INNOVATION November-December 2012

Online Assessment System Introduces Efficiencies to Registration Process Last reporting year, APEGBC received more than 1,700 applications for profes- sional registration. To improve registration process efficiency, APEGBC put in place the Competency-based Assessment Sys- tem, a key component of which is an online tool that allows the experience component for professional engineer registration to be submitted, validated and assessed over the Internet. This system is currently available for applicants in four areas of practice: civil (municipal/infrastructure); structural; electri- cal (power and industrial); and materials, metallurgical and mineral processing. The Competency-based Assessment System uses a set of practice competency requirements to assess candidates’ eli- gibility for professional registration. The requirements can be easily understood by candidates for registration as well as their employers, and uphold consistent standards for entry to the engineering profession. These requirements have been incorporated into an online module that guides candidates for registration through the experience reporting process, helping them to identify appropriate examples from their work experience to demonstrate that they have met the requirements in each of the categories of competency. The module also allows candidates to submit all docu- ments related to their work experience online. Once a candidate is ready to apply for registration, their application will be validated and assessed through the same web-based system.  Use of the system is recommended for all applicants for professional engineer reg- istration in the available four areas of prac- tice, including engineers-in-training in their third and fourth years of experience who are ready to start recording their progress. In the long term, APEGBC plans to ex- pand use of the system for all engineering disciplines, and will undertake work in 2013 to include three additional practice areas of mechanical: building systems, building enclosure, and software. A generic set of competency requirements has also been developed to allow applicants in any area of practice to complete their experience assessment using the online module and is awaiting approval this fall.   For more information on the online tool, please see www.apeg.bc.ca/reg/ competency.html.

Results of the APEGBC Council Election Voting for the APEGBC Council Election opened September 4, 2012 and closed at noon on October 12, 2012. The vote was conducted primarily by electronic ballot, with paper ballots available to members upon request. This year, 21.1% of eligible voting members and licensees cast a ballot. The results of the vote for the 2012/2013 APEGBC Council are as follows: P resident Michael Isaacson PEng PhD V ice P resident Mike Bapty PEng FEC I mmediate P ast P resident Jeff Holm PEng FEC C ouncillors E lected Arnold Badke PEng Shiloh Carlson PEng Garth Kirkham PGeo Andy Mill PEng StructEng FEC Karen Savage PEng FEC (l-r) Front row: Dr Mike Wrinch PEng, Mike Bapty PEng FEC, Dr Michael Isaacson PEng, Jeff Holm PEng FEC, Ana Fernandes CIM FCSI. Center row: Harlan Kelly PEng, Joe Martignago, Karen Savage PEng FEC, Herb Hawson PEng FEC. Back row: Dr John Clague PGeo, Arnold Badke PEng, Mike Waberski BCLS, Andy Mill PEng StructEng FEC, Shiloh Carlson PEng. (Not shown: Donna Howes PEng, Garth Kirkham PGeo, Dr Sheila Wynn)

C ontinuing John Clague PGeo PhD Herb Hawson PEng FEC Donna Howes PEng Harlan Kelly PEng Michael Wrinch PEng PhD G overnment A ppointees Ana Fernandes CIM FCSI Joe Martignago Michael Waberski BCLS Sheila Wynn PhD

Total Eligible Voters

22,365

Ballots Received (electronic)

4,706

Ballots Received (paper)

19

Percentage Returned

21.1%

Ballots Spoiled

0

Volunteers Sought for New Temporary Structures Committee In the last number of years, a working group of APEGBC members has held semi-regular meetings to discuss issues related to temporary structures such as tents, grandstands, temporary bleachers, temporary building restraints and temporary geotechnical works. Given the increasing demand for temporary structures and feedback from APEGBC members and licensees, APEGBC is converting the existing working group into a full- fledged advisory committee that will report to Council. Members and licensees interested in volunteering for the Temporary Structures Committee are asked to contact Gilbert Larocque PEng CD LLB, Associate Director, Professional Practice at glarocque@apeg.bc.ca or (604) 638-8178.

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