ASTTBC welcomes applied science and engineering technology professionals who have obtained their education and/or trained outside of Canada and works fairly to efficiently evaluate all applications to determine if they meet the standards for entry to practice in British Columbia.
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Watch this step-by-step video on how to become registered with ASTTBC
This video provides an overview of the registration process with ASTTBC. Learn what to expect from applying and meeting certification requirements to maintaining registration through continuing professional development, while discovering resources to help you succeed as a certified technology professional in BC.
Please note ASTTBC registration requirements as well as ASTTBC policies and procedures, in place at the time a complete application is submitted, will apply.
Registration Requirements for Applied Science Technologists and Certified Technicians
Basic Requirements
Applicants for registration as an Applied Science Technologist (AScT) or Certified Technician (CTech) require post-secondary education qualification and relevant work experience. The minimum requirements are:
- Education:
- for AScT, a two-year accredited diploma in applied science or engineering technology, or equivalent and certification exam;
- for CTech, a one-year accredited certificate in applied science or engineering technology, or equivalent.
- Work experience: Completion of 24 months (3,600 hours) progressive, relevant work experience of which a minimum of 12 months (1,800 hours) must be at the technologist and/or technician profile of practice or higher.
- Be legally authorized to work in Canada;
- English language proficiency;
- Be of good character and repute; and
- Professional Practice & Ethics exam.
Available disciplines for registration:
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AScT:
Architecture Building Construction Technology
Bioscience Technology
Biomedical Engineering Technology
Chemical Engineering Technology
Civil Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Electronics Engineering Technology
Environmental Engineering Technology
Petroleum and Gas Engineering Technology
Geotechnical Engineering Technology
Industrial Engineering Technology
Information Technology
Instrumentation Engineering Technology
Marine Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Metallurgical Technology
Mineral Resources Technology
Naval Architecture Technology
Survey/Geomatics Technology -
CTech:
Architecture Building Construction Technician
Biotechnology Technician
Chemical Technician
Civil Technician
Computer Systems Technician
Electrical Technician
Electro-Mechanical Technician
Electronics Technician
Environmental Technician
Instrumentation Technician
Mechanical Technician
Mineral Resources Technician
Petroleum and Gas Technician
Power Systems Technician
Survey/Geomatics Technician
There are 3 pathways to registration as an AScT or CTech based on whether an applicant has completed: 1) an accredited education, 2) an accredited education in a different discipline than the discipline being applied for, or 3) a non-accredited education.
Our education requirement is focused on learning outcomes
- There are General Learning Outcomes and Discipline Specific Learning Outcomes
- These learning outcomes come from the Canadian Technology Standards – which can be found at the Technology Accreditations Canada website.
The pathways and a description of the requirements for each pathway are outlined below:
Please note applicants who have completed an accredited education program from a country listed in the Sydney or Dublin Accords are recognized as substantially equivalent to an accredited education program in Canada.
Exams
AScT Certification Exam
The certification exam is designed to test entry-level skill and knowledge of applied science and engineering technologists. AScT applicants are required to successfully complete a certification exam in the following circumstances, applicants who have:
- completed non-accredited education/training and are applying for AScT; or
- completed an accredited program but are applying for a different discipline than completed education, and there is a discipline-specific exam available; or
- have completed a technician-level program in applied science and engineering technology and are seeking reclassification from CTech to AScT.
The following certification exams are available:
- Architectural
- Civil
- Construction
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Instrumentation
- Mechanical
- Petroleum
- Fundamentals of technology
If you completed a non-accredited program and there is no discipline-specific certification exam available for your discipline, you will be assigned the fundamentals of technology exam.
CTech Certification Exam
Effective October 7, 2025, applicants for Certified Technician (CTech) who have completed a non-accredited education program (pathway 3) are required to successfully complete the CTech Certification Exam as part of the registration process.
This exam evaluates the general learning outcomes expected of graduates from an accredited technician-level program to ensure consistency in the standards applied to all applicants, regardless of their educational pathway.
Applicants who have completed an accredited technician-level program are not required to complete the CTech Certification Exam unless otherwise specified.
Professional Practice and Ethics Exam
All applicants must successfully complete the Professional Practice & Ethics (PP&E) exam. There are fees associated with each of the exams.
