Professional Admission Program

Becoming a CEP

In Quebec, to obtain the title of Engineer, one must first become a Candidate to the Engineering Profession (CEP). This program replaces the Junior Engineer Program and prepares future engineers to practice with rigour and competence.

Illustrated pathway

A visual exemple of the typical path to obtaining an engineer’s permit in Quebec.

View illustration (in French)

Steps of the CEP program

Becoming a candidate

To join this program, you must first apply for admission to the OIQ.

Consult the page Becoming an engineer in Quebec to apply for admission.

If you studied engineering in Quebec
You can apply for admission to the OIQ once you have obtained at leaste 60 credits in your university program.
If you studied engineering abroad
You can join the Professional Admission Program as soon as the OIQ has granted you partial or total equivalence of training following your application for admission.

When the application is processed by the OIQ, you will receive a communication with all the information you need to register to the program. The only persons exempt from the Professional Admission Program are:

Those who are already members of another Canadian engineering association
Those who hold an engineering degree obtained in France and who benefit from the “Arrangement sur la reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles” (ARM)
Those applying for a temporary permit for a specific project

However, they still have other obligations to fulfill and must apply to the OIQ for admission.

The CEP title

The Professional Admission Program is an essential step on the way to becoming a registered professional engineer. It ensures that candidates have all the skills and attitudes they need to practice engineering professionally. This program prepares you to meet the high expectations of the profession, ensuring that you are fully capable of practicing engineering with rigor, ethics and professionalism.

When you enroll in the program, you’ll receive the temporary title of CEP or “Candidate to the Engineering Profession”. You will be supported throughout by your supervisor, who will closely monitor your progress and provide you with constructive feedback. At the same time, you’ll have access to exclusive resources offered by the OIQ, such as a specialized site for engineering job offers, a subscription to Plan magazine, the newsletter dedicated to engineering news, discounts for online courses and invitations to our exclusive events.

Paying for admission to the program

For a summary of costs, see our Fee Schedule under the heading “Candidate to the engineering profession.”

A 50% discount applies if you register for the Professional Admission Program within 6 months of obtaining your engineering degree or equivalency.

Using the CEP designation

You can now use this official title, recognized by the OIQ. You will thus become “Dominique Larochelle, candidate for the engineering profession (CEP)

or “Dominique Larochelle, CEP.”

You must acquire practical and theoretical skills throughout the program and pass the OIQ’s professional exam. You will also have to respect the Code of ethics of engineers.

Completing the program within 5 years

The Professional Admission Program must be completed in a minimum of 24 months and can be extended up to a maximum of 5 years.

Components of the program

There are 3 components to the CEP program and the majority of candidates will be required to go through these stages.

Theoretical component

The program includes between 25 and 30 hours of online theoretical training, accessible via the CEP portal. This training aims to prepare you for the professional exam, which comprises around 100 multiple-choice questions. The pass mark for the exam is 60%.

Practical component

You should gain at least 24 months of practical experience and confirm attaining 6 target competencies through a self-assessment. To ensure validation, the practical component must be supervised by an engineer you have chosen and declared to the OIQ beforehand. Any experience acquired in Quebec and submitted for evaluation for more than 12 months (cumulative or consecutive) prior to your registration as a CEP will incur additional fees. Please refer to the fee schedule (see “Common fees” in the Admissions section).

Certain activities carried out with your supervisor during your CEP program may qualify as continuing education when you become a member. This includes structured individual coaching, courses and workshops. See Appendix 4 of the Guide d’application du règlement sur la formation continue. You’ll both need to fill out a form in advance to validate these coaching hours.

Language component

To become an engineer in Quebec, one must have sufficient knowledge of French to practice the profession. If you completed your undergraduate studies in French, then you meet the requirements. If not, please refer to our page on practicing engineering in Quebec to understand the requirements and how to meet them.

Did you obtain your degree in France?

If your first engineering degree was obtained in France, the CEP program may not apply to you.

In fact, an important agreement was signed to facilitate mutual recognition of the title of engineer between Quebec and France. The ARM, or Arrangement sur la reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles, facilitates professional mobility and the integration of qualified workers into the job market in both territories.

The CEP Portal

When you become a CEP, the OIQ will give you access to a personal and secure online space. In this portail, you will find all the information and services you need during the Admissions Program.

CEP portal