Navigating the path to licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada involves several critical steps—and assigning the right validators for your Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) is one of the most misunderstood. Depending on the province or territory you’re applying through, the number of validators you need—and who qualifies—can differ significantly. You may ask “how many validators do I need for my association?”
A common frustration among applicants is realizing too late that they’ve selected the wrong type or number of validators, which leads to application delays, rejections, or the need to repeat submissions. Whether you’re applying through PEO in Ontario, APEGA in Alberta, or EGBC in British Columbia, the rules aren’t uniform—and that’s exactly what this blog is here to clear up.
In this post, we break down how many validators you need for each major engineering association in Canada, what their qualifications must be, and how to avoid common mistakes. If you’re using tools like CBA Pro to structure your application, this guide will ensure you’re aligning with the unique validator requirements in your province. Let’s simplify the validator puzzle—one association at a time.
What Is a Validator and Why Are They Important in the CBA Process?
Role of a Validator in the Competency-Based Assessment
In the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) model used across most Canadian engineering regulators, a validator is someone who confirms that you truly gained the experience you claim—and that it meets engineering standards. Validators are not just referees or passive signatories; they are active contributors to your application’s credibility. Their job is to:
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Verify the accuracy of your work examples
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Rate your level of competence for each assigned competency
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Confirm technical responsibility, supervision, or close familiarity with your role
Engineering regulators rely on validators to triangulate your skills alongside your self-assessment and the assessor’s judgment. This multi-layered approach is key to ensuring fairness and consistency in licensure decisions.
What Makes a Strong Validator: Key Criteria Across Canada
While specific qualifications differ slightly by province, strong validators share the following traits:
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Direct knowledge of your work (supervisor, manager, senior peer)
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Engineering credentials, especially P.Eng. for Canadian experience
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Able to objectively evaluate your performance and provide feedback
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Willing to complete validation independently and promptly
Here are typical validator eligibility rules:
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For Canadian experience: Must be a licensed P.Eng. in Canada
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For international experience: Should be a senior engineer, often licensed in their own jurisdiction
Some associations (like EGBC and APEGA) allow non-P.Eng. validators for international experience if they demonstrate adequate seniority and technical expertise.
How Many Validators Can You Use in Total?
Most provinces do not limit the total number of validators you can assign. However, they do require:
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At least one validator for entire CBA (some associations need more, read below)
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Each validator must provide unique validation—you can’t use one person for all 22-34 competencies unless they directly supervised all aspects
Strategically, it’s better to spread out your competencies across several validators who can each speak confidently about specific areas of your work. This approach not only strengthens your case but also shows the depth and diversity of your engineering experience.
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Validator Requirements by Province
Each Canadian engineering regulator has its own approach to validator expectations, especially in how many are needed and who qualifies. Below is a province-by-province breakdown to help you stay compliant and confident.
Ontario – PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario)
For applicants pursuing licensure through PEO, the validators required for CBA in Canada are quite streamlined. PEO requires at least one validator for your entire submission, but you can include more if needed. Each competency must be validated and rated by someone with direct technical knowledge, and only one validator can be assigned per competency.
Validators must be able to confirm your role, responsibilities, and the outcomes of your engineering work. For Canadian experience, at least one validator must be a licensed P.Eng. in Canada. For international experience, validators should be senior engineers who were your supervisors or mentors.
This flexible approach allows applicants to cover all 34 competencies with as few as one or two validators—as long as each competency is individually validated. PEO’s emphasis is on credibility and relevance, not quantity, making it one of the more accessible pathways regarding validators required for CBA in Canada.
Alberta – APEGA (Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta)
For APEGA applicants, the validators required for CBA in Canada must include at least one Canadian P.Eng. who had supervisory oversight over your experience. APEGA recommends using three to five validators to cover all aspects of your work history.
Each validator should verify your employment duration, technical responsibility, and the engineering nature of your work. This association allows validators to confirm multiple competencies as long as they had first-hand involvement. When building your submission, choose validators who were involved during distinct phases of your project or across different roles for strong coverage.
British Columbia – EGBC (Engineers and Geoscientists BC)
Applicants to EGBC must consider both quantity and quality when selecting validators. The typical validators required for CBA in Canada, according to EGBC, include four (minimum) to six individuals, one of whom must be a P.Eng. if Canadian experience is being reported.
