Steps to certification

If you are already an associate member, here is how to proceed towards certification through OACETT:

• Arrange for your school to send your official post-secondary transcript by mail directly to OACETT so that the association can verify your education.
• Send OACETT your detailed resume.
• Send OACETT the names/addresses of three professional references who can comment on your work. If possible, one should be your current supervisor.
• Send OACETT a detailed job description (current or previous), preferably signed by your supervisor.
• Take the Professional Practice Examination.
• Write a Technology Report (for certification as a Technologist only).

Here is how the certification process works:

When we have received your transcripts, resumes, job description and completed references, the Institute of Engineering Technology of Ontario (IETO), OACETT’s certification and registration arm, evaluates your academic and engineering technology experience.

To become a certified engineering technologist (C.E.T.) or certified technician (C.Tech.) you must have at least two years of experience in the field or discipline of engineering/applied science technology in which you are seeking registration, one of these years must be in Canada.

The file review determines if you need any more academic requirements and/or work experience to become a certified member of OACETT. Please note that this review takes approximately 3 to 4 months after we receive all the documentation listed above. 

When the review is finished, IETO will send you a report about the review. Each application is different and to become certified, you may need to complete additional courses and work experience. We will send you a personalized program that outlines any other steps you need to take. It’s important not to let your membership lapse during the process.

To become certified as either a technician or a technologist, associate members must write and pass the Professional Practice Examination (PPE). Writing the PPE enables you to meet the high professional standards set by your association in the area of ethics and responsibility to the public and your employer. You may write the PPE any time after you join as an associate member.

To become certified as a C.E.T. you will need to write a Technology Report (TR). The Technology Report assesses your ability to describe and examine in detail an engineering or applied science problem.  You must submit a proposal for approval before submitting the completed report. The report topic should be appropriate to your experience and employment setting.  You may complete this requirement any time after you become an associate member unless you have further technologist-level academics to complete.  If so, the academics should be completed first. Those associate members who have graduated from a nationally accredited engineering or applied science technology program do not have to complete OACETT’s TR requirement since they completed one meeting our specifications in their college program.  The report we issue after your file review will indicate whether the TR is required or whether it has been waived based on this reason.

If only the Professional Practice Exam is required for certification, you can be certified quite quickly as we offer the exam four times per year.  For others who have outstanding academics or experience requirements, their road to certification will be based on their own progress.  IETO assigns a timeline for members to achieve certification.  Members have three years to complete certification if they have no further academics to complete and six years if they have been assigned academics. 

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When you have met all the requirements identified in the file review report, IETO will inform you in writing of your new status as a certified member. We will send you your certificate and publish your name in The Ontario Technologist magazine.

You will be eligible for all benefits reserved for certified members, including the right to use one of the protected titles and designations, C.E.T. or C.Tech. and to buy a technology ring and stamp.