Discipline, Compliance & Enforcement

If you have a concern about the competence or professionalism of a licensed engineer or geoscientist, or a company holding a PEGNL Permit to Practice, or if you notice someone who is not a licensed engineer or geoscientist practicing or using restricted titles, you should report these issues to PEGNL.

If licensed with PEGNL and you have concerns with unethical or unprofessional practice, please contact PEGNL’s Professional Standards Director.
If not licensed with PEGNL, please gather all relevant evidence to support the suspected violation and contact PEGNL’s Professional Standards Director or submit anonymously as outlined below.

Compliance & Enforcement

PEGNL’s compliance efforts are focused on ensuring only licensed individuals and companies practice in Newfoundland and Labrador, and only licensed individuals and companies use titles and designations that are restricted under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act including:

Engineer	Geoscientist	Geologist
Engineering	Geochemist	Geophysicist
P. Eng.	P. Geo.	Eng. L. or Geo. L.

Legislation restricts the practice and the use of these titles, to licensed individuals and companies to ensure the public can trust that those practicing and using the titles are duly qualified to and held accountable for practicing professionally, competently, and ethically. More information on practice restrictions and the misuse of titles is available through the following links: Restricted Practice or Restricted Use of Titles.

Reporting a Compliance Issue

You can report a compliance issue by filling out the compliance issue form through the REPORT A COMPLIANCE ISSUE button on this page. Before starting the form, either review the video or follow the instructions shown on the right:

Reporting a Compliance Issue

Check the Member Register or Permit Directory to see if the individual or company is licensed by PEGNL.
If not licensed with PEGNL, please gather all relevant evidence to support the suspected violation and contact PEGNL’s Professional Standards Director or submit anonymously here. Relevant evidence may include copies or screen shots of:
1. - business cards,
  - company directories,
  - public directory listings,
  - advertisements,
  - websites,
  - social media pages, and/or
  - emails or other documents that may be shared publicly.

Report a Compliance Issue

Complaints Against Members and Discipline

Any person who has a concern about the competence or professionalism of an individual licensed engineer or geoscientist, or a company holding a PEGNL Permit to Practice, should first discuss this concern with the Professional Standards Director (PSD). The PSD can provide information on the allegation process and determine whether the matter falls under the regulatory authority of PEGNL. If the matter falls under PEGNL’s regulatory authority, you have the option of filing an allegation against the individual or firm and the PSD can assist in this matter.

Detailed information about the complaints and discipline process can be obtained by clicking on Discipline Handbook , but there are three basic requirements as outlined below and covered in the video on the right:

The complaint (or “allegation” as it’s referred to in the legislation) must allege “conduct deserving of sanction” which the legislations defines as: (i) professional misconduct; (ii) professional incompetence; (iii) conduct unbecoming a professional member or permit holder; (iv)incapacity or unfitness to practise; and (v) acting in breach of the Act, the Regulations or the code of ethics.
The complaint must be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint (or their legal counsel).
The person making the complaint must consent to disclose the information they provide as a basis for the complaint, to other parties involved in the complaint process including the party against which the complaint is filed.

Bill Hunt, P. Eng., FEC, Professional Standards Director(PSD)

Email: bhunt@pegnl.ca

Tel: (709) 753-7714; ext. 108

FAQs

If I have a complaint about the practice, ethics, or professionalism of a licensed PEGNL member, can I report it anonymously?

No, the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, 2008 requires that all allegations against PEGNL license holders be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint or by that person’s lawyer.

If I see a person who I don’t think is an engineer or geoscientist using the title engineer or geoscientist, can I report it anonymously?

Yes, complaints against individuals not licensed with PEGNL can be reported anonymously.

Who requires a license to practice engineering or geoscience in Newfoundland & Labrador?

Any individual that is practicing engineering or geoscience in relation to work in the province, requires a license.

Do I need to be licensed with PEGNL if I live in Newfoundland & Labrador, but my work is for/in a different province or territory?

No, a license is only required where the practice of engineering or geoscience occurs. You would require a license in all provinces or territories where you practice (where your projects reside).

Do I need to be licenced with PEGNL if I live in a different province, but work on projects in Newfoundland & Labrador?

Yes. A license is required in the jurisdiction for which the work is being done (where the project resides).

If I live, and am registered, in another province but do engineering or geoscience work for a Newfoundland & Labrador project, do I need to be licensed by PEGNL even if I am never physically in Newfoundland & Labrador?

Yes, any professional engineering or geoscience work done for projects in the province of Newfoundland, must be performed by individuals and firms licensed by PEGNL.

I work for a manufacturing company in NL and all my engineering work is used in making the finished product, do I need to be licenced by PEGNL?

Yes, anyone practicing engineering in the province must be licensed by PEGNL.

I work for a mining company in NL and all my geoscience work is used in assessing and extracting an end product, do I need to be licensed by PEGNL?

Yes, anyone practicing geoscience in the province must be licensed by PEGNL.

Who requires a permit to practice in Newfoundland & Labrador?

Any person or organization offering engineering or geoscience services to persons outside of their organization in the province requires a permit to practice.

Do members of PEGNL who are sole proprietors require a permit to practice?

Yes, unless the sole proprietor is working as a contractual employee of the client, a Permit to Practice is required.

If I am a sole proprietor and I only offer my services to one client at a time but have multiple clients in a year, do I require a permit to practice?

Yes. There must be a long-term employee-employer relationship between the sole proprietor and the client for the permit exemption to apply. Offering services to multiple clients in a year does not meet the long-term threshold necessary to establish the employee-employer relationship.

How do I know if a person or a company holds a license or Permit to Practice?

You can find out if a person or a company holds a license or permit to practice by checking the Member Register or Permit Directory.

How do I report a potential compliance violation?

If you suspect or are aware of an unlicensed individual, company, or entity that is using a reserved title, is representing entitlement to practice engineering or geoscience, or is practicing engineering or geoscience, please contact PEGNL’s Professional Standards Director by email at bhunt@pegnl.ca or by telephone at (709) 753-7714; Ext. 108.

What type of information does PEGNL need when dealing with compliance issues?

Any relevant evidence to support the suspected violation, including business cards, company directories, phone book or public directory listings, media advertisements, screenshots (of websites, advertisements, social media pages or emails) or documents that can be shared publicly will help in our efforts.

What happens to an unlicensed individual or firm who is in violation of the Engineers & Geoscientists Act?

Under Section 43 of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, 2008 (the Act) unlicensed individuals or companies who violate the Act may be subject to legal action and fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

What happens to a licensed individual or firm who is in violation of the Engineers & Geoscientists Act?

Under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, 2008 (the Act) licensed members or firms who violate the Act are subject to discipline and sanctions up to and including loss of license and the right to practice the professions.

What about title representation in social media?

Any license holder with PEGNL has the right to use reserved titles, including on social media. A person who is not licensed with PEGNL and is using reserved titles or representing entitlement to practice engineering or geoscience, whether it is through use of social media or not, is in violation of the Engineers & Geoscientists Act.

Can my company have a name that includes a reserved title if they do not offer engineering or geoscience services?

No. Partnerships, corporations, or other entities may not be incorporated or registered in Newfoundland & Labrador under a name that includes the words “engineering”, “geology”, “geophysics”, or “geoscience” or variations of these words, unless it holds and continues to hold a valid PEGNL Permit to Practice.

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