Technical inspectors and regulatory officers

How to become an engineering inspector or regulatory officer

Official title: Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers

Also called: Ship inspector, Crane inspector, Boiler inspector, Railway inspector, Elevator inspector, Pipeline inspector, Escalator inspector, Engineering inspector, Freight car inspector, Road safety inspector, Lifting gear inspector, Air transport inspector

Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers inspect transportation vehicles such as aircraft, watercraft, automobiles and trucks and weighing and measuring devices such as scales and meters as well as industrial instruments, processes and equipment for conformity to government and industry standards and regulations. They are employed by government agencies and in the private sector.

Main tasks

Motor vehicles defects investigators
Conduct motor vehicle and motor vehicle component defect investigations, examinations, tests and defect-related accident investigations
Provide expert advice and testimony on specific motor vehicle performance problems or defects
Recommend improvements in vehicle inspection and licensing procedures and vehicle safety standards
Railway accident investigation officers
Collect and analyze data from train derailments, collisions, and other accidents to determine the causes
Inspect and evaluate railway property, structures, rolling stock, signals, track structure and train handling characteristics to ensure compliance to operating standards
Airworthiness inspectors

How to become one

University degree or college diploma in an appropriate engineering field or Trade qualifications and extensive related work experience are required. Appropriate professional engineering or engineering technology certification and licences may be required.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Ways in

University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 32% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians; Mechanical engineering; General engineering.
Licence or registration: Appropriate professional engineering or engineering technology certification and licences may be required.

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $70,395 a year The middle half earn $57,272 to $103,838.
About 7,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 7,900 are projected by 2033. (+11.3%)
Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Questions people ask

How do I become an engineering inspector or regulatory officer?

How much does an engineering inspector or regulatory officer earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $70,395 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $57,272 to $103,838.

Is an engineering inspector or regulatory officer a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 7,100 to about 7,900 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become an engineering inspector or regulatory officer?

Not always. 43% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Engineering degrees; College or CEGEP program.

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03