career avenues for immigrants (civil)mi

[17117819]

Dear friends,be nice time for all.
I migrated from India to Canada recently as an independent immigrant.I passed 3-year diploma in civil engineering in 1971.Joined public works department as junior engineer.Passed section A and B examination of Institution of Engineers (India) in 1978 and was promoted as an Engineer.Passing of the above exam is recognised as equivalent to bachelor's degree for all purposes.Most of the universities and the well known Indian Institutes of Technology admit students with this qualification to their masters programs.The International Credential Assessment Services of Canada has also evaluated my qualification as equivalent to bachelors university degree in Canada.But here the industry and CCCP is not recognising my qualification and Indian experience.I have 25 years experience at supervisory level.Duties included:for roads,highways,bridges,buildings;survey,preparation of estimates,labor and material cost,site investigation for availability of materials,laboratory tests ASTM specications,designing road profiles,initiating design proposals for buildings and bridges,site supervision of projects,implement specifications,contract administration,Fidic contracts,verification of contractor's bills,project scheduling PERT ,progress monitoring,reporting progress,financial control,arranging departmental materials,traffic census, mix design concrete and asphalt,pre stressing ,liaison with other agencies, staff administration.Projects completed include:four laning of highway,2200 ftlong pre stressed bridge on river,office and residential buildings,maintenance etc.
Presently just surviving.I intend to migrate in the states and find the job of a building inspector or plan checker after I pass ICBO/ICC code exams.Does this make sense? What other alternatives are there? I love civil engineering .Do not want to leave it easily .I am fifty now.Kindly guide.
Thanks.
jsmgrant

 

[StressGuy]

It's sounds like you were doing pretty well in India. I'm curious what compelled you to leave for Canada, particularly w/o a job there to greet you? Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

 

[Berserk]

$$$
I came from the Philippines and immigrated to Canada.
I was a design engineer (water heaters & tool & die)back home and I enjoy my work.
But I only make around CAD$400 a month (1997)

It took me almost 6 years before I became a design engineer again (automotive plastics parts).

 

[StressGuy]

I'm afraid you guys moved in the wrong direction. While you can still make a good living as an engineer in America today, it looks like companies are taking every opportunity they can find to put that engineering work in the Philippines, India, Romania, Mexico, etc because the rates are so much lower, even for "professional" services.

I've got 30 years still to retirement and I have to wonder if there will be any engnineering left to do in this country by then. Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

 

[17117819]

Thank you very much Mr.Klein and my friend from Phillipines for showing your interest in my situation. About your curiosity,I may say that in India it is not easy for an engineer who works for Govt to keep professional competency above board due to political interference. If you really want to be at peace with you ,you have to adopt politicians as your god father.In return you have to keep the contractor in good humour and act as an arm of the political party in power.Because most of the time contractors 'adopt' the minister incharge of the department concerned as their partner.Otherwise you are odd man out,a square peg in round hole.There are many who are always ready to the job. Second reason being the education of my kids. Everybody there wants to send his kids to developed world for education.My kids are doing well in education here.

 

[Hush]

Although not always fair there are reasons why your certification is not recognized. As you state corruption is rampant in some countries. It is well known that it is possible to purchase degrees and certifications without having fulfilled the necessary requirements. I'm not suggesting this is you; you're just suffering from the results. As to experience, most jurisdictions will require you to have local experience if for no other reason than to be exposed to local legal and code requirements; also experience abroad can be very difficult to document.

Still there are a number of options open to you.

A) Attend an accredited Canadian or US ABET university and obtain an ME, approximately 2 years of study. This is the usual route most Indian educated engineers that I've known end up taking. You would still have to fulfill the work experience requirements before you obtain your professional certification.

B) Apply for exam candidacy and if accepted take the exams. Not the easiest road, from what I understand the exams are pretty tough.

C) Apply for registration as an Engineering Technologist. This may require 2 semesters (8 months)at a technical college. In some Provinces a Technologist can acheive standing on par with Engineers but it takes a long time, 7 years plus.

