Resources
Resources for Canadian engineering applicants
Clear, practical guides for your P.Eng journey in Canada, from writing your Competency-Based Assessment and preparing for the NPPE, to understanding regulator requirements and growing your engineering career.
Resource library
Frequently asked questions
The Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) is the process most Canadian engineering regulators use to evaluate an applicant's engineering experience against a defined set of competencies on the path to the Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation. Instead of only listing job duties, you document specific examples that show your personal engineering judgment, actions, and outcomes for each competency. Regulators such as Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), and Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC) require a CBA as part of the P.Eng application.
CertNova publishes several free resources for Engineers-in-Training (EITs) and other P.Eng applicants: a free CBA self-review checklist, a 2-minute CBA Readiness Quiz that scores your preparation and shows your three biggest gaps, an approved PEO CBA example, and a free preliminary CBA assessment. These resources help you understand what assessors look for before you invest weeks writing your competency examples.
CBA Pro is the AI-powered platform built by CertNova Software Solutions Inc. to help applicants write, self-review, and strengthen their Competency-Based Assessment. The free resources help you orient and spot gaps; CBA Pro is the self-guided tool that gives you structured templates, an approved CBA example, instant feedback on your drafts, and interest-free installment plans. It is designed for EITs who want to write their CBA themselves with a clear structure.
Most provincial and territorial engineering regulators use a competency-based assessment for P.Eng licensure, including Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC), APEGS in Saskatchewan, and Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM). Requirements vary by regulator, so your association's official guidelines are always the source of truth.
A validator is a colleague or supervisor — usually a licensed Professional Engineer — who confirms your engineering work experience for a competency during the CBA submission process. Most regulators require validators, and leaving them unconfirmed is a common cause of late delays, so it is best to identify and brief your validators early.
Yes. Alongside CBA resources, CertNova offers a free NPPE practice test and guidance for the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE), the exam on the ethical and legal standards of engineering practice. The CBA and the NPPE are separate P.Eng requirements, and many applicants prepare for both on the way to licensure.
A rejected or commented CBA does not mean you are unqualified — it usually means specific competencies need clearer evidence of your personal contribution and engineering judgment. CertNova offers One-on-One CBA Consulting and focused rejection support to help you respond to assessor feedback and rebuild the competencies that were flagged, rather than starting over from scratch.
No. CertNova does not control the final decision of any engineering regulator and does not guarantee approval. CertNova's resources, CBA Pro, and consulting are designed to help you prepare clearer, better-supported competency examples based on the patterns seen across hundreds of applicant journeys. Your regulator's official requirements always remain the source of truth.
Not sure which step you're on?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll point you to the right support for where you are in your P.Eng journey.