CBA-User-Guide
CBA-User-Guide
T: 780-426-3660
TF: 800-661-7020 (North America)
E: [email protected]
W: www.apega.ca
Publication History
Version Revision
1.0 Initial version
2.0 Update to content
3.0 Update due to change in system
4.0 Updating format of guide
5.0 Updating content
6.0 Updating content
7.0 Updating content
7.1 Updating wording due to changes
7.2 Update to mailing address
CBA is not for applicants applying for the Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.),
Professional Licensee (P.L.), Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) or Geoscientist-in-Training
(G.I.T.) designations. For these designations, refer to their specific guidelines on the
Apply section of the APEGA website.
2. Confirm the dates of their employment with their current and previous employers.
3. Contact all potential validators and references to ensure they are prepared to be
a part of the application process and they are aware of the tight timelines and
requirements. Applicants will also need to ensure that all contact information is
correct. References and validators who cannot be contacted will delay the
application.
Selecting Validators
Applicants must provide the names and email addresses for a minimum of one validator
for each company or organization during the timeframe provided. A validator is a
Professional Member or practitioner who may be a supervisor, mentor, manager,
colleague, or client. It is expected that if the competencies have been earned in Canada
they are validated by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.). A minimum of 3 validators must
be used for each application.
A printable summary of the results will appear in an applicant’s myAPEGA portal after it
has been submitted. The results will provide an average for each competency category
with a comparison to APEGA’s minimum requirements.
The CSAW is only a self-assessment. The results will not be used on any official
APEGA form or application, nor will they affect an application. APEGA staff cannot view
or access the form or results and will not review, advise, mentor, or comment on the
results. The CSAW scores may differ from the official APEGA competency assessment.
If applicants would like to use the text from the CSAW in their official application, the
information must be saved into a word document for later. The CSAW document does
not need to be submitted for your application as it’s only a tool to assist you in planning.
Applicants filling out the WRVL must explain any overlaps in work timeframes as they
are most often not accepted. Work experience should indicate whether the role was full-
or part-time. Applicants listing part-time experience should include the number of hours
worked during this time-period to avoid application delays.
NOTE: This is not a duplication of job description or position as defined by the
company, but the applicant’s specific area of work.
A reference is a manager, human resources staff, or other individuals who can confirm
the applicant’s employment history. Professional designation is not mandatory. In most
cases the listed validator may also be the most appropriate reference.
When an applicant is using the same employer for multiple work records, only one
reference to confirm the employment period is required.
References are responsible for:
• Confirming in the Modified Reference Questionnaire (MRefQ) the applicant’s
employment at the company or organization during the specific times listed.
• Confirming an applicant’s time working in a role.
• Filling in and returning MRefQ’s presented to them.
Validators
Any validator who is not a P.Eng. must explain how they are a practitioner in
engineering. This may include providing their engineering qualification (engineering
degree and professional designation). This information will be requested from the
validator by the Registration Program Coordinator (RPC) during processing, which may
include proof of academic and engineering credentials.
Family members and relatives are not acceptable as references or validators.
Applicants are expected to identify when a validator or reference is a family member.
Acceptability of the reference or validator is at the discretion of the APEGA Board of
Examiners.
Validators are responsible for:
• Reviewing and confirming they have witnessed and supervised the work associated
with the applicant’s example. (i.e., the applicant did what was described, particularly
• Work Record: Applicants must list the company name, position, work period dates,
country, and overview.
• Work Record Reference: Applicants must determine who can reference the time at
that company or organization during the timeframe provided.
Key Competencies
The competency categories are further divided into key competencies. There are 22 key
competencies that are skills or knowledge that APEGA has identified as crucial to the
professional practice of engineering. They are based on an applicant’s decisions,
behaviours, or application of skill or knowledge to different engineering situations. Each
key competency has a set of indicators for the applicant to meet.
Levels of Competency
The competency scoring scale measures the level of overall competence, not the level
of success an applicant achieved in a specific situation. The example reinforces the
score. The score is not about the example.
As illustrated in the schematic below, the applicant must be demonstrating a
competence level at entry-to-practice, demonstrating they will no longer require
supervision to complete their engineering tasks.
