Becoming an Engineer

What is an engineer? Engineers are problem solvers. They use math, science and good judgement to create new products and design new ways of doing things. You'll find engineers in nearly every area of life. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet Premier Leonid Breshnev were both engineers. Canadian astronauts Marc Garneau and Julie Payette are engineers as is Canadian businessman Peter Munk. Steven Jobs creator of the Apple computer graduated as an engineer.

Becoming an engineer takes several steps. First, you have to sign up for science and math courses in high school - and get goods grades in them. From high school, you then attend an accredited university engineering program. There are 35 universities in Canada offering engineering programs. The university admissions office, your guidance counsellor and engineering association can give you more information on the various engineering career paths. Graduates of an engineering program receive their Iron Ring that is worn on the little finger of the working hand.

Most engineers take one more step, they become a Professional Engineer, a P.Eng. Engineering, like medicine and law, is a self-regulated profession. This means the profession is responsible for overseeing the conduct of its members, and for establishing practice guidelines, professional standards and codes of ethics for them to follow.

To do this, engineering regulatory associations have been established in each province and territory of Canada. Licensed engineers can use the designation "P. Eng." ("ing." in Quebec) after their names. P. Eng. stands for "professional engineer".

To become a professional engineer, university graduates register with their provincial/territorial association of professional engineers. They become an EIT (Engineer-in-Training) or MIT (Member-in-Training). Depending on the requirements of the association, after two to four years of experience under the supervision of a P.Eng, the candidates take an exam on ethics and law. If they pass, they are granted the P.Eng. designation and the license to practice engineering.