Canada is the dream country for international students because of its great education system and easy visa grants. One of the most applied programs in Canada by international students is engineering. The universities offer various engineering programs to domestic and international students at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels.
If you plan on taking engineering as your career, you need to have passion for it because it can be a hard subject to grab onto. In this article, we will take you through the six easy steps you can follow if you want to become an engineer in Canada so let us get started.
How to Become an Engineer in Canada
Step 1. Understand Canada’s Engineering Education System
The first step towards becoming an engineer in Canada is to understand the engineering education system that is currently in effect in the country. Each country has its education and pathway to professional degrees. In Canada, you can either do a bachelor’s, a master’s, or a doctorate in engineering but you will need to fulfill some prior educational requirements. To apply for admission to a bachelor’s in engineering, you will need to have a complete 12-year education. To apply for admission to a master’s program, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and to be able to apply for a doctoral degree in engineering, you will need to have a master’s degree in the area. Your previous education will serve as the step for your future degree so choose wisely.
Most Canadian universities will also require students to have studied some engineering-related subjects in their previous education before admitting them to a bachelor’s degree. These subjects may include math, algebra, computer science, physics, and chemistry but largely depend on the type of engineering degree you are applying to.
Step 2. Select an Engineering Program and Get Admitted
The second step after understanding the Canadian education system is to select the engineering program in a university that suits your needs and get admitted to it. This step will involve a lot of documentation. Most Canadian universities require international students to apply with an English Language Test score like IELTS or PTE so make sure you have that planned and sorted. There are many great universities in Canada that you can choose from for your engineering degree like the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and McGill University. You will need to formally fill out an application on their respective website portal to be considered for their engineering program.
Engineering is not an easy degree which is why it is not for everyone. When you do decide to opt for an engineering major, make sure that you have had a good thought about it. It will help you immensely if you have had some previous experience with engineering subjects like mathematics, physics, and in some cases, chemistry. Choose your major and minor subjects based on your interest and ease of understanding because this will help you a lot in the completion of your degree.
Step 3. Fulfill the Educational Requirement
Step three involves the completion of your degree. An undergraduate degree in engineering will have some core courses and some elective courses for you to take. Some of them might have practicals on the side and some might need you to submit a project. This depends on your major and teacher. Before choosing a specialization, make sure to go through the course outline as it will help you decide which suits your interests and capabilities.
An undergraduate degree has a duration of four years, a master’s degree is of at least two years, and completion of a doctoral degree will vary depending on the student and the university.
Step 4. Apply for Licenses and Certifications
After you have the degree, you can start applying for the engineering license and/or related professional certification. To get an engineer license you need to fulfill five criteria which include: holding an engineering degree from an accredited university, having relevant experience in the province of choice, passing the Professional Practice Examination (PPE) which is a written test, with a good character standing, and the ability to understand and communicate in either English or French.
Step 5. Take up Apprenticeships
After getting your certifications and license sorted, you will now be able to get real hands-on experience in the professional world. Use your resume and attend as many recruitment drives as you can. Your university might be able to help you land your first apprenticeship under prestigious alumni or a university donor. Get in touch with the external placement office at your university and let them know that you are actively looking for an opportunity.
Step 6. Apply in the Job Market for Career Advancement
Finally, after the apprenticeship, you are now fully equipped to enter the job market for your first engineering job. Be brave and steadfast in your search and you will surely succeed. The biggest engineering company in Canada is the Aecon Group Inc. They actively hire new graduates and help build their careers up the ladder. The second big corporation in terms of mechanical and electric engineering consultancy is MNA Quality Consulting. These corporations are always on the lookout for bright and upcoming engineers so make sure to drop a CV there when you can.
FAQS on Becoming an Engineer in Canada
Is Canada a Good Place for Engineers?
Canada is a great place for engineers and the reason behind it is that the country offers great education and incentives to international students. Students who have completed an engineering degree and plan to stay in Canada and give back to the economy will be provided with numerous work opportunities and benefits. Nowadays international students are in demand because the country needs young and passionate individuals to help in the socioeconomic development of the country. So if you plan on pursuing your engineering degree in Canada, we would say go for it because you cannot find a better country for international students than Canada. Additionally, it is easier to get a Canadian student visa as compared to other countries.
Here we come to the end of the article on the Steps to Becoming an Engineer in Canada. Now that you have an idea of how to be successful in becoming an engineer in Canada, we hope that you will be inspired to go after your dream!
We hope this article was helpful to you. You can visit the Study in Canada and Available Programs for International Students pages for more information about studying in Canada!
