Membership Procedure

Election to the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) is one of the highest professional honours accorded an engineer. Members have distinguished themselves in different sectors including business, academia and government and in different roles such as business management, executive management, technical, and university faculty. Members of the CAE are nominated and elected by their peers (current CAE members) to honorary Fellowship in the Academy in view of their distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession.

Individuals can not apply for membership in the CAE and, thus, there are no application forms for membership. The procedure for nomination and election of member candidates begins with a search by present members of the CAE for outstanding engineers. Candidates must be either a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident for a minimum of three years and have made substantial contributions to engineering in Canada, another country, or globally, with a significant impact on society including one or more of the following categories:

• Significant contributions to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology or engineering knowledge.
• Significant contribution to the art and practice of engineering.
• Significant contributions to the development of organizations which are based on engineering knowledge.

A candidate for membership shall be recognized by associates and others for professional integrity as well as for engineering accomplishments. Unique effectiveness and efficiency in leadership of organizations that have conducted pioneering or complex programs or that have made noteworthy contributions to industry, engineering education or public policy affecting engineering should be considered in addition to the primary qualifications outlined above. The contributions must surpass what would normally be considered a successful career in the field of the candidate.

The membership process:

A completed nomination form must be submitted to the CAE, signed by three current members of the Academy. The nomination form and guidelines are only available to current members and are posted in the members section of our website. The deadline to receive nomination forms is October 31 of every year.

The Fellowship Committee reviews all nominations and prior to January 31 of each year will prepare a list of candidates recommended for membership, not exceeding the limit of candidates as per the current By-Laws. The recommended list is submitted to the Board of Directors for approval before submission to the general membership for a vote by members of the Academy.

Prior to March 1 of each year, each voting (active) member of the Academy is mailed an election package and completed ballots must be received at the CAE office by April 1.

The ballots are counted on or after April 1 and the elected candidates are notified of their election.

The complete official list of new Fellows is released at the time of the induction of new Fellows at the CAE's Annual General Meeting.