DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL

ENGINEER
APPLICATION GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2015
GUIDE Designated Structural Engineer Application Guide

DATE OF GUIDE November 2015

APPROVED BY Council (March 2002)

FOREWARD
The following is the text of the motions passed by Council:

“the following scope of practice be approved in principle for the Designated Structural Engineer:

The services of a Designated Structural Engineer will be required by those who wish to become the
structural engineer of record for Part 3 Buildings as defined in the BC Building Code, the Vancouver
Building Bylaw and the National Building Code of Canada.”

[Buildings defined in Part 3 (Part 3 Buildings) are structurally designed in accordance with Part 4 of
the BC Building Code, Vancouver Building Bylaw, and National Building Code of Canada.]

Following a positive by-law amendment vote by the APEGBC membership, the designation
Structural Engineer of Record (SER) was renamed 'Designated Structural Engineer' (Struct.Eng.)
effective January 1, 2004.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWARD ............................................................................................................................................. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................. 2
1. DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ....................................................................... 3
What is the role of a structural engineer of record? ............................................................. 3
Who Should Apply to be a Designated Structural Engineer? ............................................... 3
2. QUALIFICATION FOR DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER (Struct.Eng.) ............. 4
Acceptable Qualifying Experience....................................................................................... 4
Presentation of Experience ................................................................................................. 5
Structural Engineering Examinations .................................................................................. 5
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Chartered Membership (Part 3) Examination ... 6
BC Codes and Practices Examination ................................................................................. 6
3. THE PROCESS: TIMING, AND ORDER OF EXAMINATIONS........................................... 7
4. FEES (all fees include applicable taxes) ......................................................................... 7
5. CONTINUING COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS.............................................................. 7
Continuing Professional Development................................................................................. 8
Reinstatement of the Struct.Eng. Designation ..................................................................... 8
APPENDIX A: CONTINUING COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER OF RECORD DESIGNATION ................................................................................. 9
Six Activity Categories ........................................................................................................ 9
APPENDIX B: SEISMIC DESIGN GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 12

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 1. DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

The qualification of Designated Structural Engineer (Struct.Eng.) improves public safety in the
structural design of buildings. The services of a Designated Structural Engineer is required by those
who wish to act as the structural engineer of record for Part 3 Buildings as defined in the BC Building
Code, the Vancouver Building Bylaw and the National Building Code of Canada. The Struct.Eng.
designation is supported by legislation in the form of Bylaw 11(h) (1) of the Engineers and
Geoscientists Act.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OF RECORD?

A structural engineer of record is the Professional Engineer responsible for the structural design of
the building Primary Structural System and for assuring that all structural design is undertaken as is
necessary to achieve a building Primary Structural System that has structural integrity and that
meets acceptable engineering standards. The Primary Structural System is the combination of
elements supporting a building’s self-weight and the applicable live load based on occupancy, use,
and environmental loads such as wind, snow and seismic forces. (Building means any structure
used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.)

WHO SHOULD APPLY TO BE A DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER?

Only those who wish to act as the structural engineer of record for Part 3 Buildings as defined by
the British Columbia Building Code, the Vancouver Building Bylaw, and the National Building Code
of Canada, will be required to obtain the Designated Structural Engineer (Struct.Eng.) designation.
Under the current BC Building Code, the Part 3 buildings would include those as described by
Clause 2.1.2.1(1) (a) and (b) of the BC Building Code.

The professional seal and Struct.Eng. stamp of a registered Struct.Eng. will be required on all
structural drawings and Letters of Assurance submitted for a building permit in those municipalities
that specify this requirement. A Struct.Eng. is required to be the Engineer of Record to sign
drawings and the Letters of Assurance for each applicable building project.

A Designated Structural Engineer not be required for:

 Part 9 Buildings;
 Structural components of Part 9 Buildings that are designed under Part 4;
 Structures which are outside the scope of the British Columbia Building Code, the Vancouver
Building Bylaw, or the National Building Code of Canada; or
 Components that are not part of the Primary Structural System, e.g. support, anchorage and
seismic restraint of electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems and architectural components,
etc.

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2. QUALIFICATION FOR DESIGNATED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER (STRUCT.ENG.)