Scoring
There are five levels of scoring for each key competency. A score of three (3) indicates
a readiness to assume professional engineering responsibilities for independent
practice. A score of five (5) is typically attained by one who has been practising for
several years and has strong depth and breadth of experience using professional
judgement in one’s activities. Most applicants will not achieve this level.
Technical Competencies
Category 1 – Required Category Score: 3
The scoring system for applicants’ abilities in technical aspects of their work is:
Level 0: Little or no exposure to the competency
Level 1: Training Level: a general appreciation and awareness of the competency
is required
Level 2: Requires knowledge and understanding of objectives: uses standard
engineering methods and techniques in solving problems
Level 3: Carries out assignment of moderate scope and complexity; is typically
seen to be prepared to assume professional engineering responsibilities
Level 4: Carries out responsible and varied assignments requiring general
familiarity with a broad field of engineering and knowledge
Level 5: Uses mature engineering knowledge, independent accomplishments, and
coordination of difficult and responsible assignments
Non-Technical Competencies
Categories 2, 4 & 5 – Required Category Score: 3
Categories 3 & 6 – Required Category Score: <2
The scoring system for applicants’ competency in communication, financial and project
management, team effectiveness, professional accountability, and social, economic,
and environmental accountability is:
Providing Examples
Applicants should be as specific as possible when filling out each key competency. Both
the competency description and indicators provide guidance on what the APEGA Board
of Examiners are looking for. Copying a job description or simply repeating back the
indicators is insufficient. They should include specific examples from the applicant’s
own work. Applicants should focus on their personal contributions to a situation, the
solution, and the steps taken.
If the example was within a group context, applicants should be sure to focus on their
own personal contributions to the solution and outline their thought process and any
specific knowledge applied to the situation. Applicants should write in the first-
person (using “I” statements instead of “we”). It is important to show ownership
and responsibility for work contributions, even if working as part of a group or
team. Applications will be stronger if applicants highlight situations demonstrating
competencies for which they were leading the work. The BOE must assess whether
applicants are competent to practise independently. It is important for applicants to
mention what they did, how they did it, and why they did it.
Applicants should use a unique case for each competency to help demonstrate breadth
and depth of their experience.
In some cases, applicants may wish to indicate how they might have approached the
situation differently. They should give examples for all roles and should use as many
different examples as possible. They should leave enough room to sufficiently explain
the contribution to each situation in the Action section of the form. Each competency
should contain only one example – it should be the strongest example - rather than
listing several examples for each competency. A list of brief overviews is not considered
sufficient. Examiners have no previous knowledge of this work and can only make
assessments based on the evidence provided.
Applicants should not focus on the details of the project (e.g., location budget) but rather
focus on their own contributions. This should include how they used professional
engineering judgement.
• Validator: The individual who will be reviewing and providing feedback on the
applicant’s self-assessment for the specific competency, and who had direct
knowledge and supervision of the applicant’s work.
• Outcome: The solution, product, process, or other outcome that resulted from the
applicant’s actions.
Application Submission
Once all application submission requirements have been completed, applications are
sent for a multi-stage regulatory review administered by APEGA’s Registration
Department. This process is in support of the Board of Examiners (BOE), the decision-
making body on all applications. The BOE decision on the application will be emailed to
the applicant’s primary email address on file by the end of the month following the
Board meeting. BOE meetings typically occur monthly.
Once all competency pages have been received and your application is processing, one
final summary/confirmation email will be sent to each validator (Validator Overall
Reference Form – VORF). This needs to be completed for your application to continue.
How will I know what competencies/categories I failed?
After the APEGA Board of Examiners have reviewed, and made a decision on, the
application, you will receive an official decision letter stating if any competencies were
failed and require more information. You can then either submit a Reassessment
updating the failed categories, or gain more experience and submit a Request for
Update at a later period.
I submitted 48 months of experience but was told I need to submit 12 more
months?
Once you feel you have gained the X number of months requested by the APEGA
Board of Examiners, you may submit a Request for Update with the additional
experience.