Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Reinstate Practice Rights

Apply Now

About this Category

This category is for professional engineers, professional geoscientists and professional licensees with non-practising status, or former registrants, who wish to reinstate practice rights.

Who Can Apply

  • Registrants with non-practising status.
  • Former registrants (professional engineers, professional geoscientists and professional licensees) who wish to reinstate practice rights.

How to Apply

All non-practising and former registrants who do not currently have practice rights with a Canadian jurisdiction must apply and fulfill the requirements for reinstating practice rights.

Apply Now

Documents Required

Category 1

Former professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and professional licensees whose registration has been cancelled or current registrants who have been on non-practising status for 6 months or less and who are seeking reinstatement of their practice rights:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee.
  • Optional letter of appeal to the Registrar explaining why the cancellation of your registration should be reconsidered.
  • If required, you may be contacted to provide certified* copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least one piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.

Category 2

Former professional engineers, professional geoscientists, or professional licensees whose practice rights has lapsed in British Columbia but has been maintaining full practising membership, registration or licence with another Canadian provincial or territorial association/ordre or a US State Board of Professional Engineer or Geoscientist Registration or Licensure.

A. Former registrants in Category 2 whose practice rights have lapsed from 6–18 months:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee
  • Certified* copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least one piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.

B. Former registrants in Category 2 whose practice rights have lapsed for more than 18 months:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee.
  • Certified* copies of 2 pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least 1 piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.
  • Disclosure of the Canadian association(s)/Ordre(s) or US State Board(s) with whom you hold full practising membership, registration or licence.
  • Confirmation of your full practising membership, registration or licence with another Canadian provincial or territorial association/ordre will be done by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. 
  • If you are licensed with a US State Board and are not subscribed to the NCEES service, you will need to send a Confirmation Request Form to the state board for them to fill out and send directly back to Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

Category 3

Non-practising professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and professional licensees whose practice rights have lapsed from 6–18 months who are not covered by Category 2:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee.
  • Certified* copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least one piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.

Category 4

Practising professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and professional licensees whose practice rights have lapsed more than 18 months but less than three years who are not covered by Category 2:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee.
  • Certified* copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least one piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.
  • Two references** who can attest to your good character and good repute and competency to engage in Reserved Practice.
  • Current professional record of your work experience.
  • Completion of the Professional Engineering and Geoscience Practice in BC Online Seminar if not previously completed. (This requirement is waived for individuals who previously attended the Law and Ethics Seminar or purchased and declared viewing of the CD set).

Category 5

Professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and professional licensees whose practice rights have lapsed for 3 years or more and who are not covered by Category 2:

  • An application for reinstatement of practice rights.
  • Reinstatement of practice rights application fee.
  • Certified* copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID) for registration. Both pieces of ID must contain the applicant’s full legal name, must be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration, and at least one piece of ID must contain your photo. For more guidance on acceptable forms of IDs, please review the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents. Applicants are required to upload as 1 document through their application dashboard.
  • Two references** that cover the total number of years since registration lapsed and can attest to your good character and good repute and competency to engage in Reserved Practice.
  • Professional record of your work experience.
  • Completion of the Professional Engineering and Geoscience Practice in BC Online Seminar regardless of whether it or the Law and Ethics seminar was completed previously.
  • Write and receive a passing mark on the National Professional Practice Examination if not written and passed previously.
  • Applicants in Category 5 may be required to work under professional supervision for a period of time and on such terms as set by the Board and provide references from the professional supervisor.

*To have your document certified, the copies of both your original IDs must be signed, dated and stamped by an acceptable certifying official. Please refer to the Guideline on Certified Identification Documents for a list of acceptable certifying officials and the steps for ID certification.

How Much Does it Cost?

Find more information about application and registration fees on the Fee Schedule.

Throughout your application process, you can expect fees for:

After registration is granted, all registrants are subject to annual fees.

After Applying

If you have further questions, you may find the answer on our Frequently Asked Questions.

Once your documentation and examination/seminar requirements are complete, the length of time to reinstate your practice rights is estimated to be:

CategoryEstimated Reinstatement
Category 15-10 business days
Category 25-10 business days
Category 35-10 business days
Category 42–6 weeks, depending on your currency of practice
Category 5 2–6 weeks or to completion of supervised practice, depending on your currency of practice

When your practice rights are reinstated, you will be sent an email confirmation.