For international work, validators must be senior engineers with relevant qualifications and familiarity with your duties. EGBC requires each validator to match specific projects or experience periods. To avoid delays, ensure your validators are accessible, credible, and can speak to the depth of your responsibilities.
Manitoba – EGM (Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba)
In Manitoba, the validators required for CBA in Canada are slightly more flexible but still structured. EGM requires a minimum of three validators, one of whom must be a P.Eng. if you’re claiming Canadian experience.
Validators must be able to verify both the duration and engineering quality of your work. EGM accepts both technical supervisors and senior peers, provided they had direct knowledge of your contributions. Strong validator selection in Manitoba is key to showing both technical depth and professional readiness.
Saskatchewan – APEGS (Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan)
For APEGS applicants, the validators required for CBA in Canada are quite aligned with national standards. You must provide at least three validators, with at least one being a Canadian P.Eng. if you’re referencing Canadian engineering work.
Each validator must speak to your direct work performance and confirm the engineering relevance of your duties. APEGS values validators who can provide meaningful, project-specific insights rather than general references. Diversifying your validator list across different roles or projects is highly recommended.
Quebec – OIQ (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec)
Quebec is a notable exception to the CBA model. The validators required for CBA in Canada don’t apply here because OIQ uses a Structured Supervision Plan instead. Validators in this system are typically supervisors within a mentorship or integration program.
Rather than submitting competency reports, you will follow a guided process with predefined learning outcomes. This is important for applicants who are applying across provinces—you cannot reuse your CBA application from PEO or APEGA for OIQ.
Pro Tips: Avoiding Common Validator Mistakes
Don’t Assign the Same Validator for All Competencies
One of the most common mistakes applicants make is assigning a single validator to cover too many competencies—especially if that person didn’t directly supervise all aspects of the work. While it may seem convenient, this approach can weaken your application, as assessors expect validators to speak specifically and credibly about the examples provided.
Remember: even in provinces that don’t require a separate validator for each competency, quality always outweighs quantity. Diversify your selection to ensure each validator brings meaningful insight into distinct aspects of your engineering experience. This strategy ensures you’re compliant with the rules around validators required for CBA in Canada while strengthening your application.
Confirm Validator Eligibility and Availability Early
Before listing anyone as a validator, reach out to confirm:
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Are they eligible? (e.g., are they a P.Eng. if validating Canadian experience?)
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Are they available and willing to complete the required forms independently?
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Do they understand the role and responsibilities involved?
Many applications are delayed or rejected because validators don’t respond on time or submit incomplete ratings. If your validator doesn’t meet the standards set by your provincial association, your experience could be discounted. Proactively verifying eligibility can save you weeks—or months—of lost progress in meeting the validators required for CBA in Canada.
Maintain Communication and Track Submissions
Even though the validation must be done independently, you’re allowed (and encouraged) to follow up respectfully with your validators. Tools like CertNova’s CBA Pro include features for tracking validator status and sending reminders, which helps prevent submission gaps.
If you’re using multiple validators across multiple roles, keep a clear log of which validator is assigned to which competencies. This will ensure there are no overlaps, avoid accidental duplicates, and help ensure that you’re meeting the specific validators required for CBA in Canada by your association.
Conclusion
Understanding the validators required for CBA in Canada is essential for any engineering licensure applicant aiming to avoid delays and ensure compliance with their provincial regulator’s expectations. While the Competency-Based Assessment process is used across many provinces, the number and type of validators you’ll need vary significantly depending on where you’re applying.
In Ontario (PEO), the process is relatively flexible—you’re only required to have at least one validator who can confirm your overall engineering experience. You can use this one individual to validate multiple competencies as long as they have direct knowledge of your work. In contrast, regulators like APEGA (Alberta) and EGBC (British Columbia) recommend using three to six validators, including at least one licensed P.Eng. for Canadian experience.
Across the board, successful applicants choose validators who are not just qualified on paper, but who can confidently speak to the technical and professional value of their contributions. Selecting your validators strategically is just as important as writing strong competency examples.
If you’re unsure about how to meet the specific validators required for CBA in Canada, tools like CBA Pro are designed to help you manage assignments, avoid mistakes, and stay compliant with evolving provincial guidelines.
