Admission exams
Seeking equivalency
Admission exams may be required once your application has been evaluated. For example, if your training is deemed partially equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Quebec. The purpose of these exams is to enable you to obtain a full equivalence of training. This page also contains information about filling these gaps with training activities and courses.
To register for the upcoming exam sessions, please complete this form. The registration deadline for the May 2026 sessions is March 15, 2026.
About admission exams
Who are they for?
Entrance exams are intended for those whose training is not equivalent and who have certain gaps. If this is your case, you will receive an email once your admission application has been évaluated. You can then register for the next exam session in the required fields, or find a training activity deemed equivalent by the OIQ. The dates of these exams are generally listed on this page, in the introduction.
How do I register?
You can register by using the form provided on this page. Admission Exams are held in Montreal twice a year, during the first two weeks of May and November. It is not recommended to register for more than 3 exams per session. You must take them in French, except in exceptional cases. To find out the dates and times of the upcoming admission exams, please review this page or contact us.
How much does it cost?
You must pay a registration fee for each exam, even if it is a repeat after a failure. Consult our fee schedule to find out the costs. If you are absent from an exam for any reason, the OIQ will not reimburse you for these fees even if you have notified us. Also, fees that have already been paid cannot be carried over to pay for your registration for a future exam. If you choose to take equivalent courses at a university, then the university’s registration fees apply.
How does the exam work?
Admission exam sessions last three hours. Remember to arrive half an hour early with your identification. Before you take the exam, the proctor will give you instructions on how to proceed. If you do not follow these instructions or are caught plagiarizing, you may be subject to penalties ranging from a failure to a denial of your engineering permit.
What can I bring to the exam?
Allowed materials include textbooks, personal notes, and non-programmable calculators (see the list below). IMPORTANT – Prohibited materials include computers, cell phones, programmable calculators and any other electronic devices, including electronic dictionaries.
When will I receive my results?
The passing grade for the OIQ’s entrance exams is 50%. You will receive your results by email as soon as possible. Typically, results for the May session are sent by June 24, and results for the November session by December 24. The OIQ will not answer any questions about your results until they are released.
What documents should I consult to prepare for the admission exams?
The OIQ provides two resources: a description of the admission exams with a bibliography organized by subject or engineering field, and sample past exams by subject or engineering field. These past exams are offered as examples and include only the questions, not the answers. The type and number of questions may vary from one exam to another, and the documents can be downloaded below.
Who can I contact if I have questions ?
If you have questions related to admission exams, please send us an email : [email protected]
Can I appeal a failing grade?
You can request a review within 30 days of receiving the failure notice by completing the designated form and paying the applicable fees (one fee per exam). These fees may be refunded if your request is approved.
Documents to help you prepare
Note on the intellectual property of examination samples provided by Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (“OIQ”)
Examination samples found on the OIQ’s website are the exclusive property of the OIQ and their use is strictly limited to academic and personal purposes. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution or commercial use of these examination constitutes an infringement of the OIQ’s intellectual property and is strictly prohibited. The OIQ reserves the right to take all appropriate legal action against any unauthorized use of its examination samples.
If the code of the exam you have been prescribed is not included in the lists below, please contact us: [email protected]
Examination descriptions and bibliographies (in French)
Previous exams for BASIC STUDIES
Previous exams for AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for FOOD ENGINEERING
Previous exams for BUILDING ENGINEERING
Previous exams for BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for BIORESSOURCES
Previous exams for CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for CIVIL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for GEOMATIC ENGINEERING
Previous exams for INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Previous exams for SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Previous exams for MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING
Previous exams for MATERIALS AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for MINING-MINERAL ENGINEERING
Previous exams for ENGINEERING PHYSICS
COMPLEMENTARY studies exams
Training Activity: Engineering Design
The OIQ and its academic partners have designed a training program for people who have not acquired the minimum number of engineering design credits in their academic or professional career.
This training includes a theoretical and a practical component, which are explained below.
The following documents (in french) will help you and your supervisor understand the expectations for the various stages of the training and assessment process.
When you are ready to start the practical component of this training, we ask that you submit your project topic to the OIQ for approval before you begin. Please use the Project Proposal and Supervisor Commitment Form and send it to [email protected].
