Professional Engineering and Geoscience Practice in BC Online Seminar

Welcome to the updated Professional Engineering and Geoscience Practice in BC Online Seminar.

This online seminar allows you to fulfill the Law and Ethics requirement for registration anywhere and at any time. It is composed of 11 modules with a combination of video interviews, concise reading, case studies, knowledge tests, and activities, providing an engaging and accessible learning platform.

Professional Governance Act Update

On February 5, 2021, the Professional Governance Act (PGA) came into force. This new legislation replaces the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, introducing new requirements that are formalized through an updated set of Engineers and Geoscientists BC Bylaws. With the PGA, the Online Seminar has undergone significant changes with a new version available effective July 26, 2021.

Applicants and trainees who completed the previous version of the online seminar (Version 1) prior to July 26, 2021, when Version 2 was released should take note of the following transition provisions that were approved by the Board.

• Applicants and trainees who were not granted registration as a professional registrant before July 1, 2022, are required to complete Version 2 of the online seminar prior to registration being granted. Version 2 will be provided at no cost to those who previously purchased Version 1 of the seminar or the Law and Ethics Seminar/CD Set.
• Version 1 of the seminar was accepted as meeting the seminar requirement for registration as a professional registrant until July 1, 2022. Applicants and trainees in this category can obtain free access to Version 2 of the seminar for voluntary viewing.

Access the Online Seminar

The purpose of the online seminar is to provide an overview of the legal and ethical issues that affect both engineers and geoscientists in BC. The seminar discusses current issues and provides insight into legislation that affects all practicing registrants. The online seminar is intended to be an interactive learning experience that can be accessed via desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile and is compatible with any browser.

The online seminar is one of the six qualifying requirements that must be completed before professional registration or license can be granted.

The other qualifying requirements are:

• Academic
• Experience
• Character
• Language, and
• The Professional Practice Examination

Successful completion of this online seminar is mandatory for all new applicants to Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia as per Bylaw 11(e) (6).

