Please note: Effective November 1, 2007 all candidates for the Structural Engineer designation MUST submit all the necessary documentation (please see the "How Do I Apply" section on this page) plus have completed references prior to being eligible to write the BC Codes & Practices Exam.

The Washington SE III exam is changing its format. As of April 2011 the SE III exam will be changing to a NCEES SE exam. For the purposes of the Struct.Eng. designation you would need to successfully complete Module B which is an 8 hour exam similar to the current SE III. The current SE III exam will be available until October 2011.

This is a special designation given to Professional Engineers who meet the requirements to create and manage the designs of a building's primary structural system.

What is required to become a Struct.Eng.?

When is a Struct. Eng. required?

Who is currently a Struct.Eng.?

How do I apply?

When are the next exams?

Other links and information

History of the Struct.Eng. Designation

In September 2001, APEGBC members approved a new bylaw which gave Council the authority to establish the application and review process for a new Designated Structural Engineer status, and to proceed with its implementation.

It is up to the relevant Authority Having Jurisdiction (eg. municipality) as to when the services of a Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) will be required. APEGBC has recommended to municipalities in B.C. that, effective January 1, 2007, the Structural Engineer of Record for Part 3 Buildings, as described by Clause 2.1.2.1 (1) (a) and (b) of the 1998 BC Building Code, be required to have the Struct. Eng. designation.

On November 14, 2006, Vancouver City Council approved a report to adopt the 2006 British Columbia Building Code with amendments as the next edition of the Vancouver Building By-law. These amendments include a requirement for designers responsible for the design of a Part 3 building, carried out in accordance with Part 4 of Division B to have a Structural Engineer Designation in accordance with APEGBC's By-laws. The new 2007 Vancouver Building By-law is mandatory for all building permit applications submitted to the City on and after May 1, 2007. The Vancouver Building By-law with the referenced amendments can be found at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/CBOFFICIAL/vbbl/index.htm#amendments.

Following a positive by-law amendment vote by the membership, effective January 1st, 2004, the designation Structural Engineer of Record (Struct.Eng.) has been renamed Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.).

What is required to become a Struct.Eng.?

A candidate for the Struct.Eng. designation must:

• be registered as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in BC;
• demonstrate 6 years of structural engineering experience, at least two of which must be in responsible charge of significant engineering work;
• demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Development;
• have completed one of the following requirements:

  a)  be licensed through examinations as a Structural Engineer (SE) in California or Washington States; or

  b)  have successfully completed the Institution of Structural Engineers' Chartered Membership Examination; or

  c) have successfully completed the Washington State Structural III Examination (available until October 2011); or

  d) have successfully completed Module B of the NCEES Structural Exam (available April 2011)

   

• successfully complete the BC Codes and Practices Examination; and
• pay all associated fees and dues.

When is a Struct.Eng. required?

Where an Authority Having Jurisdiction (eg. municipality) has passed a bylaw requiring the seal of a Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.).

APEGBC has recommended that, effective January 1, 2007, all municipalities in B.C. require the professional seal of a registered Struct. Eng. for the Structural Engineer of Record for a Part 3 Building.

Under the current 2006 BC Building Code, the Part 3 buildings would include those as described by Clause 2.1.2.1(1) (a) and (b) of the 1998 BC Building Code.

From the 2006 British Columbia Building Code Part 2.1.2.1 (1) (a) and (b):

"2.1.2.1 (1)  Except as provided in Subsection 2.1.5 [Farm Buildings], Parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 apply to:

•  all buildings used for major occupancies classified as

    - Group A, assembly occupancies,

    - Group B, care or detention occupancies, or

    - Group F, Division 1, high hazard industrial occupancies, and

•  all buildings exceeding 600m 2 in building area or exceeding 3 storeys in building height used for major occupancies classified as

    - Group C, residential occupancies,

    - Group D, business and personal services occupancies,

    - Group E, mercantile occupancies, or

    - Group F, Division 2 and 3, medium and low hazard industrial occupancies. "

APEGBC has recommended that a Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) not be required for: :

•  Part 9 Buildings;

•  Structural components of Part 9 Buildings that are designed under Part 4;

•  Structures which are outside the scope of the British Columbia Building Code , the Vancouver Building Bylaw, or the National Building Code of Canada; or

•  Components that are not part of the Primary Structural System, e.g. support, anchorage and seismic restraint of electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems and architectural components, etc.

