Licensing guide · Northwest Territories

How to Become a Geoscientist in Northwest Territories

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 21102

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) to work as a geoscientist in Northwest Territories or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“All engineers, geoscientists and firms practicing engineering and/or geoscience in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (NT/NU) are required to be licensed by NAPEG in adherence to the Acts of the NT/NU.”

From napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $500
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $440

  1. Complete the Application for Registration with NAPEG and submit required documents such as a resumé, government-issued ID and the application fee.

    Source
    “Step 1: Submit Initial Application to NAPEG: Complete the Application for Registration with NAPEG and submit required documents (e.g., resumé, government-issued ID, application fee).”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Registration/RITs-and-New-Professionals.aspx

  2. After reviewing your initial submission, NAPEG will provide you with a Verification Code to complete your application through APEGA's online system.

    Source
    “Step 2: Receive Verification Code from NAPEG: After reviewing your initial submission, NAPEG will provide you with a Verification Code to complete your application through APEGA’s online system.”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Registration/RITs-and-New-Professionals.aspx

  3. Use the Verification Code to finalize your application on APEGA's platform, where your qualifications and experience will be evaluated.

    Source
    “Step 3: Complete Your Application on APEGA's Website: Use the Verification Code to finalize your application on APEGA’s platform, where they will evaluate your qualifications and experience.”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Registration/RITs-and-New-Professionals.aspx

  4. Successfully complete the National Professional Practice Examination as a requirement for licensure.

    Source
    “In order to become licensed through NAPEG to work in the North, you will have to successfully complete the NPPE.”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Registration/RITs-and-New-Professionals.aspx

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $500

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $500 100%
One-time total $500 100%

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

Annual fees: $440 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Listed one-time fees: $140
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $440

  1. Include the Application for Registration Form with your mobility application.

    Source
    “All Mobility Applications must include: - Application for Registration Form”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

  2. Include a copy of your current resumé and a copy of valid government issued photo identification.

    Source
    “a copy of your current resumé - a copy of valid government issued photo identification”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

  3. Include the NAPEG Essay, with essay requirements found in the application portal.

    Source
    “NAPEG Essay (essay requirements can be found in the application portal)”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

  4. Submit the application fee, annual dues and stamp fee with your completed application.

    Source
    “the application fee, annual dues and stamp fee must be submitted with your completed application. Application fees are non-refundable.”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $140

One-time fees listed for Licensed in another province, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $100 71%
Other $40 29%
One-time total $140 100%

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

Annual fees: $440 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

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.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • You must have an engineering or geoscience degree from an accredited university.

    Source
    “If you have an engineering or geoscience degree from an accredited university and at least four years of relevant work experience, you are eligible to apply.”
    napeg.nt.ca

Experience

  • You must have at least four years of relevant work experience.

    Source
    “If you have an engineering or geoscience degree from an accredited university and at least four years of relevant work experience, you are eligible to apply.”
    napeg.nt.ca

Good character

  • Professional Geoscientists must have met the academic, experience and character requirements set out in the Act.

    Source
    “Professional Geoscientists are fully licensed individuals who have met the academic, experience and character requirements set out in the Act.”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Join/Individual/Membership-Join-Home.aspx

Other

  • Mobility applicants must already be registered and in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction.

    Source
    “A Mobility Applicant is a Professional Engineer or Geoscientist who is applying for professional status with NAPEG and is already registered and in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction(s).”
    napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Applicants already registered and in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction apply through the mobility process, which is simpler and quicker than a new registration and is normally approved within 30 days.

Source
“The mobility process is simpler and quicker than starting a new registration process with NAPEG and approval is normally granted within 30 days by NAPEG upon receipt and successful review of the application.”
napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

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 Northwest Territories and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Northwest Territories — — — Undetermined
Canada $30.77 $50.00 $100.00 —

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. Registration napeg.nt.ca/Web/Web/Registration/Registration-.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. RITs and New Professionals napeg.nt.ca/Web/Registration/RITs-and-New-Professionals.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Membership Join Home napeg.nt.ca/Web/Join/Individual/Membership-Join-Home.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. NAPEG Home napeg.nt.ca · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a geoscientist in Northwest Territories?

Yes. Registration with the NAPEG (Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) is required to practise in Northwest Territories.

Which exams are required?

NPPE (National Professional Practice Examination), Technical Exams, NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam), ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology Exam (FG Exam).

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