P.Eng licensure
70 plain-language definitions of the professional-practice, ethics, and engineering-law terms that come up on the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE) and across the P.Eng application in Canada. Use it to study, or to check a term while you write your competency narratives.
A person licensed by a provincial or territorial engineering association to practice professional engineering. The P.Eng designation signifies the holder has met education, experience, and examination requirements.
Related: EIT, EGBC, Licence
A graduate engineer who is gaining the required experience under supervision before qualifying for the P.Eng designation.
Related: P.Eng, GIT
The regulatory body for professional engineering and geoscience in British Columbia. Responsible for registration, regulation, and discipline.
Related: P.Eng, Professional Association
A standardized exam on professional practice, ethics, and law required for P.Eng licensure in most Canadian provinces and territories.
Related: PPE, P.Eng
A set of principles that guide the professional conduct of engineers, emphasizing public safety, integrity, and competence.
Related: Professional Ethics, EGBC
Ongoing learning activities required to maintain professional competence and licensure.
Related: Professional Development
The process of evaluating an applicant's skills and knowledge against defined professional competencies.
Related: SAR, P.Eng
Situation-Action-Result format used to describe demonstrated competencies in regulator applications.
Related: Competency Assessment
A licensed P.Eng who reviews and confirms an applicant's competency claims during the P.Eng application process.
Related: SAR, Competency Assessment
The national organization of provincial and territorial engineering regulatory bodies in Canada.
Related: EGBC, Professional Association
A ring worn by Canadian engineers as a symbol of their obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct.
Related: Ritual of the Calling, Engineering
The act of applying a professional engineer's seal to documents, signifying professional responsibility and accountability.
Related: P.Eng, Engineer's Seal
An audit conducted by the professional association to ensure members and firms maintain professional standards.
Related: EGBC, Compliance
A licence issued by the Association allowing individuals or firms to offer professional engineering services to the public.
Related: Permit to Practice
Similar to a Certificate of Authorization; allows a company or partnership to offer professional engineering services to the public.
Related: CofA
A profession governed by legislation that delegates regulatory authority to a professional association formed by its members.
Related: Professional Association
A situation where personal interests could improperly influence professional judgment or decisions.
Related: Ethics, Fiduciary Duty
Conduct that falls below the standard expected of a professional engineer, which may result in disciplinary action.
Related: Discipline, Ethics
A planning tool to identify potential environmental effects of proposed projects before they proceed.
Related: Environmental Protection
Principle that precautionary measures should be taken when an activity threatens harm, even without full scientific certainty.
Related: Environmental Protection, Public Safety
A provincial insurance system providing benefits to workers injured on the job, funded by employer premiums.
Related: Workplace Safety, Labour Law
Legislation and practices ensuring worker safety in the workplace. Engineers must identify and mitigate hazards.
Related: Workplace Safety
Insurance protecting engineers against claims of negligence or errors in professional services.
Related: Negligence, Liability
The range of professional activities that a licensed engineer is authorized to perform.
Related: P.Eng, Licence
Reporting illegal or unethical conduct within an organization. Engineers may have a duty to report unsafe practices.
Related: Ethics, Public Safety
Agreement to a course of action given after full disclosure of all relevant information, risks, and alternatives.
Related: Ethics, Public Interest
A legal obligation to exercise reasonable care to avoid foreseeable harm to others. Central to tort law and negligence claims.
Related: Tort, Negligence
Failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances, resulting in harm.
Related: Duty of Care, Tort
A private or civil wrong or injury arising independently of contract, typically involving negligence.
Related: Negligence, Duty of Care
Legal doctrine holding an employer responsible for the negligent acts of employees performed within the scope of employment.
Related: Tort, Negligence
Failure to perform any term of a contract without a legitimate legal excuse.
Related: Contract, Damages
Something of value exchanged between parties to a contract. An essential element for a contract to be enforceable.
Related: Contract
Legal rule that ambiguous contract terms are interpreted against the party that drafted them.
Related: Contract Interpretation
Contract law rule prohibiting evidence that contradicts or supplements the written terms of a finalized agreement.
