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Certified Professional (CP) Program

The City of Vancouver has an alternate permit process known as the “Certified Professional (CP) program. Pursuant to the Certification of Professionals By-law (120kb), the City can issue a building permit on the certification of a recognized Registered Professional architect or engineer.

In order to be recognized as a CP, the City requires the Registered Professional to pass the CP Course. The CP Course is offered bi-annually through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).

The CP Program facilitates the issuance of building permits for new buildings or existing buildings. Under the CP permit process, permit issuance can be staged, allowing construction to start earlier than under the non-CP permit process. This can be attractive to building owners who wish to “fast track” their projects. All required City approvals, such as the development permit, must be in place prior to issuance of a particular stage.

The CP does not replace the Registered Professionals who are normally involved in a construction project. The CP provides an additional level of Building By-law review which is traditionally carried out by City staff.

The building permit review process for CP projects is outlined in the following flow charts.

• New and Existing buildings (25kb)
• Tenant Improvements (28kb)

Click on any of the following links for additional resources related to the CP Program.

• Certified Professional (CP) Program Forms
• Active Certified Professionals (Partial List)
• Certified Professional (CP) Program Course
• Certified Professional (CP) Advisory Committee and Meeting Minutes
• Procedures for Certified Professional (CP) Audits

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