 

[Berserk]

17117819 I hear ya!
Its the same situation in the Philippines.
Its who you know, not what you know.
StressGuy, I assure you we are moving in the right direction. Before any of the engineering jobs is gone,
we would be retired by then.
Before I came here to Canada, I was worried about Canada's debt of about 600billion and the US debt of a 1 trillion?
I thought that it would bankrupt this countries, but I figured if that happens, I'd be running back home.
As for now, I am enjoying the very good standard of living here in North America and paying my taxes to help pay for those debts.

When I arrived here in Canada, most employers are looking for a Canadian experience. So what I did was I started back as a maintenace guy for plastics moulds then work my way up. 17117819 you are lucky because you are coming from a commonwealth country and they recognize your education. They did not recognized mine and they wanted me to take the whole 5 year Mechanical Engineering course.

 

[msilva]

I immigrated to Canada in 1988 with an engineering degree from a Central American country and a Master of Science degree from the former Soviet Union. I found the same obstacles in trying to find work as an engineer. My degrees and experience were not recognized by any employer. I applied for Engineer in Training in Alberta and APEGGA asked me to write three exams, which I successfully passed. The Engineering in Training designation helped me to find an entry level position as a lab technician. I did not mind to start from the bottom, but I had the opportunity to demonstrate to the employer my real skills. My level of resposibility was increasing slowly year after year and I started performing engineering work. After 5 years I became a professional engineer in Alberta. But, my opportunities were still limited because my degree was from overseas. I decided to go back to the University and I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Alberta. I found a job in the United States where I had to write two-eight-hour exams to become a registered professional engineer. It has not been easy for me, but I am telling this story to show that there is hope. I wish you luck.

 

[ice157]

Dear 17117819,

Although I feel sorry that your qualfications are not recogonised it was your decision and by the sound of it looks like you have made the right one.
You will be surprised if you hear the other side of hmmm..let us say your story.I am from India too. I have done my Masters in Mechanical Engineering in Bulgaria.Worked in UK for 5 years and have a PG qualification in Business Administration from UK.
Here comes the interesting part.;-)I decided to go back after 12 long years abroad.
I thought with the qualifications and experience (not to mention the international exposure) I will be more than welcome in my own country.Alas!Though I can prove anytime to anyone my credentials were questioned and my competence doubted.
On top of that you have the usual things.Corruption,Back stabbing,Sneering etc.
I am telling you all this because both sides of this "Educated in one country - Finding a career in another" is more or less the same everywhere.In fact I am currently working in Singapore and the whole scenario is repeating itself.
Of course given enough time (in your case with the 25 years + experience it should not take more than say 3 years) and efforts from your side:Let others doubt your technical competence - you don't.
I am not in Canada but I have been through similar experience.I am saying - don't loose heart.Try the local Associations and Professional Engineering Bodies for more information.
There are so many part time courses,night time classes and online degrees available.Find the one you need.
Remember education is only the key towards many doors in our life.Your experience,character and work attitude count more in your career.Goodluck.

 

[RDK]

17117819

With your qualifications I would look for work with a small to medium consulting company. You would generally have to work under the direction of a Canadian qualified engineer until you fulfilled the requirements for Canadian registration. (There is a North American experience requirement so that you have exposure to North American practices and codes.) Look for a company that has had experience with immigrant engineers in the past. Perhaps your local cultural association may have someone who knows someone who has worked for a consulting firm and can give you some leads.

I am suggesting a small to medium consulting company because they will recognize the value of your experience and knowledge. A large firm or worse government wants a fully qualified person right from the start. They are unwilling to take a chance on someone who does not have all the qualifications right now. A small firm will get to know you as an individual and as an engineer and be more willing to work with you. A really small firm will not have the resources to provide for your development.

Be prepared to start at or near an entry level position. This will be so that the employer can have a good look at your basic skills. You should regain your level quickly.

I am also assuming that you have registered as an engineer in training with your local engineering association. Get involved as a volunteer in some of their activities. Until you are registered you may not be allowed to work on some of the technical committees, but they always have social and other committees that will need help. This will give you some contacts in the profession. Remember a lot of engineering hiring is done not on the basis of advertised positions but on work of mouth and contacts. If nothing else you will gain some exposure to Canadian engineers and learn the issues that are of concern.

Also look on

http://www.careerowl.ca

They have a lot of Canadian engineering jobs available. One of them should fit you.

Where in Canada are you?

Good luck

Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com