Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec: new regulation to improve access to the profession for internationally trained professionals

MONTREAL, June 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec is announcing the coming into force of a new regulation governing the admission process for internationally trained professionals (ITPs) – Regulation respecting the standards for equivalence of diplomas and training for the issue of a permit by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. This regulation defines and governs a personalized approach that not only takes into account the diplomas earned, but also the relevant work experience and all competencies acquired by engineering candidates when their admission applications are evaluated. Its objective is to ease access to the profession for ITPs, while maintaining a rigorous competency validation process that protects the public.

“This new regulation is good news for ITPs who want to practice engineering in Québec, but their integration also depends on the work and assistance of many other actors, such as immigrant support organizations, universities and various job market-related bodies that must work together to make their path easier," stated Kathy Baig, Eng., FEC, MBA, President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.

In addition to allowing for a more personalized approach to admission applications, the new regulation offers more flexibility to candidates when gaps are observed during the review of their applications. Candidates may now take a university course or participate in a supervised project. Under the old regulation, candidates were recommended up to 11 examinations designed to test and improve their knowledge, which was a demanding step.

Ultimately, the new regulation should help improve the admission rate in the profession and reduce processing times from 16 to 8 months for ITPs whose diploma is not recognized under current mutual recognition agreements for diplomas. As a reminder, mutual recognition agreements for diplomas have been signed with 18 countries, including France and several Commonwealth countries. ITPs who have a diploma subject to a mutual recognition agreement will see their admission applications processed similarly to holders of engineering diplomas from Québec.

Out of the 46 professional orders in Québec, the OIQ is one of the orders that receives and accepts the most admission applications from ITPs. In 2017-2018, 25% of admission applications received by the OIQ came from ITPs, of which 60% held diplomas not recognized under mutual recognition agreements. At this time, internationally trained professionals account for 12% of the OIQ’s 63,000 members.

“The OIQ is proud to be a leader in ITP integration, but we have to remember that obtaining an engineer’s permit is just the first step for many immigrants and that job market access is still an issue that concerns society as a whole,” added Kathy Baig, Eng., FEC, MBA, President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.

About the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
Founded in 1920, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has a membership of some 63,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. The OIQ strives to be a reference for professionalism and excellence in engineering as well as a unifying organization. Its mission is to protect the public by acting to ensure that engineers serve society with professionalism, compliance and integrity in the public interest. For more information, go to www.oiq.qc.ca.

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