Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Geoscientist in British Columbia

Last checked 6 sources checkedNOC 21102

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC to work as a geoscientist in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“A regulator is a provincial or federal statutory body that requires an individual to hold membership, accreditation, licensing or registration to be authorized to work in a specific occupation. … Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) … Geoscientists”

From privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/students/career-occupations-o..., checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
  • GIT annual fee: $286 (Full fee)
    Source
    “Full fee | $286.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • GIT reduced annual fee: $143 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $143.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. practising annual fee: $535 (Practising)
    Source
    “Practising | $535.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. non-practising annual fee: $133.75 (Non-practising)
    Source
    “Non-practising | $133.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. reduced annual fee: $267.50 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $267.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Practising within authorized area of reserved practice: $503
    Source
    “Practising within authorized area of reserved practice | $503.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Non-practising: $125.75
    Source
    “Non-practising | $125.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Reduced fee based on active income level: $251.50
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level\* | $251.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $880.25

  1. Fill out and submit the regulator's completed online application form.

    • GIT application fee: $525 (Applicant applying more than 12 months after graduation)
      Source
      “Applicant applying more than 12 months after graduation | $525.00”
      egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
    Source
    “A completed online application”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  2. Upload certified copies of two valid government-issued pieces of ID, at least one with a photo, as a single PDF on the application dashboard.

    Source
    “Certified copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID). Both pieces of ID must contain your full legal name and be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration. At least one piece of ID must contain your photo.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  3. Have your post-secondary institution(s) send official academic transcripts directly to the regulator.

    Source
    “Official academic transcripts sent directly from your post-secondary institution(s)”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  4. Submit a completed Self-Evaluation Checklist for your discipline along with a description of each course you are claiming, and thesis abstracts for master's or PhD programs if applicable.

    Source
    “A completed Self-Evaluation Checklist for your discipline of application - A description of each course you completed that you are claiming on your Self-Evaluation Checklist.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  5. If your degree does not satisfy the checklist requirements, you may be assigned academic examinations and/or an interview after the regulator reviews your application.

    Source
    “If you do not have an undergraduate degree in geoscience with courses that satisfy the checklist requirements, you may be assigned academic examinations and/or an interview.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  6. The regulator reviews your application once all required documents are received, which may take up to four months, and if approved sends a notification email and certificate.

    Source
    “We will review your application once we have received all of your required documents. Due to the volume of applications we receive, it may take up to four months for us to review your application.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

Listed fees for this route

2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $880.25 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 5 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

  • GIT annual fee: $286 (Full fee)
    Source
    “Full fee | $286.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • GIT reduced annual fee: $143 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $143.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. practising annual fee: $535 (Practising)
    Source
    “Practising | $535.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. non-practising annual fee: $133.75 (Non-practising)
    Source
    “Non-practising | $133.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. reduced annual fee: $267.50 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $267.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Practising within authorized area of reserved practice: $503
    Source
    “Practising within authorized area of reserved practice | $503.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Non-practising: $125.75
    Source
    “Non-practising | $125.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Reduced fee based on active income level: $251.50
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level\* | $251.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $880.25
  • Listed time: 0.2 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. Submit a completed online application for registration in BC through the regulator's online portal.

    • P.Geo. application fee: $300 (Applicant registered or licensed as P.Eng., P.Geo., ing., or géo in another Canadian province/territory)
      Source
      “Applicant registered or licensed as P.Eng., P.Geo., ing., or géo in another Canadian province/territory | $300.00”
      egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
    Source
    “A completed online application”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...

  2. Upload certified copies of two valid government-issued pieces of ID, at least one with a photo, as a single PDF on the application dashboard.

    Source
    “Certified copies of two pieces of government-issued identification (ID). Both pieces of ID must contain your full legal name and be valid (i.e., not expired) at the time of registration. At least one piece of ID must contain your photo.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...

  3. If you are applying for P.L.Geo., include a resumé with your application.

    Source
    “A resumé (only if you are applying for P.L.Geo.)”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...
  4. Time: 5 to 7 days
    Time source
    “approximately five to seven business days”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...
    Source
    “For GIT and P.Geo. applications, it will take us approximately five to seven business days to review your application and grant registration after we have received all the required documents.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...

Listed fees for this route

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $880.25 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 5 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

  • GIT annual fee: $286 (Full fee)
    Source
    “Full fee | $286.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • GIT reduced annual fee: $143 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $143.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. practising annual fee: $535 (Practising)
    Source
    “Practising | $535.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. non-practising annual fee: $133.75 (Non-practising)
    Source
    “Non-practising | $133.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • P.Geo. reduced annual fee: $267.50 (Reduced fee based on active income level)
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level* | $267.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Practising within authorized area of reserved practice: $503
    Source
    “Practising within authorized area of reserved practice | $503.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Non-practising: $125.75
    Source
    “Non-practising | $125.75”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Annual Fees (2026 Fees), Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Reduced fee based on active income level: $251.50
    Source
    “Reduced fee based on active income level\* | $251.50”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