Theoretical Component
It consists of self-taught learning of the engineering design methodology done by the reading of one of these 2 books:
- Engineering Design: A Project-Based Introduction (de Clive L. Dym et Patrick Little)
- Introduction à la conception en ingénierie (de Caroline Boudoux, Xavier Attendu et Jérémie Villeneuve)
Once your self-study is complete, the OIQ will validate your knowledge with an exam. To register for the engineering design methodology exam, fill out the form below.
Once you have passed this exam, you will be able to begin the practical component of the engineering design training.
Practical Component
The practical component consists of carrying out an engineering design project to demonstrate that you are capable of applying the principles of the design methodology independently.
To help you succeed in this practical component, the OIQ has developed guides in specific major engineering fields (see below). We strongly recommend that you consult these guides to obtain additional information on engineering design and see different design project examples.
Please note that this engineering design training has been developed in collaboration with the following academic institutions:
- École de technologie supérieure
- Sherbrooke University, engineering faculty
- Laval University, faculty of science and engineering
- Government of Quebec
- Polytechnique Montréal
- University of Quebec at Trois-Rivièress
- University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
List of design training guides by domain
Equivalent Courses
The admissions committee may recognize courses taken at a Quebec university as “equivalent” to those required to fill a gap identified in your file.
This may apply to:
- a course that you have already completed, but have not yet submitted to the OIQ
- a course you are planning to take, for which you wish to obtain prior approval
We recommend obtaining prior approval from the OIQ before registering for a course.
For a course to be considered, you must:
- Complete the course request form and send it to [email protected]
- If you have already completed the course, ask your university to send an official copy of your transcript directly to the OIQ.
Several courses offered by Canadian educational institutions have already been approved by our admissions committee as relevant for filling certain gaps. Below are tables showing equivalent courses by exam type.
If your course is listed in one of these tables, you do not need to submit an application for approval. Simply email us to inform us of the course you have taken and request that your institution send us an official transcript.
If your exam code is not listed below, please contact us.
Tables of equivalent courses by exam type
Failure, Absence, Deadline Extension and Review
Failed Exam
Failing an exam does not prevent you from obtaining your title. However, you must comply with the established deadlines and complete the necessary steps to retake the exam. After failing the same exam twice, successfully completing an equivalent course becomes mandatory to address the identified deficiency.
Exam Absence or No-Show
Regardless of the reason, your absence will not be considered a failure. However, registration fees are non-refundable, even if you inform the OIQ of your absence in advance. Additionally, fees already paid cannot be applied to registration for a future exam.
Deadlines and Extensions
If you do not complete the exams or equivalent courses by the deadline, your application for admission to the OIQ will be closed automatically. It can only be reopened if you submit new documentation, such as proof of completion of an equivalent course designed to address a deficiency identified in your initial application. You may request one-year extensions up to two times after the deadline has expired. This request is granted if you demonstrate significant progress in your file, such as passing an exam or equivalent course. Extension requests must be submitted after the deadline has expired; they cannot be submitted in advance.
Exceeding the Deadline
If your file is closed due to exceeding the deadline, you will be required to request its reopening by completing and submitting the required form, along with payment of the permit application fee.
Please note that if this constitutes a new permit application, your file will be processed in accordance with the regulations, admission requirements, and the policy for evaluating candidates for an engineer’s permit in effect at the time of reopening. We may therefore refuse your permit application or require you to complete new exams. If you reopen your file and have previously failed exams, we will ask you to retake them and may also require additional exams.
Requesting a Review
If you don’t agree with a grade, you can request a review. You must send your request within 30 days of receiving the notification of your failing grade. To do so, complete and send the file review request form along with the required fee. If you wish to request a review for more than one exam, you will be required to pay this fee for each request. (This fee may be refunded if you are successful. If this is the case, we will inform you.)
To request a revision, you can ask for a copy of your exam booklet, so that you can give your comments and arguments to the person who is grading. You can also submit your detailed point of view in a letter accompanying the review form.
Penalties for cheating on the admission exams
Any fraud or attempted fraud may result in either the closure of your file or the denial of your application for admission.
Questions ?
Contact us if you have any questions about these exams or obtaining your training equivalencies.
Contact the OIQ