An Introduction about APEGS, APEGS CBA, Competency-based-assessment and Online competency-based-assessment

 

APEGS stands for association of professional engineers and geoscientists of Saskatchewan.  It is a professional licensing body in Saskatchewan, Canada that sets the high standard for qualified engineers and geoscientists to become licensed professionals. It takes care of professional incompetence or professional misconduct of members and takes disciplinary action. For regulating the profession, it prevents the illegal practice of engineering and geoscience by unlicensed individuals. It means the public may remain confident that the professional engineers and geoscientists have the right education, ethics, and skills to protect the public interest and the environment. It also means that professional engineers and geoscientists can feel proud of belonging to a profession with a reputation for excellence, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life, health, safety, and well-being of all Canadians.

APEGS CBA stands for the APEGS competency-based assessment. There are 34 competencies assigned for APEGS Canada. Competency can be termed as the ability to do some specific tasks or perform roles of an occupational category as per the standards set by the employer or the larger communities.

APEGS competencies are nothing but categorical groupings of skills & competencies. There are 7 categories that represent the areas in which the engineers show their expertise. The categories are such as-

• Professional accountability (6 competencies)
• Technical competence (10 competencies)
• Project and financial management (5 competencies)
• Social, economic, environmental, and sustainability (5 competencies)
• Personal continuous professional development (CPD) (3 competencies)
• Team effectiveness (2 competencies)
• Communication (3 competencies)

What is Competency-based Assessment?

Generally speaking, any method that is designed to quantify the observable behaviors that successful workers display while performing their jobs falls under the category of competency-based assessment.

Various talents, information, motives, qualities, and skills that an employee possesses contribute to the development of these behaviors.

The most appropriate competency-based assessment should be based on clearly defined work criteria and generate consistent and reliable results. In a nutshell, Competency-based assessments are used to predict overall job success with a high degree of accuracy.

How does competency-based assessment help aspirants in their career path?

In addition to identifying possible employee progression opportunities, competency-based evaluations can also identify current employee strengths, skill gaps, and qualifications, allowing for more informed hiring decisions.

An assessment also assists aspirants in identifying the exact aspects (such as experience, competencies, or education) that they will need for their next internal career step.

Why is Online Competency-Based Assessment Critical?

Before acquiring a license to practice engineering in Canada, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) conducts an online Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) to determine the ability of engineers.

This system, built on January 1, 2019, and evaluated by the APEGS membership in May 2018, was approved by the membership at the Annual Meeting in May 2018. The EGBC began using the APEGS Competency-Based Assessment for all professional engineer applicants on January 1, 2019, and will continue to do so until further notice.

The analysis applies to engineers-in-training applicants from both domestic and international backgrounds. The APEGS Competency-Based Assessment in Canada is only available to those who have four years of engineering-in-training experience and one year of prior-graduate experience.

Listed below are some of the reasons why Competency-Based Assessment – APEGS is critical for students:

1. Transparency.

In the APEGS Competency-Based Assessment system, applicants can complete the evaluation at their own pace, making it a transparent process. The use of detailed indications and examples for each skill area provides a clear picture of the evaluation. Students and Engineers-in-Training who take the exam acquire a thorough overview of the prevailing practices as well as an assessment of their current skill level, allowing them to enhance their portfolio accordingly. Engineers-in-Training acquires confidence and a sense of belonging as a result of the precise and flawless evaluation.

2. Consistency

The APEGS Competency Rating Scale, with a score range of 0 to 5, assists in ensuring consistency in the evaluation technique.

Candidates may advance to the quantitative evaluation step if the scoring procedure is accurate and consistent, as it is.

It builds confidence in the current scoring technique while also ensuring that the system is consistently applied to all applicants that submit applications.

3. Time-saving process

Participants in the APEGS Competency-Based Assessment who complete it online save substantial time and resources. They simply upload the relevant data to the system evaluation and maintain the competency report in one convenient location.

Additionally, candidates can appoint validators and maintain contact with them. As soon as applicants have finished submitting their competencies, the authorized validators are advised of the next steps to take.

4. Saves Money

Consider the scenario in which you were required to travel to the center for your assessment. Traveling to a foreign country for your assessment would be costly. However, online evaluation eliminates the need for travel and other associated costs, making it a suitable approach for aspirants worldwide.

5. A Streamlined Procedure

An online competence evaluation approach allows students to readily report and confirm their engineering experience from any location in the world, regardless of their location. Online submission of Competency-based assessment lets aspirants save a lot of time, money, and effort.

Moreover, students are not required to obtain signatures from the assessment authority or complete a large amount of paperwork. The applicant can download all of the data from any location globally, making online competency-based assessment a stress-free and streamlined process for everyone.

Closing thought-

So, this is an introduction about APEGS, APEGS CBA, Competency-based assessment, and online competency-based assessment. Competency-based assessment is crucial for engineers-in-training within the APEGS framework. It expedites the process of acquiring a license and practicing engineering in the country.