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Frequently Asked Questions

Admission Examinations Open

A- Confirmatory examinations and qualifying examinations

What is the difference between confirmatory examinations and qualifying examinations?

Confirmatory examinations are assigned to holders of an undergraduate engineering diploma whose level and content are recognized as comparable to those of a Québec bachelor’s degree. These examinations aim to assess the candidate’s general knowledge.

Qualifying examinations are assigned to candidates whose engineering program has been identified as having training gaps and to candidates whose undergraduate diploma is not in engineering, but in a pure or applied science or technology. These examinations aim to supplement the candidate’s training.

B- Frequency of examinations

When are admission examinations held?

The examinations are held twice each year, during the first two weeks of May and November.

C- Examination registration form

How do I obtain an examination registration form?

The form will be posted on our web site, in early February for the May session, or in early August for the November session.

D- Examination registration deadline

When do I need to register for the examinations?

We must receive your registration form and payment no later than March 15 for the May session and September 15 for the November session.

Do you accept the postmark date as the date of submission? For example, can I mail my registration for the May session on March 15?

No. The Secretariat of the OIQ must receive your registration and payment no later than the deadline.

E- Maximum number of examinations per session

How many examinations may I write during a given session?

You may register for a maximum of three examinations per session.

G- Preparing for examinations

How do I prepare for my examinations?

Candidates must prepare for examinations on their own. The OIQ does not provide any preparation assistance.

H- Length of exminations

How long are the examinations?

Each OIQ admission examination lasts three (3) hours.

I- Textbooks

Where can I obtain the textbooks recommended for examination preparation?

We suggest that you contact university or scientific bookstores (for a list of addresses, click here). New or used copies of the textbooks may also be available from the following websites: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com.

May I bring my textbooks to the examination?

Yes. You are allowed to bring your textbooks and personal notes for consultation during examinations.

For more information, click here.

J- Calculators

May I use any kind of calculator during the examinations?

All calculators are allowed except programmable calculators.

K- Other electronic devices

May I use a computer during the examinations?

No. You are not permitted to use a computer or any other electronic device during the examinations, with or without earphones.

L- Prior-year examinations

Can I obtain copies of past examinations and their answer keys?

You can obtain past papers of a particular examination for up to four examination sessions, if available. However, answer keys are not provided.

For more information, click here.

M- Examination Schedule

How do I obtain the examination schedule?

The admission exams schedule is now available on our web site. Please verify if there ra any scheduling conficts as no changes will be made. Click here for the admission exams schedule

N- Location of examinations

Where are admission examinations held?

The examinations are given in Montréal. You will be sent the exact location along with your registration confirmation.

O- Cancellation of examination

If I withdraw from an examination or do not show up, is this counted as a fail?

No, this is not counted as a fail.

Q- Examination results

When will I receive my examination results?

You should receive your results in late June for the May session and in late December for the November session.

R- Re-evaluation of examination

If I fail an examination, may I request that the examination be re-evaluated?

Yes. You must submit your request for re-evaluation in writing no later than one month after the date the results are sent out by the Secretariat, along with payment of the re-evaluation of an admission examination fee. To consult the Fee Schedule, click here.

Please note that the re-evaluation of an admission examination fee represents the fee to reread one exam. If you wish to have more than one exam reread, you must pay the additional fees required.

We also suggest that you write an explanatory letter to the examiner (for example, indicate which questions you believe should have received a higher mark and the reasons why).

What can I do if I want to review a failed admissions examination?

Within 30 days of receiving notice of a failed examination, you may send a Request Form for Application Review to the Secretary of The Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners Committee) to review the examination’s marking. However, you must also include payment of the appropriate fee with your request (see the Fee Schedule). In addition, you may request a copy of your exam booklet and submit your comments and arguments to the marker.

S- Failures and rewrites

If I fail an examination, can I replace it ?

No. You must pass the failed exam with a maximum of 3 attempts for each exam. Also, in a case of a failed exam, a candidate cannot replace this exam, even if he acquired experience or obtained a higher studies diploma. The candidate must pass this failed exam.

If I fail an examination, can I register to write the same examination and another in the following session?