Seminar Description

1. Module 1: Self-Regulation (30 minutes)
   Both the privilege and duty of self‐regulation are at the core of the professions of engineering and geoscience in British Columbia. As a self-regulatory body, Engineers and Geoscientists BC derives its strength from its registrants so it is important that you have a good understanding of the role of self-regulation. At the end of the module you will be able to: explain the nature of the self-regulated profession; recognize and understand the essential elements of the Professional Governance Act; and describe the proactive and reactive roles of Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
2. Module 2: Professionalism (30 minutes)
   As a professional, you have a responsibility to conduct yourself in a competent and morally responsible manner to ensure the public’s interest is served. At the end of this module you will be able to: describe the elements of professionalism; recognize the primary duties and objectives of Engineers and Geoscientists BC; understand how to obtain the guidance provided by Engineers and Geoscientists BC to meet your professional obligations; and familiarize yourself with the regulatory programs of Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
3. Module 3: Regulation of Firms (40 minutes)
   With the implementation of the new Professional Governance Act, Engineers and Geoscientists BC will receive the legislative authority to regulate engineering and geoscience firms in British Columbia. This module will help you understand the history of corporate regulation in the engineer and geoscientist professions, the three pillars of the regulatory model, who needs to be registered, the Professional Governance Actand who it covers, Permit to Practice application and audit process, and lastly the Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP).
   • Module 3 Content Update: Under the Roles section, Responsible Officer, the second point is revised to:
     • "Does NOT have to be a registrant in good standing who is employed by or under contract with the Registrant Firm";
4. Module 4: Regulatory Compliance (35 minutes)
   It is important to understand what you may be liable for as a professional and how important it is that the public is protected from fraudulent or unqualified engineering or geoscience practice. This module will enable participants to: understand the role of Engineers and Geoscientists BC in ensuring that only registrants are eligible to call themselves professional engineers or professional geoscientists (P.Eng. or P.Geo., respectively) and professional licensee engineering or professional licensee geoscience (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.) and do professional engineering and geoscience work; and differentiate between civil and statutory liabilities and the professional regulation for which Engineers and Geoscientists BC is responsible.
5. Module 5: Practice Review (35 minutes)
   Engineers and Geoscientists BC's existing Practice Review Program as required in the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, is an essential component of our self-regulating professions. The Professional Governance Act will change it slightly to two separate programs a reactive Practice Review Program and a proactive Audit Program. This module will help you understand the history and criteria of the existing Practice Review Program, how the process will change under the Professional Governance Act and the timing of this change, and find out where to find the resources necessary to understand these programs.
6. Module 6: Ethical Practice (40 minutes)
   Rolling dice or flipping coins are not prudent methods to assess and manage the risks associated with your professional work. Nor are they a means by which you should be making ethical decisions. By understanding the principles presented in this module, you will be better prepared to respond to the various ethical issues that you may encounter in your work as a professional. This module will enable participants to: consider a series of risk management tools and strategies to help make prudent decisions in practice; and gain an appreciation of the Code of Ethics by reviewing real-life ethical dilemmas.
7. Module 7: Legislation (30 minutes)
   Engineers and Geoscientists BC professionals need to be familiar with the wide array of regulations and laws outside the Professional Governance Act (‘the Act’) which impacts the practice of the professions. As you work through this module you will: become familiar with the concept of professional reliance as it is used in municipal, provincial and federal legislation; understand the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders working within a regulatory regime that use a professional reliance model; view the wide variety of legislation that affects the practice of professional engineering or geoscience as it relates to public safety, worker safety and the environment; and become aware of the regulatory tools that Engineers and Geoscientists BC has in place for assisting Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants when working under legislation using professional reliance.
8. Module 8: Principles of Law (3 hours)
   This module will explain the principles of law including; Contact Law, Tort Law, Employment Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Law, and the Securities Regulation and National Instrument NI43-101..
9. Module 9: Communications (40 minutes)
   Communication is the process by which information is exchanged between individuals or groups of people. As a professional, your ability to communicate clearly and accurately is critical to your own success and that of any project you are working on. It is also key to your duty as a registrant to protect the interest of the public and the environment. This module will explain effective communication, including understanding the importance of effective communication, thinking about your audience including whether you are communicating for a technical or non-technical audience, learning how to communicate effectively, either for oral or written communication, and being aware of communication barriers and strategies to address these.
10. Module 10: Duty of Care (30 minutes)
    The people of British Columbia have, through the Professional Governance Act, granted Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants exclusive right to practice and the right to use the titles professional engineer and professional geoscientist. In return, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has the responsibility to protect the public interest and to set professional standards. Engineers and Geoscientists BC could not fulfill its public mandate without the support of its volunteers. Concluding this module, you will understand that the participation of volunteers is an important way in which our self-regulating professions (Engineering and Geoscience) can establish, maintain, and enforce standards, and discover ways to promote and serve the professions of engineering and geoscience.
11. Module 11: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (30 minutes)
    Engineers and Geoscientists BC is committed to facilitating a level playing field across the engineering and geoscience professions to ensure everyone has an equal chance of success in their chosen field. It is important to excite and inspire action towards developing an inclusive culture for current and future generations of engineers and geoscientists, and truly reflect Canada’s diverse society. At the end of this module you will understand the organization’s equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, the five actionable items arising from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and you will know where to find the resources necessary to understand these programs and initiatives.

Professional Practice Exam

Please note that registering for the Professional Engineering and Geoscience seminar will not automatically register you for the Professional Practice Exam. Please note that this seminar is not a preparatory course for the Professional Practice Exam. For information regarding recommended study materials see Professional Practice Exam for information on what to study.

Online Seminar Length

The total amount of time it takes to complete the online seminar will vary with each individual, given their learning style; however, it is estimated that it should take approximately nine (9) hours to complete the seminar.

Continuing Education (CE) Hours

Once completed, each participant will receive 9 Continuing Education (CE) hours. Once the participant has completed the online seminar, they will receive an email that details the successful completion including the CE hours they receive. The CE hours will then be automatically uploaded to the participant’s online account.

Technical Requirement

The online seminar is compatible with:

• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome (mobile and desktop)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Internet Explorer 11
• Safari (mobile and mac)
• IE Edge
• Opera
• Vivaldi

For all technical issues, please contact [email protected].