Innovation March-April 2023

C O M M U N I T Y

ACCREDITED EMPLOYER PROGRAM MARKS 5 YEARS

comprehensive program structure includes registration mentors, who guide trainees through competency; the Accredited Employer Assessment Panel, who fill the Competency Assessment role and review experience examples and validator feedback; and a Head of Scheme, who bears overall responsibility for program operation. Employers then receive training from registration staff for all key program roles, including supervisors. To participate, employers must develop their own trainee programs and apply for accreditation with Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Participating trainees are registered based on the employer’s recommendation, and their applications are expedited through

In the five years since it was created, Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Accredited Employer Program has helped many EITs earn their professional license more quickly. The program, developed to address the increasing volume of applications for professional registration, allows EITs to meet their qualifications sooner while still maintaining high standards for entry-to-practice. Trainees go through the low-risk pathway route, reducing registration processing times. So far, 275 EITs have earned their professional designation through the program and a further 367 EITs are currently in the program. This year, the program will expand to include GITs. For employers, the benefit is added support for training. Engineers and Geoscientists BC staff educate and train participating engineering employers to support their EITs while the trainees gain experience and complete the required competency components for licensure. Currently, 30 different employers are enrolled.

The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure was one of the first employers to sign on and is pleased with the partnership. "The ministry has confidence in its program structure and training plans designed to meet Engineers and Geoscientists BC requirements as evident by the more than 20 trainees that have successfully obtained professional licensure since receiving its accreditation," said Brittney Speed, Business Operations Manager, Chief Engineer’s Office, Engineering Services, with the ministry. "Young engineers appreciate the comprehensive structure of the program, designed to support their success in satisfying the requirements to obtain professional licensure, in addition to benefiting from an expedited review process helping them achieve their professional designation much sooner than through the general application route,” said Speed. The program is based on the Competency Assessment System. The

a low-risk pathway towards professional registration. Sonia Mollaei, P.Eng., originally participated in the Accredited

Engineering Program as an EIT. Since becoming a professional registrant and obtaining the required work experience, she has served as Registration Mentor to new trainees and is now a member

Neill Massey, P.Eng., at left, Vancouver Office Director at BBA, and Katie Au, P.Eng., PMP, National Practice Leader, Engineering, hold BBA's certificate soon after BBA became an accredited employer in May 2022. P hoto : BBA

LMDG employees hold their certificate after LMDG became an accredited employer in September 2021. From left: Allan Chen, P.Eng., Evan Ford, EIT, Jean Philippe Ayissi, EIT, Dana Mozolova, EIT, Mauricio Ruiz, EIT, and David Steer, P.Eng., Principal of LMDG and Head of Scheme. P hoto : LMDG

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