In order to meet the requirements for Struct.Eng. Applicants must:

1. Be registered as a professional engineer in BC;

2. Demonstrate six years of significant post-graduation structural engineering experience, including
two years in responsible charge of significant engineering work (see page 6: Acceptable
Qualifying Experience);
3. Nominate four referees who must complete the Designated Structural Engineer Reference Form
and submit it directly to the association. Candidates will send the reference forms to each
referee, with a copy of the account of their experience. Referees are required to be registered
or licensed professional engineers or chartered engineers practicing in the field of structural
engineering and should have a detailed knowledge of the applicant’s work. Generally, at least
one of the referees should not be employed in the same firm as the candidate;
4. Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development;
5. Have completed one of the following requirements:

a. Be eligible for license, having passed examination as a Structural Engineer in an approved

U.S. jurisdiction (California and Washington State). Structural Engineer (S.E.) license
holders who have completed the Structural II and Structural III examinations in other U.S.
jurisdictions will also be considered); or

b. Have successfully completed the Washington State Structural III Examination; or

c. Have successfully completed the IStructE Chartered Membership (Part 3) Examination; or

d. Have successfully completed the NCEES Structural Exam

6. Successfully complete the BC Codes and Practices Examination;

7. Pay all associated fees and dues.

ACCEPTABLE QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE

Candidates must be able to demonstrate six years of significant post-graduation structural

engineering experience, including two years in responsible charge of significant engineering work.
This experience may include time spent as an Engineer-in-Training and experience gained during
post-graduate studies.

To be significant, structural engineering work must:

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1. Represent an application of the knowledge of structural engineering that goes beyond standard
solutions found in manuals of practice;
2. Be done in an environment where the engineer has worked with at least two materials and has
assumed a significant part of the overall structural engineering responsibility for the project;
3. Demonstrate responsibility for structural design of Part 3 Buildings (those as described by Clause
2.1.2.1(1) (a) and (b) of the 2006 BC Building Code), or an equivalent code approved by the
associations Structural Qualifications Board;
4. Demonstrate experience with the design of buildings in significant seismic regions. Refer to
Appendix B for more information.

PRESENTATION OF EXPERIENCE

Applicants are to include with their application a summary of experience that includes the following:
1. A chronological list of employers and positions held.
2. A structural project list specifying project name, date and your position. The description must
indicate clearly your responsibilities on each project.
3. Detailed information about three projects for which you have acted as the 'structural engineer of
record' or have had a significant part of the overall structural engineer’s responsibility for the
project. The information must indicate clearly your responsibilities on each project.
4. A list of continuing professional development activities.

If the candidate has not completed an application within a period of two years, the candidate may be
required to submit updated experience information and references.

Please review the Seismic Design Guidelines when choosing your sample projects (Appendix B)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING EXAMINATIONS

U.S. State Board Structural Engineer License & Examinations

A candidate may qualify by completing U.S. State Licensing Board examinations such as the NCEES
Structural Exam. Candidates must successfully pass both Modules A and B in order to use the exam
for the Struct.Eng. designation.

Washington State Structural III Examination

Washington State no longer offers the Structural III Examination. If you have previously passed
this examination, you can use the WA SE III exam to fulfill part of the technical requirements.
Please arrange to have confirmation of your passed examination sent directly to the association
from Washington State.

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Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Chartered Membership (Part 3) Examination

Qualifying for Membership in the Institution of Structural Engineers

The association has entered into an agreement with the IStructE, whereby candidates wishing to
qualify for Struct.Eng. by completing the IStructE Chartered Membership (Part 3) Examination may
complete the requirements for Chartered Membership with the IStructE through the association and
concurrently with obtaining their Struct.Eng. designation.

Candidates wishing to apply for Chartered Membership must submit a completed Form M Part 8,
with their application. Information on the benefits of Chartered membership is available on The
Institution of Structural Engineers website.

Writing the Examination

The IStructE has designated the association as an examination centre. Candidates may apply
directly to the association to write the examination, which takes place in the Lower Mainland and
scheduled in April by the IStructE. Institution. Examinations and examiners’ reports from prior years
are available on the IStruct E website.

The IStructE will inform candidates directly of their examination results. This will include
information on reasons for failure, if applicable; the IStructE will also inform candidates of their
qualification for Chartered Membership in the IStructE and for Chartered Engineer Status with the
Engineering Council in the U.K.

BC CODES AND PRACTICES EXAMINATION

This examination will be of approximately six hours' duration and held once per year. It will focus on:
 Seismic requirements
 Wind forces
 BC Building Code requirements
 Current design issues
 Engineering materials (concrete, steel, masonry, wood)

Candidates who fail all or part of the examination will have to reapply for the examination and pay
the full examination fee.

Applicants have the option of taking the examination outside of Lower Mainland British Columbia
with proper supervision. Applicants in Canada can write the examination at Engineers Canada
constituent association/ordre office invigilated by staff. Candidates in the US may write the BC
Codes and Practices Examination at the US State Board under the same conditions. In British
Columbia, applicants have the option of writing the examination with a P.Eng. invigilator.

