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First Class

This is the highest certificate for Power Engineers Certificate of Competency.

This certificate is subject to the annual renewal fee. There are a number of training and experience combinations that can satisfy the requirement for this certificate.

Notice for examination candidates writing the 1st class part B paper 4 (1B4) power engineering certification examination.

At the 2025 Association of Chief Inspectors meeting, it was agreed that effective January 1, 2026, the 1B4 power engineering examination paper will only be administered in the multiple-choice format. This continuation of an initiative to move towards multiple choice examinations at all certification levels.

With proven success at the 2nd class level, converting the 1st class examinations to a multiple-choice format will continue to provide a comprehensive level of testing of the subject material and ensure that candidates are tested on all areas of the syllabus. The syllabus and pass mark of the 1B4 examination will not change. The amount of questions on the examination has been set at 100. There will be no difference between passing the 1B4 examination in essay format or multiple-choice format for credit towards 1st class certification.

Please follow updates on the SOPEEC website with regards to this implementation process as well as the process for any further examination changes. If you have any questions please contact the SOPEEC Coordinator of Examinations, Tom Leming, at leming@absa.ca

All code questions will be built to the 2007 ASME Code. While older codes may be allowed in the examination room, all answers will be to the 2007 Code.

For the Revised First Class Part B paper 1:

  • CSA B51 and B52, and
  • Option A or B Or Extract for CSA B51 and CSA B52 Codes
  • Option A: ASME Sections I, VIII Div.1, IX and ASME/ANSI B31.1 Pressure Piping Code and B31.3 Process Piping Code or Option B: 2007 ASME Academic Extract and Supplement.
  • See General Examination Information for what some jurisdictions normally allow to be brought into the examination room by the candidate.

If you have an existing file, please log in at https://cpecs.ca/ to schedule your examination.

For new applicants: Create an account at https://cpecs.ca/ by registering, entering your information, and setting up a password through the confirmation email.

After logging in, begin a certification path by following the prompts and selecting the option that best fits your needs. Tutorials on how to navigate CPECS are available on the website. All required documentation, including proof of education and experience, can be uploaded through the CPECS portal. For assistance, contact exams@absa.ca or call 1-888-454-3926

To qualify to take a 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination, a candidate must hold a 2nd Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency.

NOTE: A 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination must consist of questions relating to the subjects contained in the current reference syllabus established by the Administrator for the 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination, and must be divided into 2 parts, lettered A and B.

The examination consists of eight (8) examination papers, each of 3½ hours duration. Each paper consists of seven (7) questions of which five (5) should be attempted. The examinations are all long-answer essay style questions. If more than five (5) questions are attempted, only the first (5) attempted will be marked.

To pass a 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination, a candidate must obtain at least 65% of the total marks allotted for each examination paper.

Detailed information in regard to this examination can be found in the Revised First Class Power Engineers Reference Syllabus (AB-51a). The Revised First Class Syllabus became effective September 1, 2006. A candidate can write this examination in any one of the examination locations listed in our Examination Schedule.

To qualify for a 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency, a candidate must

(a) pass the 1st Class Power Engineering Certificate of Competency examination, and

(b) have been employed for a period of

(i) 30 months as a chief power engineer or as a shift engineer in a power plant that is required by this Regulation to employ in the chief power engineer and shift engineer positions persons who hold at least a 2nd Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency,

(ii) 45 months as an assistant shift engineer in a power plant that has a capacity exceeding 10 000 kW, or

(iii) 1/2 the period of time specified in subclause (i) 15 months or (ii) 22.5 months, and have been employed for either a period of 15 months in a pressure plant in an operating capacity satisfactory to the Administrator or for a period of 36 months in a supervisory capacity satisfactory to the Administrator in the design, construction, commissioning, installation, repair, maintenance or operation of pressure equipment to which the Act applies,
Note: The Administrator may grant 12 months’ credit towards the experience as required by subsection (1)(b)(i), or (ii) to the holder of a degree in mechanical engineering from a university satisfactory to the Administrator or successful completion of a course in power engineering satisfactory to the Administrator that leads towards a 1st Class Power Engineer’s Certificate of Competency examination.

Last Modified: 1/21/2026 8:59:13 AM