{"id":57991,"date":"2026-09-29T09:45:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T13:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oiq.qc.ca\/?post_type=publication&p=57991"},"modified":"2026-09-29T09:45:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T13:45:02","slug":"cep-before-you-call-yourself-an-engineer","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.oiq.qc.ca\/en\/publication\/cep-before-you-call-yourself-an-engineer\/","title":{"rendered":"CEP: Before you call yourself an engineer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n\t

Is all that enough to use the title of engineer?<\/p>\n

Short answer: No.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A university degree in engineering is essential. It\u2019s the foundation. But in Quebec, an engineering degree doesn\u2019t automatically come with the title of engineer attached. Before you can use the title, you need a permit issued by the Ordre des ing\u00e9nieurs du Qu\u00e9bec (OIQ) and to be registered on the OIQ\u2019s Roll. The CEP is the path to this permit. Once admitted, you\u2019ll hold the title of Candidate to the Engineering Profession, or CEP.<\/p>\n

More than just a formality<\/h2>\n

Becoming a CEP isn\u2019t just about adding three letters to your profile just to make it look good; it\u2019s more than that. It means you\u2019re officially embarking on the path to the engineer\u2019s permit. It shows potential employers your professional intentions, sets you apart, and helps you start building your credibility in the job market.<\/p>\n

Yes, there are steps involved. Yes, there are requirements. And yes, from the outside, it can seem like a massive administrative machine. But the underlying idea is simple: when a profession has a direct impact on public safety, the environment, infrastructure, processes, or systems, you don\u2019t go from getting your degree to being fully independent overnight.<\/p>\n

A GitHub project demonstrates what you can build. A certification demonstrates your mastery of a tool or method. An internship at a well-known company demonstrates that you\u2019ve gained workplace experience. CEP status<\/strong> demonstrates something else: you\u2019re committed to a recognized path to the permit, developing professional skills under supervised practice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\t

Not just in engineering<\/h3>\n

In many fields, a degree doesn\u2019t automatically grant full practice rights.<\/p>\n