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It is the responsibility of the candidate to find a suitable P.Eng. or P.E. to invigilate the examination.

 To be eligible to write the examination, the association prior to the exam application deadline
must receive all required documentation.

 Applicants who do not earn their Struct. Eng. designation within five years of writing and
passing the examination are required to re-sit and pass the BC Codes and Practices
Examination in order to become a Designated Structural Engineer.

3. THE PROCESS: TIMING, AND ORDER OF EXAMINATIONS

The process of qualifying for Struct.Eng. is dependent on an applicant’s and their references ability
to submit the required documentation in a timely manner and the length of time it takes the applicant
to pass the required examinations.

Applicants can complete the examinations in any order to accommodate those who wish to complete
the process in as short a time as possible.

In general, it takes up to 12 months for an applicant to go through the application process.

4. FEES (ALL FEES INCLUDE APPLICABLE TAXES)

The association accepts VISA, MasterCard, or American Express. A list of current fees can be
found on the association website

5. CONTINUING COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS

A Designated Structural Engineer for buildings may forego the right to use the designation if the
member fails to maintain active practice rights or meet conditions related to continuing
competency.

 Practicing Struct. Eng. members must accumulate the required number of Professional
Development and Continuing Active Practice Hours (see Appendix I).

 Struct. Eng. Members who declare themselves as non-practicing will have the Struct.Eng.
designation revoked and will need to reapply when they reenter active practice. A member
who stops practicing may voluntarily request revocation.

 Struct.Eng. members who resign their P.Eng. membership, or who fail to pay the annual fee,
will automatically have their Struct.Eng. designation revoked.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Association will require Struct.Eng. members meet the Continuing Professional Development
requirements and complete an additional 20 hours of CPD hours annually, or 60 hours averaged
over a three-year period directly relate to the member’s structural engineering practice area.

Struct. Eng. members are required to report on their CPD activities annually by maintaining their
Continuing Professional Development records through the member portal in the CPD reporting
module.

The Association will review and selectively audit reports to ensure compliance with CPD
requirements. Audits may occur as the result of focus on specific practice areas; or following a
complaint, Practice Review, or Investigation. Revocation of the designation will be considered if
CPD levels are low for three consecutive years. Struct.Eng. members failing to submit reports,
submitting fraudulent reports, or failing to correct deficiencies as directed, will not be entitled to
maintain their Struct.Eng. designation. With the exception of those submitting fraudulent reports, or
contravening the Code of Ethics in any other way, any Struct.Eng. losing his or her designation for
continued low CPD levels, will be considered for reinstatement (see below).

REINSTATEMENT OF THE STRUCT.ENG. DESIGNATION

In order to regain the Designated Structural Engineer designation, it will be necessary for the
member to apply to the Structural Qualifications Board for reinstatement and to pay the associated
fees. This will provide an opportunity to review the reasons for revocation and the reasons for
requesting reinstatement. The Structural Qualifications Board will review and approve applications
for reinstatement and the requirements: at a minimum, the candidate for reinstatement will be
required to write and pass the B.C. Codes and Practices Examination, and to demonstrate suitable
continuing active practice and professional development.

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APPENDIX A: CONTINUING COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER OF RECORD DESIGNATION

PDH = Professional Development Hour

A Designated Structural Engineer:

 Must accumulate at least 150 PDHs over 3 years. (Averaging at least 50 PDHs per year).
 Must be active in at least three of the six categories.
 Can only claim professional development hours that are in the civil/structural and related
disciplines.
 Must list twenty professional development hours per year separate from active practice hours
related to the development of structural engineering knowledge. This time is required in
addition to the PDH total earned in the six activity categories.

SIX ACTIVITY CATEGORIES

1. Continuing Active Practice Requirement (750 hours)

A minimum 750 hours of Structural and related Engineering Practice is required.

2. Continuing Professional Development

(50 PDH required per annum, with 150 PDH over a three-year period)

2.1. Formal Activities

Formal activities are those provided as a structured course or program, often for credit,
occasionally with an evaluation process. Although formal activity is not specifically required, all
members should strive to include some formal activities within their continuing professional
development program. Formal activities could include:

 Courses provided through universities, technical institutes and colleges;

 Industry-sponsored courses, programs and seminars;
 Employer training programs and structured on-the-job training;
 Short courses provided by technical societies, industry or educational institutions.

