Protecting Title and Practice

In November, the Government of Alberta proposed act changes that will enable technology companies and workers to use the title “Software Engineer” without holding a professional engineering licence from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

In Saskatchewan, like the acts in all the other provinces and territories, The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act only allows professionals licensed by APEGS to use the title “Software Engineer,” “Computer Engineer,” and related titles that prefix “Engineer” with IT-related disciplines and practices.

It is important for the public to understand that, in Saskatchewan, only licensed professionals have the qualifications, competence, and ethics to practice engineering in the public interest, and only they can use the title “Engineer”. Allowing others to use the title without being licensed confuses the public over who is allowed to call themselves a professional engineer, and therefore, who is qualified to protect the public and be held accountable for the work they do.

As APEGS continues through the process of proposing other act and bylaw changes, it will uphold the necessity to restrict the title and practice of engineering.