Certified Engineering Technologist

Certified Engineering Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as C.E.T., most Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer this certification. Certification is voluntary and does not represent a provincial regulatory requirement or a statutory required license.

Definition

The ASET website defines a Certified Engineering Technologist as

"A professional, who through academic training and experience in the application of engineering or scientific principles, is capable of assuming responsibility and exercising independent judgement in the practice of engineering or applied science technology.

Carries out a wide range of complex work, either independently or under general direction.

Typical activities include design, production, marketing, testing, quality control, estimating, surveying, inspection, diagnostic evaluation, supervision, management, technical sales and teaching. Such activities may be carried out in association with other professionals.

Uses an applied approach based on a comprehensive understanding of a specific technology.

Evaluates assignments, determines procedures and implements solutions, schedules work to meet objectives, participates in short- and long-range planning, and may become involved in developing and promoting conceptual change.

May assume managerial or administrative responsibility for a wide range of technical endeavours.

May supervise and coordinate a diverse working group and train less experienced technical and professional staff."

Requirements for certification

Each province's certifying body is responsible for determining the standards by which Engineering Technologists are certified. However, most jurisdictions do have some commonalities:

Legislation & Professional organizations

Certified Engineering Technologist abbreviated "C.E.T." Registered Engineering Technologist abbreviated "R.E.T." and Applied Science Technologist", abbreviated "A.Sc.T." are voluntary certifications and are not a provincial regulatory requirement or a statutory required license, there is no legal requirement for membership. Certification is managed individually by each province. In Alberta Professional Technologists abbreviated "P.Tech" are required to have a limited license to practice professional engineering within a defined scope.

Certification is protected and managed by provincial law.

Nova Scotia

Certification is managed by a council of The Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Nova Scotia, also called "TechNova Certified Technology Professionals". Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics[3]

The society is mandated and empowered by the Applied Science Technology Act of Nova Scotia.[4]

Prince Edward Island

Certification is managed by Island Technology Professionals. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics[5]

There is not currently a specific applied science technology act or engineering technology act in Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

Certification is managed by the Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Newfoundland and Labrador. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics[6]

There doesn't appear to be a specific applied science technology act or engineering technology act in Newfoundland.

Quebec

Certification in Quebec is called "Professional Technologist", or "technologue professionel" status. Unlike Alberta's Professional Technologist (Engineering) designation, which is a limited license to practice professional engineering within a limited scope, Quebec's Professional Technologist designation is equivalent to a CET designation and thus is not a license to practice professional engineering.

Certification is managed by the Ordre des Technologues Professionnels du Quebec.[7]

Members are governed by the "Code des professions du Québec"[8] and the "Code de déontologie des technologues professionnels",[9] and perform according to accepted norms and standards in the industry.

Ontario

Certification is managed by the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics and rules of professional conduct.[10]

The association is mandated and empowered by the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Act of Ontario.[11]

Manitoba

Certification is managed by the Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics and rules of professional conduct.[12]

The association is mandated and empowered by the Certified Applied Science Technologists Act of Manitoba[13]

Saskatchewan

Certification in Saskatchewan is called "Applied Science Technologist", abbreviated "A.Sc.T."

Certification is managed by the Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists & Technicians. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics and rules of professional conduct.[14]

The association is mandated and empowered by the Technologists and Technicians act of Saskatchewan.[15]

Alberta

Certification is managed by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics and rules of professional conduct.,[16] as well as a set of bylaws[17] and regulations[18]

In addition to certification, ASET is able to provide a "Professional Technologist" designation, which makes that person eligible to practice engineering within a scope of practice specified by a board of examiners.[19]

Unlike other provinces, Alberta authorizes the creation of ASET and the regulation of the title of Engineering Technologist in their Engineering and Geoscience Professions act[20]

British Columbia

Certification in British Columbia is called "Applied Science Technologist", abbreviated "A.Sc.T."

Certification is managed by The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia. Certified professionals are bound by a specific code of ethics and rules of professional conduct.[21]

In addition to certification, British Columbia is laying the framework for acceptance of a "Professional Technologist" designation similar to Alberta. They are not currently capable of granting the license, but they do recognize licenses from Alberta.

The association is mandated and empowered by the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act of British Columbia.[22] However, they are looking to Alberta's "One Act, two organizations" model to better serve the public interest.