Every hour spent in attendance at a course, (contact hour) earns one PDH. For courses offering
Continuing Education Units (CEUs), each CEU will equate to 10 PDHs to a maximum of 30 PDHs
per year.

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2.2. Informal Activity

These are activities not normally offered by an educational institution or other non-structured
course, but expand your knowledge, skills or judgment. They include:

 Self-directed study;
 Attendance at conferences, technical sessions, talks, seminars, workshops and industry
trade shows;
 Attendance at meetings of technical, professional or managerial associations or
societies;
 Structured discussion of technical or professional issues with one's peers.

Each hour of informal activity earns one PDH to a maximum of 30 PDHs per year.

2.3. Participation

Activities that promote peer interaction and provide exposure to new ideas and technologies both
enhance the profession and serve the public interest. These activities include:

 Acting as a mentor to a Member-in-Training or other less experienced professional

member or technologist;
 Service on public bodies that draw on your professional expertise (i.e., planning board,
development appeal board, investigative commissions, review panels or community
building committees);
 Activities that contribute to the community which require professional and ethical
behaviour, but not necessarily the application of technical knowledge, including active
service for professional, service, charitable, community or church organizations,
coaching league sports teams, or elected public service on municipal, provincial or
federal levels or school boards (1 PDH per hour of service, a maximum of 10 PDHs per
year may be claimed);
 Service on standing or ad-hoc committees of technical, professional or managerial
associations, or societies.

Each hour of participation activity earns one PDH to a maximum of 20 PDHs per year.

2.4. Presentations

Technical or professional presentations that you make outside your normal job functions.
Both preparation and presentation of material are expected.

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 Presentations within:

 A conference or meeting ;

 A course, workshop or seminar;

 A company or at an event sponsored by a technical or professional organization.

Each hour of participation activity earns one PDH to a maximum of 20 PDHs per year.

2.5. Contributions to Knowledge

Activities that expand or develop the technical knowledge base in the three disciplines of
engineering, geology and geophysics.

Contributions could include:

 Development of published Codes and Standards (one PDH per hour of committee
work);

 Patents (15 PDHs per patent registered);

 Publication of papers in a peer-reviewed technical journal (15 PDHs per paper

published);

 Publication of articles in non-reviewed journals (10 PDHs per article, maximum of

10 PDHs per year may be claimed);

 Reviewing articles for publication (1 PDH per hour of review, a maximum of 10 PDHs
per year may be claimed);

 Editing papers for publication (1 PDH per hour of editing).

A maximum of 30 PDHs this category per year may be claimed.

2.6. Professional Practice

Active professional practice is known to be a significant factor in maintaining and improving

skills, either where you are actually practising according to the legal defi nition as per the
Engineers and Geoscientists Act or “influencing” the practice of the professions. “Influencing”
means having some effect on how the professions are practised without necessarily performing
technical work.

15 hours of work equals one PDH.

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APPENDIX B: SEISMIC DESIGN GUIDELINES
To demonstrate that the applicant has achieved acceptable experience with the seismic design of
buildings in significant seismic regions. The applicant shall provide samples of at least three
building projects, completed in the last five years, that are located in a seismic region with an
importance modified short period design spectral acceleration value of IEFaSa(.2) of not less than
0.35 or equivalent, for which the applicant was significantly involved in the seismic design. All
projects must have a SFRS with a ductility-related force reduction factor, Rd, equal to or greater
than 2 or equivalent.

Each of the projects shall have a minimum building area of greater than 600 m 2. If the building has
a building area of less than or equal to 600 m 2, the seismic design of the building must be designed
entirely under the scope of Part 4 of the BCBC/NBC or equivalent.

For each of the three projects, the following information shall be included:

Seismic design parameters including the site class and site spectral design acceleration values. For
building projects outside of Canada, a demonstration of their seismic equivalencies to the above
stated seismic requirements, IEFaSa(.2) of not less than 0.35 , ductility level and building area.

1. A description of the Structural configuration and foundation issues of the building project.

2. A description of the SFRS and the rationale in its adoption.

3. A description of the seismic load path of the building including the specific load path in the roof
and floor diaphragms of the structure.

4. A description of the method of analysis and the rationale in its adoption.

5. A general description of the seismic issues related to the building projects including system
restrictions, deflection controls and foundation provisions.

6. A set of structural floor plans and related seismic details on pdf files.

For each project, the applicant shall either be the engineer of record of the building design or be
significantly involved in the seismic design of the building structures.

If the applicant is not the engineer of the record of the building structural design, the engineer of
record must confirm that, the applicant was significantly involved in the seismic analyses and
design of the building project.

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