If you graduated from an educational institution outside of Canada, you are on the right page to learn about the next steps that will lead to you obtaining your engineering permit in the beautiful province of Quebec.
If you obtained your engineering degree from a Canadian educational institution, you must follow different steps. Consult the section reserved for you to learn about the steps to take in your specific situation.
Before applying to obtain your engineering permit, please familiarize yourself with all the requirements in Quebec, including the language requirements.
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You must apply for admission and send all the necessary documents, which depend on the country in which you obtained your engineering degree.
To find out what documents you need to provide, see the lists below for:
Once your application is complete, it will take approximately 8 to 12 weeks before it is submitted to the Comité d’accès à la profession (Admission to Practice Committee).
Important: Are your documents in a language other than French or English? If so, you must attach a translation certified as being true to the original by a translator who is a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec. If you use a translator from outside Quebec, the translator must be recognized by the competent authority in their province or country.
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The Comité d’accès à la profession (Admission to Practice Committee) reviews all files of individuals who completed their undergraduate degree outside of Quebec and renders a decision. This decision indicates whether you have a partial or total equivalence of training.
Depending on the case, you may have to complete training activities (exams or any other training deemed relevant by the OIQ based on the deficiencies identified) to obtain full equivalence. In all cases, refer to the decision rendered on your file, as it contains all the necessary information.
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At this stage, you can register in the Professional Admission Program. You will become a candidate to the engineering profession (CEP) and will be listed on the OIQ’s register.
You then have five years to complete and pass the three components of the Professional Admission Program: (1) theory, (2) practice, and (3) language.
Please note: If you studied in France and are covered by a temporary restrictive permit under the Arrangement sur la reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles (ARM), the conditions are different from those of a candidate to the engineering profession (CEP). See our Professional Admission Program page for more information.
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Once you have completed the Professional admission program, the OIQ will issue your permit. You are now a member and can practice engineering in Quebec! Remember, however, that your title comes with obligations. See the page on obligations.
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Do you want to see the typical steps required to become an engineer in Quebec?
For more information on the agreement between Québec and France and to obtain the list of recognized French programs, consult the regulation.
For the list of countries concerned, click here.
If your country is included, the documents you will need to provide are listed below.
Otherwise, see the list for countries without an agreement (below). Please note that only documents sent in electronic format are accepted (no paper documents).
If you obtained your degree in a country other than Canada, France, or one of the countries listed here, you are an Internationally Educated Professional (IEP). In this case, here are the documents you will need to provide:
Do you want to work as an engineer in Quebec on a one-time project? In this case, do not apply for admission and apply for a temporary permit instead.
If you want to work as a forest engineer in Quebec, you must apply directly to the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec.
See below.
You want to practice engineering in Quebec but do not have an engineering degree.
If you have an undergraduate degree in pure or applied science or technology that is at least equivalent to a Québec bachelor’s degree, you can apply to the OIQ for equivalence of training.
The steps to follow are the same as for people with an engineering degree, with one exception: you have a different application submission process. Here are the documents you will need to submit:
Do you disagree with a decision of the OIQ regarding your application for admission? The candidate to the engineering profession (CEP) may ask the Board of Directors directly to review the conclusion of the Admission Board. If you still feel that the decision is unjustified, you may file a complaint with the Commissioner for Admission to Professions. Follow the steps below to request a review or make a complaint.
If you disagree with a decision of the OIQ concerning your status, you may ask the Board of Directors to review the conclusion of the Admission Committee.
Request a review (in French)
You can also ask the OIQ to reopen your file if it has been closed:
If you still feel that the decision is unjustified, you may file a complaint with the Commissioner for Admission to Professions. The mission of the Commissioner is to ensure fair and effective access to the professions governed by a professional order. As such, any person who wishes to become an engineer and believes their file has not been adequately handled can file a complaint. You can file a complaint at any stage of the process, on any aspect, and for any application (permanent, temporary, or other).
Potential reasons? Lack of information, requirements, delays, coordination, compliance, access to exams, evaluation, justifications, or unfair review.
Once the complaint is filed, the analyst transmits their conclusions to the commissioner, who can then make recommendations or intervene with the OIQ to help clarify the situation or to unblock it.
The OIQ regularly organizes free webinars to help you navigate the application process. Consult the Activities section to find out about upcoming dates.
No matter where you are in the process of becoming a member of the OIQ, our team can help you. So don’t hesitate to contact us.