, going through the CBA process helped me reflect on my own growth as an engineer and clearly demonstrate my abilities in a structured way.
📚 Ensures You Understand Canadian Standards
One thing I didn’t expect was how much emphasis APEGS places on understanding Canadian codes, regulations, and professional conduct.
The APEGS Competency Assessment doesn’t just look at technical knowledge — it checks that you understand how to work within the Canadian framework, including:
- Ethical responsibilities
- Environmental awareness
- Team collaboration
- Communication standards
This was a great learning experience for me. Even though I was experienced, going through the Competency Based Assessment helped me better understand how engineering works in Canada — and how I could adapt quickly once I moved.
💼 Opens the Door to Licensure
Without passing the APEGS Assessment , you can’t become a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Saskatchewan.
If you want to stamp drawings, take legal responsibility for engineering decisions, or apply for jobs that require full licensure, you need to go through this process.
And trust me — it’s worth it.
Once I passed the Competency Based Assessment , I was able to proceed with the final steps of my application, including the Professional Practice Exam (PPE) and official licensing.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just another immigrant with experience — I was a fully recognized engineer in Canada.
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