P.Tech.

Only a member who is an active C.E.T. or R.E.T. member is eligible to apply for the P.Tech. designation, should they meet the requirements.

There is no waiting period imposed upon new ASET members; however, they must be in good standing (dues paid) with their CPD up to date. Additionally, they must have met the minimum academic and technical experience requirements to apply.

A typical application takes approximately four – six months to complete from the time of application to the receiving of a decision from the Joint Board of Examiners. During this time, the NPPE (if required) can be written prior to or after being reviewed.

Professional technologists must meet the eligibility requirements set out in the Professional Technologists Regulation (AR 283/2009), which include being a C.E.T. member in good standing with ASET and demonstrating six years of relevant work experience, with two years under the direct supervision and control of a P.Eng. or P.Geo. Please review the application process for more information. 

Members must maintain their membership by paying the annual dues issued in November (prior to 31 January) and completing annual CPD requirements. 

Apprenticeship programs leading to a journeyperson certificate and ASET's PLAR assessment are not recognized as academically sufficient to meet the academic requirements for a P.Tech. application.

The Joint Board of Examiners only accepts post-graduate experience. Therefore, co-op/summer experience or having significant years of experience prior to post-secondary graduation will not be accepted.

While the Joint Board of Examiners can consider international experience, the applicant must have at least 24 months (or 48 months required when practicing outside of their academic discipline) under the supervision of an Alberta P.Eng. or P.Geo. Without this specific reference requirement, an application is not possible.

ASET recognizes the NPPE if it was written (passed) with another engineering association in Canada. Applicants must submit an exemption request through their initial online application. This is then verified by ASET staff during their review. Once verified, the exam component of the application is complete.

While the P.Tech.(Eng.)/(Geo.) designation is jointly regulated by members of ASET (P.Tech.) and APEGA (P.Eng.), the designation and the Joint Board of Examiners are administered by ASET. The board is comprised of an equal number of ASET and APEGA members. Discipline-specific subject matter experts review applications and make recommendations to the Joint Board of Examiners for consideration.

ASET’s professional technologist is a specific designation whereby P.Tech.(Eng.)/(Geo.) members have the right to practice engineering or geoscience independently within a defined scope of practice and in accordance with established codes and standards. With this right, a member can sign and stamp their own engineering or geoscience work within Alberta.

A designation only has effect within the province in which it was issued. Since designations from various associations currently represent different scopes of practices, someone who has a designation from another province must apply for a designation transfer.

In Canada, Alberta is the only province where the P.Tech. designation is issued with a defined scope of practice. This designation with a defined scope is only available for use in Alberta according to Alberta's Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act. Learn more about the transferability of the P.Tech. designation throughout Canada.

If your application requires a combination of your current and previous workplace employment to obtain the minimum overall months required, you’ll need to provide references from all applicable supervisors within your work records to attest to the technical experience.

A professional technologist (engineering/geoscience) is licensed by ASET to practice engineering/geoscience independently within a defined scope of practice and within established methodologies and specifications, including existing codes and standards.

A professional licensee (engineering/geoscience) is licensed by APEGA to practice engineering/geoscience independently within a defined scope of practice and within established methodologies and specifications and/or original concepts (R&D).

The choice between P.Tech.(Eng./Geo.) and P.L.(Eng./Geo.) should be based on what type of work you are currently performing or plan to perform in the future. If you are not required to take responsibility for work related to new concepts, the P.Tech.(Eng./Geo.) is a more suitable option.

Members do not receive additional membership with APEGA.

Current P.Tech. members wishing to revise their scope of practice must submit a new application using the current experience spreadsheet with the required references, which will be reviewed by the Joint Board of Examiners. See the P.Tech. webpage for more details.

Applicants seeking certification with ASET are required to complete the National Professional Practice Exam. P.Tech. applicants who wrote the national exam as part of the application process for C.E.T. are not required to rewrite the exam. 

The P.Tech. stamp is used to authorize work completed by or under the direct supervision of a professional technologist. Please see the Stamping Guidelines for Professional Technologists and ASET Permit Holders for more information. 

Professional technologists working as sole practitioners do not require a permit to practice. Professional technologists working as or for a corporation or other legal entity require an ASET Permit to Practice to take responsibility for work performed. Please see the ASET Permit to Practice Guidelines for more information. 

No, Alberta is currently the only province in Canada offering the P.Tech.(Eng.) and P.Tech.(Geo.) designations. Please contact the appropriate regulatory body or association in the province or country where you are transferring to determine your licensing options.

Note: The P.Tech. designation offered in New Brunswick and Newfoundland is equivalent to the C.E.T. in Alberta. It is not equivalent to the P.Tech.(Eng.) or P.Tech.(Geo.) designation.

No, there are currently no agreements with other jurisdictions for professional technologists to take responsibility for their work outside of Alberta. Please contact the appropriate regulatory body or association in the province or country in which you are working to determine your licensing options.    

Please refer to ASET’s Registration Policies to review reinstatement options. 

Employers can confirm the scope of practice of a professional technologist or the scope(s) of practice of the responsible members listed under an ASET Permit to Practice by referring to the ASET membership roster.  

The professional reference who attests to two years of the P.Tech. applicant's work experience under their direct supervision and control does not need to be the applicant’s immediate supervisor. Often, an Alberta P.Eng. or P.Geo. working in the same or in another department of the organization or contracted by the organization takes responsibility for work performed, by reviewing and stamping all relevant documents. In this case, the P.Tech. applicant must seek a reference from the professional member performing this function.