Page 3 - 01-Jan-Feb-2025

BORN AND RAISED in Mexico and the
daughter of an engineer, Elsa Hernández
Manrique followed in her father’s footsteps.
She graduated from the Monterrey Institute
of Technology and Higher Education in
Mexico and started her career as an onsite
inspector for bridge and highway projects.
When seeking a job in her new province,
she learned about becoming a registrant with
the Association of Professional Engineers
and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA),
and realized she didn’t meet all of the
requirements needed to get licensed. She had
work to do.
Despite not being licensed, she was able
to work in engineering as long as she was
under the supervision of a professional
engineer, which led to her securing a position
with Associated Engineering in 2020. The
company aided her in getting her P.Eng. and
supported her application process.
She believes that APEGA’s certification
process is all about ensuring clients and the
public know they can have confidence in
those who have P.Eng. designations. They
know these certifications come only after
a well-defined process is completed, which
includes verification of required education
and experience.
“Why is it so important?”, she asks.
“It’s to protect the public. APEGA’s
function is to license professionals and
check that we meet the professional,
ethical, and technical standards. So, that
creates trust — in the companies and the
individuals who practise engineering.”
Continue your career here.
Learn more about becoming
a professional engineer
or geoscientist. apega.ca/newcomers