Further information and study materials for certifications exams and the PP&E, including information on fees can be found here: https://asttbc.org/applicants/exams/.
Competency Summaries
All AScT and CTech applicants will need to demonstrate they fulfill the experiential requirements using the work competency summary as a tool to assist. These discipline specific work experience competencies are listed in the drop-down below. If there is no discipline-specific competency summary available, applicants will be required to complete the “general” working competencies. Applicants can self-assess whether their work experience is at the technologist or technician level.
The competency summary will need to be submitted as part of your application.
Instructions for completing the competency summary are included within the document and a sample summary is available for review.
Competency Summaries form
English Language Proficiency
All applicants are required to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language.
An applicant may demonstrate their proficiency in the English language with their official transcripts which indicate completion of a secondary school diploma, or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree from an educational institute where English is the primary language of instruction.
Further details and information can be found in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
Required Documents
All required documents should be uploaded by the applicant to the attachments section of the online application, except for the original and official transcripts as noted below.
Applicants should request the official transcripts from their academic institute to be sent directly to ASTTBC.
Applicants who have completed education outside of Canada, should request the official transcripts from their academic institute to be sent directly to their third-party credentialling assessor (WES or ICES), and request an original comprehensive assessment to be sent directly to ASTTBC. Once ASTTBC receives the official transcripts or comprehensive assessment report, staff will upload the document to an applicant’s online application.
All applications must be submitted online. Please create a free online account before starting your application. Applications will be processed once ASTTBC has received the non-refundable application fee.
Please read through our Inactive Application Policy carefully before proceeding with your application.
If the applicant has not completed the required work experience, they may be eligible for the trainee category of registration while they work to obtain the required work experience. Information on how to apply as a trainee can be found on our trainee page.
If you are unsure what level of certification you may be eligible for, we recommend completing the following self-assessment by visiting https://www.engineeringtechnologycanada.ca/en. This tool developed by Technology Professionals Canada (TPC) will assist you in determining if you are eligible for certification as a Technician or Technologist.
How to Apply for Registration as an Internationally Trained Professional
Information on the ASTTBC Application process can be found below. The fees associated with the application and registration process are outlined in Schedule C of the ASTTBC bylaws. Please note there may be additional costs associated with applying to ASTTBC as an internationally trained professional (i.e., cost of a third-party credential assessment, translation services, or English language proficiency testing).
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Step 1: Gather documentation to support your application
It is recommended that applicants start the process of gathering the required documents before starting the application process and paying any fees. This will assist in making sure your application can be processed as efficiently as possible.
Internationally trained professionals must provide the following documentation as part of their application process in English or have it translated into English:
- Government issued photo ID with legal name that matches official documents required for the application
- Education documents (original or official copies of transcripts, certificates, diplomas or degrees)
- Credential Assessment (ASTTBC accepts a comprehensive assessment which provides a course-by-course evaluation from a recognized credentialing agency such as WES or ICES)
- The credential assessment must be sent directly to ASTTBC by the third-party credentialing agency. In circumstances where the third-party does not provide paper records, ASTTBC will accept documentation in an electronic format directly from the third-party via email.
- A copy of your official transcripts is attached to the credential assessment report provided to ASTTBC by the third-party credentialing agency and will be used by ASTTBC to evaluate that the courses you have completed meet ASTTBC’s educational requirements for the class of registration. You are not required to provide ASTTBC with an official transcript. However, if you provided copies of transcripts instead of official transcripts to the third-party credentials assessor, you are required to arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to ASTTBC
- If you are unable to obtain official transcripts from your academic institution, please contact ASTTBC directly for further instruction
- Effective April 1, 2026, please note that if any of your application documents are written in a language other than English, they must be translated by a certified translator into English. You are responsible for any costs involved in the translation process.
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- All translated documents must include: (1) The translator’s official stamp and/or identification number, address, phone number, and date of translation
- A statement by the translator that it is a true representation of the original document(s)
- The printed name and original signature of the translator
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- Proof of English language proficiency (please see English Language Proficiency policy for further information)
- If not a Canadian citizen, copy of permanent resident card or work permit
- your most recent, relevant job description signed by your supervisor. If you have change your job within 6 months, your previous job description is also required.