How do I apply for the Struct.Eng. designation?

To apply for the Struct.Eng. designation, please submit the following documents:

• A completed Struct.Eng. Application Form;
• A signed Struct.Eng. Application Declaration;
• A chronological list of employers and positions held;
• A structural project list specifying project name, date and your position;
• Detailed information about 3 projects for which you have acted as the 'structural engineer of record'; and
• A list describing your recent Continuing Professional Development activities.
• For those applying to write the IStructE Examination, please also include a completed Form M Part 8 form

You are responsible for sending a blank Struct.Eng. Reference Form to at least 4 referees with a copy of your work history documents. Each referee will review your project list and detailed project information, complete the reference form, and return it directly to APEGBC.

When are the next exams?

• IStructE Examination:  April 9th, 2010 (application deadline: February 26th, 2010)
• WA SE III: October 30th, 2010 (application deadline is September 24th, 2010) *Please see below for information on the changes to the Washington SE III exam
• BC Codes and Practices Examination 2010 : November 26th, 2010 (application deadline October 22nd, 2010)

   

Other Links and Information

We recommend that you review:

The Struct.Eng. Application

• the Struct.Eng. Application Guide
• the Struct.Eng. Application Form
• the Struct.Eng. Application Declaration
• the Struct.Eng. Reference Form

If you have already applied for Struct.Eng. and need to rewrite an examination, please complete the Examination Payment Application Form below:

• the BCCP / IStructE / SE III / Payment Form

The BC Codes and Practices Examination

• The BC Codes and Practices Guidelines
• The BC Codes and Practices Appeal Policy

BC Codes Exam Sample Questions

• BC Codes and Practices Sample Questions and Answers from 2005 Exam
• BC Codes and Practices Sample Questions and Answers from 2004 Exam
• BC Codes and Practices Sample Questions from 2003 Exam
• BC Codes and Practices Answer Key to Sample Questions from 2003 Exam
• BC Codes and Practices Sample Questions from 2002 Exam
• BC Codes and Practices Answer Key to Sample Questions from 2002 Exam

Washington State Structural III Examination

As of April 2011, the WA SE III exam will be changing to a NCEES SE exam. The SE III will continue to be offered in 2010 and 2011. For more details on the exam changes please see the Special Announcement on the Washington State Board Website here

• Washington State Board Website
• Exam Matrix
• Revised 2005 SE III Code Specs

The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)

• Advice from IStructE Examiners
• IStructE Examination Preparation Checklist
• IStructE Examination Marking Procedure and Appeals

Past IStructE Examinations

• 2006 IStructE Examination - Metric Units
• 2006 IStructE Examination - Imperial Units
• 2006 IStructE Examiner's Report

• 2005 IStructE Examination - Metric Units
• 2005 IStructE Examination - Imperial Units
• 2005 IStructE Examiner's Report

• 2004 IStructE Examination - Metric Units
• 2004 IStructE Examination - Imperial Units
• 2004 IStructE Examiner's Report

• 2003 IStructE Examination - Metric Units
• 2003 IStructE Examination - Imperial Units
• 2003 IStructE Examiner's Report

• 2002 IStructE Examination
• 2002 IStructE Examiner's Report

For a complete list of past IStructE Examinations please visit the SEABC website http://www.seabc.ca/struct_eng.html

Once the Struct.Eng. has been granted

When you have completed the requirements and been granted the Struct.Eng. designation you will be required to submit yearly reports of Continuing Professional Development and Continuing Active Practice. Please see the Struct.Eng Application Guide for more information.

• Continuing Active Practice Declaration
• Continuing Professional Development Form