Innovation Winter 2025/26

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Professional practice inquiries

What is the requirement for applying a Permit to Practice number to engineering/geoscience documents? How can contractors comply?

Under the Professional Governance Act , firms providing professional engineering or geoscience services in BC must register with Engineers and Geoscientists BC and obtain a Permit to Practice. This permit includes a unique number that represents accountability and compliance within a regulated quality management framework. The core requirement is that every registrant firm must apply its Permit to Practice number on all authenticated documents. The number serves to signal that the document originates from a registrant firm that is regulated and operating under a Permit to Practice. There are exceptions. Registrants are not required to apply a Permit to Practice number to their authenticated documents if they are employed by and acting on behalf of: • a ministry or agency of the Government of British Columbia that has not been prescribed by regulation as a “government registrant” by the Lieutenant Governor in Council; or • the Government of Canada, including its departments, agencies, and the Canadian Armed Forces. The Permit to Practice number must be applied visibly and legibly by either a Responsible Registrant of the firm, or an authorized individual employed by or under contract with the firm. It is important that firms include clear policies and procedures in their Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP) for applying the number and ensure registrants follow those policies and procedures accordingly.

Prepopulating the Permit to Practice number on template documents, such as title blocks or signature/ seal areas, is acceptable if a Responsible Registrant or an authorized individual maintains control and has final approval of the template document. From a regulatory perspective, contractors performing professional engineering or geoscience work (including providing direct supervision) must operate under a Permit to Practice. This requirement applies even in informal scenarios, such as helping a friend, if the work constitutes professional practice. Engineers and Geoscientists BC does not stipulate the entity from which the Permit to Practice should originate. This should be clarified in the contractual arrangement between the parties involved. Generally, contractors (including sole practitioners) have two compliance pathways: 1. Operate under a registrant firm’s Permit to Practice, work under the firm’s PPMP, and ensure the firm’s roster includes them. 2. Obtain their own Permit to Practice and work under their own PPMP. Both options are applicable for full-time, part-time, or seasonal/temporary work. For additional information, please refer to the following regulation of firms bulletins: "Permit to Practice Number Usage" and Employed By Or Under Contract With." Ryan Dai, EIT Junior Practice Advisor

Regulatory Learning Module Practising registrants must complete the mandatory Regulatory Learning Module in the current reporting year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). This year’s module focuses on deepening awareness of Indigenous Peoples, their histories, and the ongoing impacts of colonization. Scan to see the course in the Knowledge Centre.

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Innovation Winter 2025/26

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