Technologists see doors to practice open in Ontario

Professional Engineers Ontario made a surprise announcement on April 12. The licensing body for engineers in the province intends to make it much easier for technologists in the province to obtain a limited licence under the Professional Engineers Act.
Also, PEO plans to grant qualified technologists who have acquired the limited licence the right to offer services to the public. Until now, only licensed professional engineers have been allowed to apply for the necessary Certificate of Authorization to practice as consultants in the public sphere.
A press release issued April 12, 2005 said PEO together with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) has endorsed the plan.
While technologists may already apply to PEO for a limited license to work within their specific area of expertise, the associations intend to make the limited licensing application process “easier to understand and access.” To do this, OACETT members will have the option of a “gold card” approach. OACETT is to help its members go through the application process.
A new designation will be made, called a “Licensed Engineering Technologist” or LET. Individuals qualified under this class will be eligible to apply for a PEO Certificate of Authorization.
Before the change can be made, legislative and regulatory changes have to be passed.
PEO said it has three tasks ahead. First they have to identify the services to which the limited license will apply, second create an oversight group to monitor the implementation of the plan, and third earmark funds to prepare for the regulatory and legislative changes.
There are currently 22,000 engineering technologists certified with OACETT, and 64,000 professional engineers licensed with PEO.