An individual licence authorizes a person to practise. Most provinces additionally require a firm, a company or partnership offering engineering or geoscience services to the public, to hold a Permit to Practice or Certificate of Authorization. This firm-level authorization ensures the business operates under the responsible charge of a licensee and carries the regulator's accountability and, often, professional liability insurance.
The two are distinct and both required where applicable: a licensed engineer working through an unauthorized company may still leave the firm in breach. The permit names the responsible member(s) accountable for the firm's professional work.
- The permit/certificate is firm-level; the licence is individual. A firm cannot practise on its employees' licences alone.
- Conditions typically include a responsible licensee and may require liability insurance.
- Sole practitioners and even some self-employed licensees may still need a permit, depending on the jurisdiction.
Memory hook: Person → licence. Firm → permit. The public-facing company needs its own authorization.