Structural Engineering Specialist Designation Program Review

In 2023, Engineers and Geoscientists BC Board asked us to review the Structural Engineering Specialist Designation Program (Struct.Eng.) to determine if it still meets its intended function of improving public safety in the structural design of Part 3 buildings (buildings over three stories high or larger than 600 M² in footprint). The review will determine if the program should be kept, modified, or discontinued. 

The Struct.Eng. program had not been reviewed holistically since its inception in 2001. Since then, several regulatory requirements affecting structural engineering practice have been implemented or fortified. Examples include independent review of structural designs, letters of assurance, mandatory continuing education, and regulation of firms.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC has been gathering data and consulting with a working group of structural engineers (P.Eng. and Struct.Eng.), municipalities, and industry organizations to assess the current state of the Structural Engineering Specialist Designation program and structural engineering practice overall. 

Key Milestones

March 2024: Formation of a working group composed of structural engineers (P.Eng. and Struct.Eng.), municipalities, and industry organizations.

April 2024 – Jan 2025: Environmental scan and information gathering by the working group.

October 2024: Initial survey launched to invested audiences including; Structural engineers with the specialist designation (Struct.Eng.); Structural engineers without the specialist designation (P.Eng. or P.L.Eng. Structural Engineer); Structural engineers-in-training (EIT); non-engineering industry professionals (e.g., architects, developers, contractors); and municipalities.

January 2025 – May 2025: Structured decision-making deliberations in the working and steering groups.

September 2025: Alternative pathways for the Struct. Eng. Designation identified.
 
May 2026: Survey launched to evaluate these alternatives and gather more information and feedback on the potential impacts of these pathways.

June 2026: Survey results presented to the Struct. Eng. Working Group and Steering Committee.

August 2026: Analysis and review of consultation data comleted and recommendation to the Board produced. 

How We Engaged

• Formed a working group with representation of Struct.Eng’s; Structural engineers (P.Eng. and Struct.Eng.); municipalities (with and without Struct.Eng. requirements); and industry organizations to assess the current state of the Struct.Eng. program and structural engineering practice overall.
• Two surveys were sent to: Structural engineers with and without the designation, municipalities across BC, expert organizations in the built environment, other Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants.  
• We received 730 responses to the 2026 survey and 546 to the 2024 survey. Roughly 3400 comments were collected from the second survey. 
• Conducted an environmental scan of best practices from across Canada and the United States. 

What's Next

• Share the Board's decision on the recommendation on the future of the designaton. 
• Inform registrants of the discontinuation of the Structural Engineering Program Designation. 
• Plan the implementation of the discontinution (anticipated to take two years)