  • P.Geo. application fee: $525 (First-time applicant)
    Source
    “First-time applicant | $525.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • National Professional Practice Examination fee: $300 (Per examination)
    Source
    “Per examination | $300.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Professional Practice Online Seminar fee: $325 (Online seminar)
    Source
    “Online seminar | $325.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Registration and licensing fee: $270 (All registrations and licenses with the ability to engage in reserved practice (P.Eng., P.Geo., P.L.Eng., and P.L.Geo.))
    Source
    “All registrations and licenses with the ability to engage in reserved practice (P.Eng., P.Geo., P.L.Eng., and P.L.Geo.) | $270.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Registration interview rescheduling fee: $200 (For applicant-initiated postponement or cancellation of a confirmed interview)
    Source
    “Registration interview rescheduling fee (for applicant-initiated postponement or cancellation of a confirmed interview) | $200.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Remote registration interview fee: $200 (Remote registration interview by videoconference)
    Source
    “Remote registration interview by videoconference fee | $200.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Examination deferral fee: $220 (Defer examination to a subsequent session)
    Source
    “Defer examination to a subsequent session | $220.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Examination re-read fee: $330 (Request examination re-read per examination)
    Source
    “Request examination re-read per examination | $330.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Working in Canada seminar fee: $200 (Four-unit seminar, only applicable as required by the Credentials Committee)
    Source
    “Four-unit seminar | $200.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Working in Canada seminar fee: $50
    Source
    “Per unit | $50.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.): Applicant who is currently an EIT or GIT with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EIT/GIT application fee was waived): $375 (for current EIT or GIT whose trainee application fee was waived)
    Source
    “Applicant who is currently an EIT or GIT with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EIT/GIT application fee was waived)<br> *\*This includes EIT, GIT, MIT, géo.stag., or CPI registrants who have transferred their registration from another province. * | $375.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Applicant registered/licensed in another Canadian province/territory: $300 (for applicants already registered or licensed in another Canadian province/territory)
    Source
    “Applicant registered/licensed in another Canadian province/territory | $300.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Application for minor change to authorized area of reserved practice: $200
    Source
    “Application for minor change to authorized area of reserved practice | $200.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Professional Licensee (P.L.Eng. or P.L.Geo.): Application for major change to authorized area of reserved practice: $400
    Source
    “Application for major change to authorized area of reserved practice | $400.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Late Annual Fees: Failure to pay annual fee: $15
    Source
    “Failure to pay annual fee | 15% of annual fee for registration category”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Late Reporting Fees: Failure to provide certain information published on the register or a personal and unique email address: $100
    Source
    “Failure to provide certain information published on the register or a personal and unique email address | $100.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Late Reporting Fees: Failure to provide required information (i.e., failure to submit Annual Reporting): $100
    Source
    “Failure to provide required information (i.e., failure to submit Annual Reporting) | $100.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Late Reporting Fees: Failure to submit a Continuing Education Program declaration: $100
    Source
    “Failure to submit a Continuing Education Program declaration | $100.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees
  • Late Completion Fees: Failure to complete Continuing Education plan, Continuing Education hours, or activities: $200
    Source
    “Failure to complete Continuing Education plan, Continuing Education hours, or activities (including required ethical learning, required regulatory learning, required technical learning (in the case of a designated structural engineer)) | $200.00”
    egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • You must have graduated from a university-level bachelor degree program in applied science, engineering, geoscience, science, or technology.

    Source
    “To apply for registration as a GIT, you must have graduated from a university-level bachelor degree program in applied science, engineering, geoscience, science, or technology.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  • P.L.Geo. applicants need a science degree or a diploma in geoscience technology, or equivalent academic background that may include assigned examinations.

    Source
    “A science degree or a diploma in geoscience technology (or the equivalent academic background that may include the completion of assigned examinations)”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Professional-Licens...

Experience

  • You may not need to take academic examinations if you have an undergraduate geoscience degree and at least seven years of geoscience experience in a professional context.

    Source
    “You have an undergraduate geoscience degree and at least seven years of geoscience experience in a professional context.”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra...

  • P.L.Geo. applicants need at least eight years of geoscience work experience, with the most recent two years supervised by a professional geoscientist registered in the authorized area of reserved practice.

    Source
    “At least eight years of geoscience work experience, which includes: Evidence that you meet the Canadian Work-Environment Experience Competencies The most recent two years being under the supervision of a professional geoscientist registered within the authorized area of reserved practice that you are applying to work in”
    egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Professional-Licens...

Good character

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Someone already registered as a GIT, P.Geo., or P.L.Geo. with another Canadian regulator can apply for registration in BC through a streamlined process without any additional exam or assessment being described.

Source
“If you are already registered as a geoscientist-in-training (GIT), geoscientist (P.Geo.), or professional licensee geoscience (P.L.Geo.) with another Canadian regulator, you can apply for registration in BC through a streamlined process.”
egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with EGBC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with EGBC

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with EGBC

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with EGBC

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with EGBC

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 21102, Geoscientists and oceanographers. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $30.77 $51.28 $87.18 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $30.77 $50.00 $100.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Geoscientists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 10 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare geoscientist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Career Occupations and Other Regulators | Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/students/career-occupations-o... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Apply to be a Geoscientist-in-Training in BC egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-In-Tra... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Fees egbc.ca/how-to-apply/fees · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Apply if You Are a Geoscience Registrant Elsewhere in Canada egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Geoscientist-Elsewh... · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Apply to be a Professional Licensee Geoscience in BC egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Register-As-A-Geoscientist/Professional-Licens... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Professional Practice Online Seminar egbc.ca/How-To-Apply/Programs-And-Resources/Examinations-Seminars/P... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a geoscientist in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with Engineers and Geoscientists BC is required to practise in British Columbia.

Which exams are required?

Academic examinations, National Professional Practice Examination, Professional Practice Examination.

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