Nunavut

Nunavut has no professional association for the occupation of engineering technologist.[23]

As well, they do not appear to have an act regarding the profession of engineering technology.

Yukon Territory

The Yukon Territory does not appear to have a professional association for the occupation of engineering technologist.

As well, they do not appear to have an act regarding the profession of engineering technology.

Northwest Territory

The Northwest territory does not appear to have a professional association for the occupation of engineering technologist.

As well, they do not appear to have an act regarding the profession of engineering technology.

Engineering technologist in the Northwest Territories are regulated by the Alberta association.

Rights and responsibilities

Certification is a provincial jurisdiction, so the rights and responsibilities of Certified Engineering Technologists can vary.

Code of Ethics

In every province, certified engineering technologists are required to follow the professional code of ethics laid out by the certifying body.

The code of ethics can vary from province to province, but the following is representative of what is contained in many province's code of ethics:

  1. Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and the promotion of health and safety within the workplace;
  2. Undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience;
  3. Provide an opinion on a professional subject only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge and honest conviction;
  4. Act with integrity towards clients or employers, maintain confidentiality and avoid a conflict of interest but, where such conflict arises, fully disclose the circumstances without delay to the employer or client;
  5. Uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for the performance of their work;
  6. Keep informed to maintain proficiency and competence, to advance the body of knowledge within their discipline and further opportunities for the professional development of their associates;
  7. Conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy and good faith towards clients, colleagues and others, give credit where it is due and accept, as well as give, honest and fair professional comment;
  8. Present clearly to employers and clients the possible consequences if professional decisions or judgments are overruled or disregarded;
  9. Report to the appropriate agencies any hazardous, illegal or unethical professional decisions or practices by other members or others; and
  10. Promote public knowledge and appreciation of applied science and engineering technology and protect the Association from misrepresentation and misunderstanding.

Failure to follow the code of ethics can result in loss of certification, as well as fines from the certifying body.

Ability to practice Engineering

In all provinces and territories, it is unlawful to practice Professional engineering and hold yourself as a Professional Engineer without a license to practice. However, some provinces provide exemptions allowing certified engineering technologists to practice under certain circumstances.

Right to use of title

In Canada, The title of C.E.T., which is used as a post-nominal, is generally protected by provincial legislation. One cannot use the title or hold that one is a Certified Engineering Technologist unless so certified, by a provincial body associated with the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists, unless stipulated otherwise by provincial legislation.

In some provinces this title may be replaced with Applied Science Technologist (AScT), Registered Engineering Technologist (RET), or more recently Professional Technologist (P.Tech) to more closely align with Professional Engineers who use the title (P.Eng).

The 1995 agreement on internal trade (amended since), agreed upon by all provinces except Nunavut, lays out the general principles of transferability of professional certifications between provinces.[38] Specifically, chapter 7 spells out the principles of professional certification[39]

Internationally, transferability of this title by members of Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists affiliated associations is governed by the Sydney Accord.

Unlike the Red Seal Journeyman certification, which is automatically and freely recognized in all provinces and territories, Membership in one provincial organization does not automatically and freely provide the ability to use the C.E.T. designation in all provinces. For example, in the province of Ontario, being a member of the Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba does not provide the ability to use the C.E.T. title in Ontario. The options available are to either transfer their membership to the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, or to maintain a membership in both provinces.[40]

Alberta and British Columbia have the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement, which allows professionals and tradesmen certified in one province to use their title in the other province.[41]

