Canadian Environment Experience Competencies - Guide for Applicants

Competency 1.6: Safety Awareness

Minimum competency level required : 3

Demonstrate your knowledge and awareness of Canadian regulations, codes and standards pertaining to safety. To assist you with your report for this competency, consider examples that demonstrate one (or more) of the following indicators:

  1. Identify, incorporate, and/or participate in review of safety considerations, safety procedures and safety equipment as they apply to system operations and/or maintenance programs in Canada.
  2. Review and incorporate safety or system operating procedures within in a Canadian context.
  3. Demonstrate specific knowledge of Canadian safety regulations.
  4. Incorporate explicit human and public safety considerations in design and all other professional activities.
  5. Understand and account for safety risks associated with processes.
  6. Identify relevant protection equipment and process modifications to mitigate safety risks.

If you are an applicant:
  1. With no or limited experience within a Canadian Environment; or
  2. Being assessed to determine if confirmatory examinations may be waived (select jurisdictions only, such as APEGS)
Please consider the following guidance on using examples from your international experience to address this competency:

Things to consider if your competency example for Competency 1.6 took place outside of Canada:

  1. If you used international/other applicable codes, standards, and/or practice guidelines, consider the following information to include in your example:
    • Specify any international/other applicable codes, standards and/or practice guidelines used within your example. Be specific with the codes, standards and/or guidelines used. Web links to the specified code, standard and/or practice guidelines is encouraged.
    • Describe how you used and applied the specified code(s), standard(s), and/or practice guidelines in an international environment?
    • Identify and describe the main differences and/or similarities between Canadian codes and standards, and the specified codes, standards and/or guidelines used in your example. Would there be an equivalent or related Canadian code/standard/regulation to the international code/standard/regulation that you used?
    • What steps did you take to adhere to best practices and to maintain safety, reliability and quality in your practice? Why is it important and what are the consequences of non-adherence?
    • You may need to attach additional documentation related to this competency example.
  2. If the jurisdiction in which your example takes place does not have codes, standards and/or practice guidelines, consider the following information to include in your example:
    • What steps did you take to adhere to best practices and to maintain safety, reliability and quality in your practice? Why is it important and what are the consequences of non-adherence?
    • Identify any relevant Canadian codes, standards and/or practice guidelines that may be applicable to your example. Briefly discuss how the Canadian code/standard/guidelines would be applied in your example if it had taken place in Canada.

References/Validators

Applicants are asked to provide the names and e-mail addresses of a validator who can confirm their work experience example and provide overall feedback on your readiness for professional licensure. Ideally, validators will be professional engineers (or the equivalent). However, if this not possible, ensure that validators for the mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies are direct supervisors within the same discipline of practice and who can demonstrate an understanding of the competency requirements.

Self-Assessment Rating Scale

Applicants are required to provide a self-assessment level that indicates their level of the competency.

Competency Rating Scale for Mandatory Canadian Competencies
Level/Rating
Experience Level
0
No experience with the competency
1
Demonstrates some awareness of the competency through work experience
2
Demonstrates awareness of the competency and has minimal practical experience with the competency (either in Canada or another jurisdiction)
3
Has moderate experience with the competency while working under supervision (either in Canada or another jurisdiction)
4
Has advanced knowledge of the competency and can carry out complex activities with minimal supervision
5
Demonstrates ability to carry out activities of the competency with advanced skills and complexity, with no supervision

Assessment Outcomes

Assessment Score
Assessment Outcome
Score meets the respective minimum Competency Level required
Applicant satisfies the specified Canadian Environment Competency

All Canadian Environment Competencies require a minimum score of 3.0 except for Competency 6.2, which requires a minimum score of 2.0.
Score is greater than 1, but less than minimum Competency Level required
Applicant may be assigned:
  • The relevant Working in Canada Seminar unit(s) to satisfy the Canadian Environment Competency; or
  • Additional experience.
Score is 0
Applicant is assigned or re-assigned:
  • The relevant Working in Canada Seminar unit(s) to achieve a minimum level of 2, and
  • Additional experience (must obtain at least a level of 1)
  • The specified Canadian Environment Competency to demonstrate a level of at least 1 through experience in a Canadian Environment.

Methods to Satisfy Mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies

The Working in Canada Seminar is a comprehensive online course that supplements an applicant’s ability to demonstrate their knowledge for each of the mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies. As part of the assessment process for the mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies, applicants may be able to complete the relevant Working in Canada Seminar unit(s) to partially satisfy the specified competencies (see Table 1: Assignment of Working in Canada Seminar Unit(s) for Partial Fulfilment of Canadian Environment Competencies).

Please note that some jurisdictions may not accept the Working in Canada Seminar as a method to partially satisfy the Canadian Environment Competencies. However there may be other courses or bridging programs that can be accepted in lieu. Please contact your provincial/territorial governing body to confirm eligibility of the course/bridging program to partially the Canadian Environment Competencies.


Re-Assessment Procedure for Canadian Environment Competencies

The Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) framework allows for competencies to be re-assigned to the applicant if the specified competency has not been satisfied. This procedure also applies to the eight mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies.

If the minimum category level is not met for one (or more) of the eight mandatory Canadian Environment Competencies, the competency will be re-assigned to the candidate for completion. Once the appropriate experience has been obtained, the candidate will re-submit the competency for re-assessment.

Please note that applicants who do not hold an accredited or equivalent-to accredited engineering degree, and who appear to have sufficient engineering experience (typically five years), may be given the opportunity to have their experience and competencies assessed to determine if they will be assigned technical examinations to confirm their level of education. These applicants will be eligible for this assessment whether or not they have completed the eight competencies that ultimately must be demonstrated in a Canadian Environment or equivalent.