Related: Contract, Evidence
Legal principle preventing a party from enforcing strict contract terms after making a gratuitous promise that disadvantaged the other party.
Related: Contract, Equity
Persuading a party to enter a contract through threatened or actual violence or imprisonment, making the contract voidable.
Related: Contract, Voidable
Pre-estimated damages specified in a contract for non-performance, used to minimize risks.
Related: Contract, Damages
Latin for "as much as deserved." Courts award fair compensation when services are performed without a formal payment agreement.
Related: Contract, Compensation
A court-ordered remedy requiring a party to perform their contractual obligations, typically for unique items like land.
Related: Contract, Remedy
The legal timeframe within which a claim or lawsuit must be commenced to be considered by the courts.
Related: Tort, Contract
A contract provision that aims to exclude liability or damages for specified events.
Related: Contract
A dispute resolution method where an impartial third party makes a binding decision. Often less costly and faster than litigation.
Related: Dispute Resolution, Mediation
A dispute resolution process where a neutral third party facilitates negotiation between disputing parties but does not impose a decision.
Related: Arbitration, Dispute Resolution
A contract clause describing the process to follow when resolving disputes between parties.
Related: Arbitration, Mediation
A percentage withheld from contractor payments under provincial lien acts to ensure sub-contractors are paid.
Related: Construction Lien, Sub-contractor
A legal claim on property by contractors or sub-contractors who have not been paid for work performed on that property.
Related: Holdback
The unethical practice of negotiating prices with sub-contractors after the tender closes.
Related: Tendering, Ethics
The obligation to act honestly, in good faith, and in the best interests of another party (for example, a director to a corporation).
Related: Director, Corporation
Knowingly or recklessly making an untrue statement to induce another party to enter a contract. The misled party can rescind the contract and sue for damages.
Related: Contract, Fraud
An error made by both parties to a contract regarding a fundamental fact, which may render the contract voidable.
Related: Contract
A government grant giving an inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for 20 years from filing.
Related: Intellectual Property, Trade Secret
A distinctive word, symbol, or design used to identify goods or services. Can be renewed indefinitely.
Related: Intellectual Property
Legal right to reproduce, publish, or perform original works. Lasts the life of the author plus 70 years in Canada.
Related: Intellectual Property
Confidential business information providing competitive advantage. No expiry but loses protection once disclosed.
Related: Intellectual Property, NDA
A business owned by one person with unlimited personal liability for business debts.
Related: Business Structure, Partnership
A business owned by two or more persons who share profits, losses, and unlimited liability.
Related: Business Structure, Corporation
A separate legal entity from its owners (shareholders) that provides limited liability.
Related: Business Structure, Director
A temporary business arrangement where two or more parties agree to work together on a specific project.
Related: Partnership, Business Structure
Taking reasonable steps to ensure compliance with legal requirements and professional standards.
Related: Standard of Care, Negligence
A contractual obligation where one party agrees to compensate another for losses or damages incurred.
Related: Contract, Liability
Unforeseeable circumstances preventing someone from fulfilling a contract (for example, natural disasters or war).
Related: Contract
The right of an insurer to pursue a third party that caused an insurance loss to the insured.
Related: Insurance
The degree of care and skill that a reasonably competent professional would exercise in similar circumstances.
Related: Negligence, Duty of Care
Canadian Construction Documents Committee standard form stipulated-price contract between owner and contractor.
Related: Construction, Contract
Traditional project delivery method where design is completed before construction bids are solicited.
Related: Project Delivery, Construction
Project delivery method where a single entity provides both design and construction services.
Related: Project Delivery, Construction
Development meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Related: Environmental Protection
Systematic activities ensuring that products or services meet specified requirements.
Related: Quality Control, QC
Operational techniques and activities used to verify that quality requirements are fulfilled.
Related: Quality Assurance, QA
The process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating risks associated with an engineering project or activity.
Related: Risk Management, Safety
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See also: the 34 P.Eng competencies and the Canadian engineering regulators.
squared.engineering is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Engineers Canada or any provincial engineering regulator. These definitions are for study and general information; always confirm legal and regulatory specifics with your regulator and the governing legislation.