Yes. When you fail an examination, you must register to rewrite it. If you wish, you may also register for up to two additional examinations in the same session (the maximum number of examinations per session is three).

T- Maximum number of rewrites per examination

How many times can I rewrite the same examination?

You are permitted to write a single examination three times, unless otherwise specified by the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners Committee).

What happens if I fail an exam on my third attempt?

Your file is automatically closed.

My file was closed because I failed the same examination three times. How can I have my file reopened?

To request that your file be reopened, you must provide evidence that you have upgraded your engineering training in the field of the examination you failed. We recommend, for example, that you complete a university course deemed equivalent to the failed examination. For a list of courses recognized as equivalent, please email us at: examens_admission@oiq.qc.ca. For additional information on reopening your file, see the request form for Reopening your file.

U- Time limit

Can I obtain an extension if I unable to write all my examinations within the assigned time period?

Yes. You can submit a written request for an extension to the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners Committee), along with the review of application fee (to consult the Fee Schedule, click here). This request must outline the reasons why you were unable to complete your examinations in the time allowed and indicate how much time you need. You must also submit supporting documents to help the Committee assess the validity of the reasons given.

Please note that if you write an examination during the last session of your assigned time period but have not yet completed all your required examinations, you will automatically be granted a six-month extension. If you write at least one examination during each subsequent session, you will continue to receive this automatic extension.

Y- File review

May I request a review of my file upon completion of graduate studies in engineering?

Yes. (Please note, however, that such a review may not change any of your examination requirements.)

How do I request a review of my file after graduate studies in engineering?

Your file will be reviewed by the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners Committee) once we have received:

your written request along with payment of the review of application fee. To see the Fee Schedule, click here;
an official transcript and a document attesting to successful completion of the diploma sent directly from the university.

You must therefore ask the university to send an official transcript and a document attesting to successful completion of the diploma directly to the OIQ.

What do I do to request a file review after acquiring work experience?

You must submit:

your request;
a current résumé;
Engineering experience certification form for each job

Certification of engineering experience acquired in Canada

Certification of engineering experience acquired outside Canada

payment of the review of application fee (to see the Fee Schedule, click here.)

ZZ- Reopening your file

Reopening after expiration of time limit for examinations or withdrawal of application

You must submit a request form - reopening an application and provide any new documents if required by the Secretariat. You must also pay the application for permit fee listed in the Fee Schedule. For more information, please contact the Access to the Profession Department at 514 845-6141, extension 2473.

Reopening after failing the same exam three times

If your file was closed because you failed the same examination three times, you must first demonstrate that you have expanded your knowledge in the engineering field in question. You could, for example, pass one or more courses in the subject recognized as equivalent by the Order. (For a list of equivalent courses, you can contact the Order at: examens_admission@oiq.qc.ca.)

You must submit a request form for reopening your file, ask the university where you took the equivalent course or courses to send the Order an official transcript and provide any new documents required by the Secretariat. You must also pay the application for permit fee listed in the Fee Schedule. For more information, please contact the Access to the Profession Department at 514 845-6141, extension 2473.

Once my file has been closed, how can I have it reopened?

When a candidate requests that a file be reopened, the Order is no longer bound by the regulations, standards, guidelines and fees in effect before the file was closed. Therefore, the Order will apply the regulations, standards, guidelines and fees in effect when the request to reopen the file is made.

Recourses and decisions Open

Request for a review of the decision of the Examiners Committee

What can I do if I do not agree with the Order’s decision on my application for equivalence?

Candidates who disagree with the decision of the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners' Committee) or have new items to submit in support of their application for equivalence are entitled to request a review of their file. To do so, they must send the review request form to the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners' Committee) that explains the purpose of and reasons for their request and include payment of the review fee with it (see the Fee Schedule). Upon receipt of the request, the Professional Practice Admission Committee (previously named the Examiners' Committee) will perform the review at its very next meeting.

Candidates who disagree with the reviewed decision are entitled to be heard by a committee that is formed for that purpose by the Board of Directors, on the condition that they send a written request to the Secretary of the Order within 30 days of the mailing of the reviewed decision.

Gare Windsor, bureau 350
1100, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Montréal (Québec) H3B 2S2

1 514 845-6141
Toll free : 1 800 461-6141