Environmental engineering registration in Canada - The expectations of theprofessional engineer working in this field

The practice of environmental engineering in Canada is regulated by the 12 individual provincial and territorial associations/ordre, who are also memb ers of the national Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE). Alth ough CCPE has no regulatory authority over the engineering profession in it s own right, it is responsible for establishing national guidelines for reg istration and for accrediting university engineering programs. The criteria for professional registration in Canada are presented in detail and includ e both educational and experience components. The educational requirements can be met through graduation from a Canadian Engineering Accreditation Boa rd approved environmental engineering degree program or by passing mandator y examinations assigned by the individual associations/ordre from CCPE's na tional Environmental Engineering Syllabus. Generally a minimum of four year s of satisfactory engineering experience, which has been supervised by a pr ofessional engineer who takes direct responsibility for the work carried ou t, is required. Public interest and public protection go hand in hand with the concept of professional registration for environmental engineers. Probl ems encountered by the associations/ordre in reviewing environmental engine ering registration applications are discussed, and the approach taken by th e Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columb ia (by example) in addressing these problems is reviewed. Environmental eng ineering requires a wide range of knowledge in both engineering and science , as well as effective communication skills. Life-long learning is essentia l to the profession, particularly considering the rapid introduction of new technologies and the advances occurring in scientific and engineering know ledge in the environmental sector.