Overview

Certification for engineering and applied science technicians and technologists is available through the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT).

Certification is voluntary and is not needed to work as a technician or technologist; however, some jobs and employers require a Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.) or Certified Technician (C.Tech).

To become a registered, certified member, you must:

  • have the equivalent of a two-year or three-year degree from a postsecondary engineering technology or applied science program
  • have at least two years of experience as a technician or technologist
  • be able to speak, read and write English or French well enough to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues
  • pass the OACETT’s required exam
  • submit the required proposal and report (for C.E.T. only)
  • be at least 18 years old and of good character
  • complete the certification requirements within three or six years

How to apply

Find out how to become an Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists member and get answers to frequently asked questions.

Education and experience requirements

To become a member, you must have the Ontario equivalent of:

  • a two-year diploma or degree to be a technician
  • a three-year diploma or degree to be a technologist

Diplomas and degrees must be from a post-secondary engineering technology or applied science program.

You must also have at least two years of work experience in either engineering technology or applied science from any country.

Get information on the education and experience needed.

Provide proof of education and experience

At the time of application, OACETT will review your completed application form and your proof of education. If you qualify for membership, you will be registered as an Associate member within one month.

You will need to provide:

Additional documents

You must ask the school that you graduated from to send official transcripts of your post-secondary education directly to OACETT.

These transcripts must show what you studied, your marks and the diploma or degree you received.

If you have only one original transcript, make sure you send a notarized copy. Do not send the original.

If you graduated outside of Canada or the United States, and cannot get your original transcript, you can send a photocopy. This photocopy must be notarized in Canada.

Language requirements

Translation

If any of your documents are not in English or French, you need to provide the originals plus certified, word-for-word translations accompanied by a cover letter from the translator.

This letter should include:

  • the exact name of the document(s) which have been translated
  • the method by which the translator received the document(s)
  • any comments about the accuracy of your documents
  • the date of the translation
  • the translator’s identification number and/ or seal

You can find certified accredited translators through the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) or COSTI Immigrant Services.

Language proficiency

You must be able to share information, in English, about the profession’s standards, codes and practices in your discipline.

You must obtain at least level 7 in all skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) on the Canadian language benchmark test.

Your test results must be less than two years old.

English tests

The College accepts these English language tests:

You do not need to prove you are fluent if you graduated from the equivalent of a two- or three-year Ontario post-secondary engineering technology or applied science program that was administered and instructed in:

  • English
  • one of the countries listed on the OACETT website

Get information on language proficiency requirements.

Find out your language skill level and improve your skills

You can find out your language skill level at a Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral System (CLARS) centre in Ontario.

After you apply

The Institute of Engineering Technology of Ontario (IETO) is the certifying division of OACETT. After you apply, the IETO admissions committee will review your education and experience.

Once your file has been reviewed, you will be notified if:

  • your education and experience meet the requirements – you can track your progress to certification by logging into your account through the OACETT website
  • you need further education and experience – you may need to take additional courses, write technical exams and get more experience – you will remain an associate while working towards the certification requirements
  • you may be eligible for prior learning assessment recognition – this applies if you have:
    • significant technology or applied science experience of more than 10 years
    • acquired the necessary learning in a way other than through formal post-secondary courses

Second file review

You can request a second file review if you disagree with the results of your file assessment. The second file review evaluation troubleshooting guide can give more information before you complete your request for second file review form.

If you do not agree with the results of the second file review, you can appeal to the Registrar by submitting a certification appeal form and the certification appeal fee within 30 days of receiving the second file review decision.

Certification deadlines

OACETT will decide if you have three or six years to complete all your requirements for certification.

The timeline to complete these requirements starts on the day that the IETO reviews your file.

Become certified

Write the professional practice exam

All Associate members working toward certification must write either the professional practice exam or the internationally educated professional practice exam.

These are multiple choice exams. They test your knowledge of the legal, ethical and practical responsibilities of the profession. You can write them online with a proctor. You can take the accompanying seminar to help you prepare for either exam.

Get information on the professional practice exam seminar (online).

Prepare a technology proposal and report (C.E.T. only)

If you want to be a Certified Engineering Technologist, you must:

  • submit a technology proposal any time after you have been notified of your certification requirements
  • write a technology report (based on your approved proposal) that describes and examines an engineering problem. You must submit your report within one year of the approved proposal
  • Technology report guidelines
  • Online technology report-writing seminar

Certification

Associate members become a Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.) or a Certified Technician (C.Tech.) when:

  • their education and experience is approved
  • they have passed the professional practice exam or the internationally educated professional practice exam
  • they have provided proof of legal name
  • they have submitted proof of the English language proficiency
  • they have successfully completed the technology proposal and report (for a C.E.T. designation only)

Keep your certification

Continuing professional development is required to keep your certification. It is ongoing learning that allows professionals to keep their knowledge and skills relevant in today’s world.

Get information on continuing professional development.

Fees

You will have to pay various fees to become a certified engineering technologist or technician. These include:

  • the application fee to join OACETT
  • annual membership dues
  • fees to write exams

Get information on OACETT fees.

You may also have to pay for other costs, such as:

  • credentials evaluation
  • transcripts
  • translation of documents
  • language proficiency testing

Financial assistance

Consider applying for loans and grants to help you pay for fees and other costs:

The Government of Canada has information on training and financial assistance programs that may be helpful. You can also search for benefits and financial assistance using the Government of Canada’s Benefits Finder.

Find a job

In Ontario, certified engineering or applied science technicians and technologists usually work as part of an engineering team.

They may be a project manager, maintenance supervisor, quality analyst, professor, president, or chief executive officer. They work for consulting firms, manufacturers, industries, utilities, educational institutions, and government.

You can get information about jobs from:

JVS Toronto Newcomer Employment Services and COSTI Immigrant Services offer many programs to help you improve your English skills, understand the labour market and help you use your international training to get a job in Canada.

The “find a job” section of the Settlement.org website provides helpful information for newcomers looking for a job.

Labour market information

If you are planning to settle in Ontario, it is a good idea to get familiar with the local labour market.

Look for information about:

  • current industry trends
  • job salaries
  • work conditions
  • where to find employers
  • what skills and training employers are looking for

Detailed descriptions of your profession and information about job prospects in your field can help you make informed decisions about your employment search.

Get information on Ontario's labour market and what you can learn from labour market information.

The Ontario government can help you with career planning. The government also has information on related employment:

Occupational skills

Ontario's skills passport website provides information about the skills required by:

Legislation

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologies regulates certified technicians and technologists under the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Act,1998.

Additional training information

There are programs and services designed to help internationally-educated professionals work in their field in Ontario, such as:

For more information, contact:
Global Experience Ontario

Helpful contacts

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website provides information on getting credentials to work in Canada and a list of Canada’s universities, colleges and other recognized post-secondary institutions.

Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
404–10 Four Seasons Place
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M9B 6H7

Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
1202—1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1N 7B7

COSTI Immigrant Services 
1710 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6E 3P2

JVS Toronto Newcomer Services
74 Tycos Drive
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6B 1V9