What is the CBA in the P.Eng Licensing Process?
Why CBA Takes So Long is a common frustration for Canadian engineering applicants. Writing your Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) for P.Eng licensure is not just a writing task—it’s a comprehensive demonstration of your engineering experience. Understanding the depth and complexity of this process can help you approach it more strategically. The Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) is a pivotal step in becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng) in Canada.
Each competency must be illustrated through specific work examples using a situation-action-outcome structure. The CBA is used by regulatory bodies like PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario), APEGA, and EGBC to ensure applicants have practical, verifiable engineering experience aligned with Canadian standards.
Many aspiring engineers are surprised by how long this process takes. So today, we’re answering the burning question: Why CBA Takes So Long? This isn’t just about the paperwork—it’s about navigating a comprehensive system designed to uphold engineering integrity and public safety in Canada. That’s why understanding why CBA takes so long is essential for every applicant. Whether you’re just starting or stuck mid-process, grasping why CBA takes so long can help you plan, execute, and overcome the barriers more efficiently.
Common Reasons Why CBA Takes So Long
1. Misunderstanding the 34 Competencies
The first hurdle is simply understanding the competencies. Each has indicators, minimum rating expectations, and standards. Failing to grasp these early on leads to endless revisions and misalignment.
- Many applicants assume technical competence is enough.
- Others fail to distinguish professional accountability or sustainability competencies.
- Without using the PEO or EGBC guides properly, writing becomes guesswork.
Tip: Refer to PEO’s full CBA Guide for each competency’s definition and indicators. Knowing them saves weeks of rework and helps eliminate common reasons why CBA takes so long.
2. Overwhelmed by the STAR Method
CBA examples must follow the STAR method:
- Situation: Context of your example
- Task/Action: Your role and contributions
- Result: Quantifiable outcomes
Even experienced engineers struggle to convert years of work into clean STAR narratives. Many revert to resume-style writing, which gets rejected. This confusion contributes to why CBA takes so long for most applicants.
3. Difficulty Identifying Strong Work Examples
Applicants often have experience, but matching the right experience to the right competency is tricky. Overlaps, vague memories, and lack of documentation make this time-consuming. Another silent contributor to why CBA takes so long.
4. Validator Delays and Gaps
Validators must:
- Know your work intimately
- Be available
- Be licensed professionals (especially for Canadian experience)
Waiting for their validation, coaching them, or replacing them can add weeks or months. This is another core reason why CBA takes so long for so many applicants.
5. Perfectionism & Writer’s Block
Engineers often aim for flawless documentation. But with 34 competencies to write and validate, perfectionism causes stagnation. Many applicants stop mid-way due to writer’s block or burnout. This perfectionist loop is a top reason why CBA takes so long.
6. Lack of CBA Strategy or Timeline
CBA isn’t something you can “squeeze in after work.”
- No weekly writing plan
- No batching similar competencies
- No validation scheduling
This lack of structure turns CBA into a never-ending task and underlines why CBA takes so long.
How Long Should It Actually Take to Write a CBA?
The average CBA submission takes 4 to 6 months. This timeline includes:
- Experience mapping
- Drafting examples
- Validator assignment & feedback
- Final review
Without a plan, however, many applicants take 9 to 12 months or longer.
“I thought I could do it in 6 weeks. Took me 10 months!” – PEO Applicant
Understanding why CBA takes so long helps set realistic expectations and motivates more efficient workflows.
Tips to Speed Up the P.Eng CBA Process
1. Use a CBA Mapping Tool
Start by mapping your experience to each of the 34 competencies. CertNova’s CBA Pro tool lets you:
- Identify experience gaps
- Align work examples with competency indicators
- Track progress per category
This helps reduce the main reasons why CBA takes so long.
2. Batch Your Work Examples by Category
Instead of writing all 34 one-by-one, batch them:
- Write all Technical Competence examples first
- Then tackle Communication, then Project Management, etc.
This allows momentum and keeps your mind in a focused zone.
3. Engage Validators Early
Don’t wait until you’ve written everything. Contact your validators at the start.
- Explain the process
- Provide timelines
- Ask if they can validate specific competencies
Early engagement can significantly reduce the delays that explain why CBA takes so long.
4. Break the Work into Weekly Milestones
Example plan:
- Week 1-2: Mapping experience
- Week 3-6: Writing Category 1 examples
- Week 7-8: First round validator requests
- Week 9-10: Edit and revise Category 2-3
5. Use Tools like CBA Pro
CBA Pro guides you with:
- STAR format prompts
- Competency analysis
- Auto-suggestions based on previous drafts
It cuts your writing time in half and improves alignment, directly addressing why CBA takes so long
Psychological Factors Behind the Delay
Even highly organized engineers face inner roadblocks.
Analysis Paralysis
“I don’t know where to start.” You have 10 years of experience—how do you choose the best examples? This question alone can stall you for weeks. This mental block is one of the less visible reasons why CBA takes so long.
Fear of Rejection or Failure
Applicants fear a failed assessment, which leads to:
- Over-editing
- Self-doubt
- Avoidance
Time Management Conflicts
Most applicants are working full-time. Add family, commuting, and stress, and CBA naturally drops to the bottom of the priority list. This explains yet again why CBA takes so long for so many busy professionals.
Solution? Treat CBA like a project, not a side hustle.
Tools That Make the CBA Process Easier
CertNova’s CBA Pro
Features:
- Experience matrix auto-generator
- STAR example prompts
- Category-wise drafting interface
- Validator management dashboard
Try it here: CBA Pro Free Trial
Competency Mapping Framework
Create a simple spreadsheet:
- Competency | Example | Validator | Status
- Review weekly to keep things on track.
Validator Tracker Templates
Use a shared Google Sheet with validators:
- Deadlines
- Comments
- Status updates
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just You — CBA is Designed to Be Rigorous
CBA isn’t meant to be quick. It’s designed to:
- Filter for true readiness to practice engineering
- Ensure applicants meet Canadian safety and ethical standards
- Maintain public trust in licensed engineers
If it’s taking you long, you’re not alone. But there are smarter ways to approach it. Knowing why CBA takes so long helps you overcome the obstacles strategically.
Additional Resources for P.Eng Applicants
🟢 Ready to Speed Up Your CBA?
Get started with CBA Pro, the productivity writing and mapping tool built for engineers.
👉 Submit your request here: https://competencybasedassessment.ca/
