Transfer to British Columbia
Power Engineer Certification
Transfer to British Columbia
If you have qualifications and experience as a power engineer obtained outside British Columbia, you must obtain a BC certificate of qualification before working in the province. Whether your credentials were earned in another Canadian province or another country, Technical Safety BC can assess them as part of the certification process.
Out of Province
If your qualifications were obtained in another Canadian province, you can apply to transfer your power engineer certificate to BC. As part of the application, you must provide a copy of your original wall certificate. The certificate must be active and show the date it was issued.
How Do I Apply for an Assessment?
To apply, log in to your Online Services account and select "Apply for a new certificate" under the certification tab. Don't have an account? Sign up now.
If you wish to apply by mail, please fill out the Contact Us form to request a paper form.
For additional information about specific certificate classes, please see our Power Engineer Certification page.
Out of Country
If your qualifications and experience were obtained from outside of Canada, there are two streams available for recognition in BC.
To be certified under either stream, applicants are required to:
- pass an assessment process; and
- pass the applicable certification exam(s)
Note: all assessment documents must be submitted in English. Please refer to the "resources" section for additional information.
Stream One:
You already hold acceptable Boiler Operator Credentials and have more than 18 months of experience operating a third class boiler plant or equivalent in a position requiring the credential. These applications are assessed at Third Class or higher Power Engineer certificate level, within the provision of BC Reg. 105/2004 s.2.10.
To be eligible, you must:
- Hold a credential that authorizes you to operate boilers in your local jurisdiction.
- Hold a credential that is current and valid in the jurisdiction where it was issued.
- Have worked in a local jurisdiction legal authority (e.g., city, state, country) where recognized credentials are required to operate boilers.
- Meet the education and operating experience requirements for the certificate level you are seeking, as outlined in the table below.
| BC Certificate Level | Education Requirement | Operating Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| First Class Power Engineer | Educational qualifications equivalent to a First Class Power Engineer | More than 6.0 years of experience operating a first class boiler plant or equivalent in a position requiring the credential |
| Second Class Power Engineer | Educational qualifications equivalent to Second Class Power Engineer | More than 3.5 years of experience operating a second class boiler plant or equivalent in a position requiring the credential |
| Third Class Power Engineer | Educational qualifications equivalent to Third Class Power Engineer | More than 1.5 years of experience operating a third class boiler plant or equivalent in a position requiring the credential |
How Do I Apply for an Assessment? (Stream One)
To apply for your assessment, you must:
- Log in to your Online Services account and navigate to the "Forms" page (located under "Resources"). Don't have an account? Sign up now.
- Locate and complete a Recognition of International Credentials in Power Engineering Application form via your online services account. Applicants outside North America can download a PDF version of the form.
- Once your form has been received, a Technical Safety BC employee will create a certificate application under your Online Services account and attach your submitted form as a supporting document. You will be notified when the application has been created.
- Navigate to "View or continue applications" in your Online Services account to continue the recently created certificate application.
- Upload all required supporting documents, including:
- documentation outlining your boiler plant employment history and operating experience.
- proof of educational qualifications using the services of an approved credentialing agency.
- After submitting your application an invoice will be generated for your application fee.
Once the application fee has been paid, Technical Safety BC will assess your application and you will be notified of the results. If your assessment is successful, you will receive information about scheduling any required certification examinations.
How to Apply For Examination
Once you have been approved to apply for your exam(s), log in to your Online Services account and select "Book or view exams" under the certification tab. From there, you can view your available exam(s) and choose your preferred dates, times, and locations. You will not be able to book an exam until we notify you that you are eligible.
If you wish to apply by mail, please fill out the Contact Us form to request a paper form.
Stream Two:
You do not hold any acceptable Boiler Operator Credentials but have at least 18 months of international experience related to the operation, design, construction, repair, or maintenance of boiler equipment to which BC Reg. 104/2004 applies, or would apply, if the equipment was located in British Columbia.
These applications are assessed as either a Fourth or Fifth Class Power Engineer certificate level.
To be eligible, you must:
- Submit a full resume outlining your work experience on boiler and pressure equipment.
- Submit a letter from the company you worked for, confirming your employment, the position you held, and company website information.
- Meet the qualification and operating experience requirements for the certificate level you are seeking, as outlined in the table below.
| BC Certificate Level | Qualification Requirement (one of the following): | Operating Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Class Power Engineer |
| at least 18 months related to the operation, design, construction, repair or maintenance of boiler equipment |
| Fifth Class Power Engineer |
| At least 6 months related to the operation, design, construction, repair or maintenance of boiler equipment |
How Do I Apply for an Assessment? (Stream Two)
To apply, log in to your Online Services account and select "Apply for a new certificate" under the certification tab. Don't have an account? Sign up now.
If you wish to apply by mail, please fill out the Contact Us form to request a paper form.
Note: documentation outlining boiler plant employment history and operating experience must be recorded using our Plant Operating Experience Form and attached to your application.
Once the application fee has been paid, Technical Safety BC will assess your application and you will be notified of the results. If your assessment is successful, you will receive information about scheduling any required certification examinations.
How to Apply For Examination
Once you have been approved to apply for your exam(s), log in to your Online Services account and select "Book or view exams" under the certification tab. From there, you can view your available exam(s) and choose your preferred dates, times, and locations. You will not be able to book an exam until we notify you that you are eligible.
If you wish to apply by mail, please fill out the Contact Us form to request a paper form.
Assessment Resources
Before submitting your application, review the resources below to confirm that your credentials and supporting documentation meet our assessment requirements.
Approved Translation Providers
Acceptable Boiler Operator Credentials
Boiler-related qualifications or certificates issued by international governments must be equivalent to BC power engineering credentials. Your credential must be current and valid at the time of assessment.
Examples of international credentials include:
- Stationary engineer
- Steam engineer
- Boiler operator
- Operating engineer
- Power plant operator
- Steam plant operator
Note: If your credential is not legally required by your jurisdiction (e.g. city, state, country) to operate boilers, it will not be accepted.
Educational Document Requirements
All educational documents required for a Stream One out-of-country application must be assessed by one of the following institutions:
Boiler Plant Experience Requirements
Operating experience must be submitted using our Plant Operating Experience Form and include the following information:
- Boiler plant name
- Address
- Type
- Capacity (m2)
- Position held
- Qualifying time (months)
- Start date
- Supervisor name & contact information
- Letter(s) of employments stating:
- Job responsibilities and type of boiler equipment operated, including the duties and responsibilities performed for a minimum period covering the last seven years of employment.
- Duties and responsibilities of all the positions worked
- Company web site information for evaluation of the experience
- Supervisor name and contact information
Note: recognition of international training credentials is meant for individuals who are already able to live and work in Canada. Recognition of qualifications is distinct from the immigration process.
Related Information
Find a Training Provider
Find a recognized training provider to complete necessary Power Engineer courses, to meet minimum eligibility requirements.
Certification Renewal
Ready to renew your Power Engineer certificate? Here’s what you need to know.