Change from Practising to Non-Practising Status

Non-practising Bylaw 10(c) states that:
Council may grant non-practising membership to a member who is in good standing and who commits in writing to Council not to engage in the practice of professional engineering or professional geoscience until released from the commitment by Council in writing.

Members granted non-practising status shall retain voting privileges. Non-practising members who apply for practising status shall be required to pay the applicable fees set by Council and to demonstrate compliance with the current requirements in the Act and bylaws for registration as a member.

Key points regarding non-practicing status:

• Members with non-practising status may be fully employed and earn income as long as they are not practicing engineering or geoscience.
• Non-practising members must commit in writing not to engage in the practice of professional engineering or professional geosciences until released from the commitment.
• Members with non-practising status retain their PEng or PGeo designations. While our Member Directory on the website shows the member as Non-practising, that same member does not have to sign anything with the parenthetical title.
• Non-practising members have the same voting privileges as practising members.
• Non-practicing members are excluded from random selection for practice review.
• Non-practising members will not be required to maintain any future mandatory Continuing Professional Development at the level required of practicing members. 
• Non-practising members pay full fees unless they are eligible for reduced fee status (see below).

How to Apply for Non-practising Status
You can apply for non-practising status by completing the declaration on the second page of your Annual Fee Invoice at the time of your fee renewal, committing to Council in writing not to engage in the practice of professional engineering or professional geosciences until released from the commitment by Council.

Returning to Practice
Non-practising members wishing to resume practising status, will be required to comply with return to practice policies in place at that time.

Qualifying for Reduced or Deferral of Annual Member Fees

APEGBC Members in all grades of membership and licence who have an annual “Active Income” of $31,000 or less are eligible for reduced fee status.  “Active Income” includes gross income from all employment or director’s fees and/or net income from self employment; it does not include pension or other retirement income, investment income, unemployment insurance income, support payments, scholarships, bursaries or disability income. All other sources of income are considered “active.”

APEGBC Members in all grades of membership and licence are exempted from paying an annual fee if they have a medical condition that renders them unable to work. 

To request reduced fee status, please complete the section on the fee renewal form entitled: 
REQUEST FOR REDUCED FEE STATUS

Members who are unable to pay the reduced annual fee and who do not qualify for exemption from fees based on a medical condition, may apply for a deferral of the annual fee for one year  Applications for deferral of annual fees for one year can be made by completing the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Annual Fees and sending an email, with a brief one-page cover letter detailing your circumstances and a copy of your most recent resumé to gpichler@apeg.bc.ca at the Association office. The confidentiality of all applications is strictly maintained.

Members experiencing financial hardship may also make an application to the Engineers and Geoscientists Benevolent Fund.