In 2013, Engineers Nova Scotia Council approved a motion to create a registrant category for limited licensure.

A limited engineering license is a license to practice professional engineering within a well defined and limited scope of practice.  This category of registration is for individuals who have academic qualifications other than a university engineering degree, who have gained several years of in-depth experience in the practice of professional engineering in very specific and narrow fields under the supervision of a P.Eng., and who wish to take professional responsibility for engineering activities that fall within the approved scope of their limited license.

The limited license enables the license holder to independently practice engineering within a specific scope of practice and list of activities approved by the Board of Examiners of Engineers Nova Scotia, subject to on-going registration and professional development. 

The title will be “Limited Engineering License” and the professional designation will be Eng. L. which represents “Engineering Licensee”. Stamps are issued as “Registered Limited License”.

Applying for an Eng. L. requires energy and commitment as the applicant must be able to provide supporting documentation to demonstrate the necessary education and complementary experience acceptable to the Board of Examiners to independently practice specific activities within the requested scope of practice.

Given that each limited license is unique and only applies to well-defined and narrow scope of practice, the approval process will likely take longer than a P.Eng. license application as the Board of Examiners reviews whether the practical experience under the supervision of P.Eng. submitted by the limited license applicant complements the academic qualifications sufficiently to allow the applicant to practice independently.

Any questions regarding the limited engineering license or the Limited Engineering License Guide can be directed to registration@engineersnovascotia.ca.

The Limited Engineering Licence Guide is available here.