- Minimum of 3 references that can validate you meet the requirements for registration including experiential and competency requirements, and you are a person of good character and repute and are fit to practice consistent with the responsibilities and standards expected of a registrant. Confirm with your references that they are willing and able to provide a reference in English.
- Written description on completed education and work experience that demonstrates substantial equivalence to the learning outcomes required
- Competency summary signed by your supervisor
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Step 2: Proceed to asttbcapply.ca and create an account
Applications are submitted through ASTTBC’s online application platform. You are required to create an account in order to submit your application to ASTTBC.
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Step 3: Complete the application form
The application form is available through the online application system and is only accessible once an individual has made an online account.
As part of your application, you are required to complete a self-declaration of learning outcomes which includes selecting a discipline. You must select your discipline-specific learning outcomes (minimum of 5) and identify the indicators of performance.
You are then required to select all general learning outcomes for your class of registration. These are mandatory and therefore an applicant must identify they have met all the general learning outcomes. It is important to ensure that you have provided written descriptions of how your education and work experience meet each learning outcomes claimed as applications without this supporting documentation will not be processed.
Please note the application system will not allow you to submit your application if you have not selected the required learning outcomes for registration.
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Step 4: Upload all required documentation under the Attachments section
All required documentation should be uploaded for submission. After submitting your application, ASTTBC will contact you should there be any documentation missing. Please note that missing documentation may cause delays in processing your application for registration.
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Step 5: Review and Submit application and payment
All sections of the application form must be completed before an application is processed. Once submitted, if there are any incomplete sections, ASTTBC registration staff will contact the applicant and direct them to complete all required sections of the application form.
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Step 6: Arrange for all third-party documentation be sent directly to ASTTBC
The onus is on the applicant to arrange for all third-party documentation be sent directly to ASTTBC (i.e. WES or ICES comprehensive assessment report)
Once your application is submitted: NEXT STEPS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS…
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Document Collection
All applicants will receive an initial email to acknowledge their application, any clarification required, and any outstanding items. During this phase, ASTTBC requests and/or files documentation received from third parties (e.g., referees, credential assessment, letters of good standing, verification of certification etc.) and reminds applicants of any outstanding information required in order to review their file. The onus is on applicants to ensure that all required documentation is sent to ASTTBC.s
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File review
Once all the required documentation has been collected. The application will be reviewed by two qualified individuals (file reviewers) for evaluation and recommendation. These file reviewers will review and provide a recommendation to the credentials committee on whether an applicant’s education and experience meet the requirements for registration.
If you completed a non-accredited program and there is no discipline-specific certification exam available for your discipline, you will be assigned the fundamentals of technology exam.
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Review by Credentials Committee
After file review, the Credentials Committee review the application and recommendation provided by the file reviewers and determine if the applicant has met the basic requirements for registration and is permitted to proceed to writing the required exams. The Credentials Committee may also reject the application if the applicant has not demonstrated they meet the requirements for registration.
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Complete required examinations
Applicants are required to successfully complete the Professional Practice and Ethics examination and/or other required certification examinations (see exams page for further information on exams).
Certification Exams
The certification exam is designed to test entry-level skill and knowledge of applied science and engineering technologists who have:
- completed non-accredited education/training and are applying for AScT or;
- completed an accredited program but are applying for a different discipline than completed education, and there is a discipline-specific exam available; or
- have completed a technician-level program in applied science and engineering technology and are seeking reclassification from CTech to AScT.
The following certification exams are available:
- Architectural
- Civil
- Construction
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Instrumentation
- Mechanical
- Petroleum
- Fundamentals of technology
If you completed a non-accredited program or are reclassifying and there is no discipline-specific certification exam available for your discipline, you will be assigned the fundamentals of technology exam.
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Approval of Application and Placement on the Register
Once all required examinations have been successfully completed and applicants have received written notice that they have passed, ASTTBC will send an invoice for the required registration fees. Upon receipt of the payment, ASTTBC will issue a registration number and certificate and the applicant will be added to the Register.
Other Classes of Registration
Please visit the Fire Protection, Onsite Wastewater or Registered Technical Specialist page for information.
Resource List
To assist our internationally trained professionals, we have created a list of resources available to help with employment and skills development.
Feedback
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- A topic we missed?
- Content that can be clarified?
- A way to make the site easier to navigate?
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