References

  1. http://www.cctt.ca/template.asp?id=F60583723BDA4742BE78AC5008C3AE8E CCTT page on quebec
  2. http://www.cttam.com/site/newcomers5?nav=03 Technology report for newcomers to Canada
  3. http://www.technova.ca/code-of-ethics Certified Engineering Technologist code of ethics for Nova Scotia
  4. http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/applscie.htm Applied Science Technology Act of Nova Scotia
  5. http://techpei.ca/pdfs/ITP_Code_of_Ethics.pdf Certified Engineering Technologist code of ethics for Prince Edward Island
  6. http://www.aettnl.com/AboutAETTNL/CodeofEthics.aspx Certified Engineering Technologist code of ethics for Newfoundland
  7. http://www.otpq.qc.ca/ Ordre des Technologues Professionnels du Quebec
  8. http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_26/C26.htm Code des professions
  9. http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=3&file=/C_26/C26R258.HTM Code de déontologie des technologues professionnels
  10. http://www.oacett.org/downloads/Ethics_Rules.pdf OACETT code of ethics
  11. http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=1800&ParlSessionID=36:2&isCurrent=false Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Act of Ontario
  12. http://www.cttam.com/site/pinterest?nav=home
  13. http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c045-1e.php THE CERTIFIED APPLIED SCIENCE TECHNOLOGISTS ACT of manitoba
  14. https://www.sastt.ca/doc/CODE%20OF%20ETHICS.pdf Saskatchewan Applied Science Technologists & Technicians code of ethics
  15. http://cctt.ca/CMS/get_file.asp?id=32BB9CA1ADB64AC69EFF8754F4730ACA&ext=.pdf&name=TECHNOLOGISTS%20AND%20TECHNICIANS%20ACT%20OF%20SASKATCHEWAN%201996.pdf TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS ACT OF SASKATCHEWAN
  16. http://aset.ab.ca/Downloads/documentloader.ashx?id=1918 ASET Code of Ethics
  17. http://www.aset.ab.ca/Content_Files/Files/ASET_Bylaws_approved_by_members_03_23_2013.pdf ASET Bylaws
  18. http://www.aset.ab.ca/Content_Files/Files/ASET_Regulation.pdf
  19. http://www.aset.ab.ca/Content_Files/Files/PTech_Regulation.pdf ASET Professional Technologist regulations
  20. http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/E11.pdf Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act of Alberta
  21. http://asttbc.org/practice/docs/ASTTBCASETCODEOFETHICS.pdf
  22. http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96015_01 Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act of British Columbia
  23. http://www.cirl.org/documents/en/engineering_technologist_nunavut.html
  24. http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/engineer.htm Engineering Professions Act
  25. http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/pdf/e-08_1.pdf Engineering Profession Act
  26. http://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/annualstatutes/2008/e12-1.c08.htm An Act Respecting the practice of Engineering and Geoscience of Newfoundland
  27. http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=//I_9/I9_A.htm
  28. http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90p28_e.htm Professional Engineers Act
  29. https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/e120e.php The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Act of Manitoba
  30. http://caselaw.canada.globe24h.com/0/0/manitoba/provincial-court-of-manitoba/2005/09/07/association-of-professional-engineers-and-geoscientists-of-the-province-of-manitoba-2005-59632-mb-pc.shtml Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba v. Culjak
  31. http://www.canlii.org/en/mb/mbqb/doc/2006/2006mbqb160/2006mbqb160.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQBTQXNzb2NpYXRpb24gb2YgUHJvZmVzc2lvbmFsIEVuZ2luZWVycyBhbmQgR2Vvc2NpZW50aXN0cyBvZiB0aGUgUHJvdmluY2Ugb2YgTWFuaXRvYmEAAAAAAQ Appeal, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba v. Culjak
  32. http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/E9-3.pdf The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Act of Saskatchewan
  33. http://www.apega.ca/about/ACT/pdf/2012/EGP_ACT_%20Apr_2012.pdf Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and Regulations of Alberta
  34. http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96116_01 Engineers and Geoscientists Act of British Columbia
  35. http://www.canlii.org/en/nu/laws/stat/snu-2008-c-2/latest/snu-2008-c-2.html Engineers and Geoscientists Act of Nunavut
  36. http://www.canlii.org/en/yk/laws/regu/yoic-1996-056/latest/yoic-1996-056.html Yukon Engineering Professions Act
  37. http://www.canlii.org/en/nu/laws/stat/snu-2008-c-2/latest/snu-2008-c-2.html Engineers and Geoscientists Act of the Northwest Territories
  38. http://www.ait-aci.ca/en/ait/AIT%20Original%20with%20signatures.pdf 1995 Agreement on Internal Trade
  39. http://www.ait-aci.ca/labour_en/pdf/chapter7_text_en.pdf
  40. http://jasonfirth.ca/entries/entry20.php Article: "Certified Engineering Technologist? Not here you're not!"
  41. http://www.tilma.ca/professional_or_skilled_tradesperson.asp

See also

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