Academic requirement
The academic requirement to apply for a P.Eng. licence is a bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) or a bachelor's degree on PEO's Recognized Programs List supplemented by completing a technical exam program.
Graduates with bachelor's degrees from outside Canada and the USA must request a course-by-course report from World Education Services (WES) for each program to meet PEO’s academic requirements.
Note for non-CEAB graduates who cannot obtain a WES Assessment, Evaluation, or WES Gateway Program Report:
In rare situations, WES does not perform assessments or issue evaluations for specific institutions. In these cases, WES cannot provide a WES ICAP Course-by-Course Report or a WES Gateway Program report.
If WES cannot provide either of the required reports, the Apply team will instruct the candidate to have an official transcript in English or a certified English translation sent directly to [email protected].
This procedure currently applies only to institutions recognized by either Engineers Canada’s IIDD list or the relevant national accreditation body. Once the official transcript in English, or a certified English translation, is received, ARU staff will verify that the conferral information matches the academic information on the application, and will upload the transcript and related email correspondence to the candidate’s file.
If a candidate cannot obtain their official transcript, they will be instructed to request an evaluation through a NACES member organization, a U.S.-based credential evaluation association, and have the report sent directly to [email protected].
If neither of the above options is possible, a sworn affidavit will be accepted. The affidavit should include a transcript, if available, and a translation from an accredited interpreter if the transcript is not in English or French. The affidavit does not need to be prepared by an Ontario lawyer, but it must be sworn or affirmed before an Ontario Commissioner for Taking Oaths or a notary public. All Ontario-licensed lawyers are Commissioners for Taking Oaths.
Those without a bachelor's degree in engineering are encouraged to explore PEO’s Limited Licence option. A limited licence allows individuals to engage in professional engineering activities within defined fields. This path is suitable for those with at least eight years of experience, of which six years must be directly related to the scope of services within professional engineering practice.
Experience requirement
Demonstrated Competency
We use a competency-based assessment (CBA) model to evaluate engineering experience and determine whether applicants have the knowledge, skills and judgment required for entry into professional practice.
Competencies are observable, measurable skills, knowledge and abilities demonstrated by an applicant’s work experience. Our CBA framework includes 34 competencies across seven categories. CBA supports a fair, transparent and consistent licensing process that focuses on demonstrated competence. It is the standard for experience assessment across professions. All engineering regulators across Canada use CBA to assess readiness for licensure.
To meet our experience requirement and be considered for a licence, all applicants must:
- Pass the CBA and
- Have at least two years of eligible, verifiable experience
Important notes:
- The two-year period begins on the date a recognized four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree is conferred.
- On average, applicants need three to four years of experience to develop demonstrable competence across all competencies required by the CBA, and some may need more than four years.
- We do not require Canadian experience.
- Read our CBA Applicant Guide to ensure you understand our requirements.
Focus on Developing Competence. Review Our CBA Guide.
The CBA is a rigorous evaluation. It’s important to thoroughly review our CBA Applicant Guide to ensure you understand our requirements and how to present your work experience effectively.
Follow the guide’s instructions for completing your experience requirement. It provides guidance on preparing your experience summary and work examples that demonstrate how you’ve developed the skills essential to effective practice and to ensuring public safety. The guide covers:
- Detailed instructions for completing the CBA process
- Roles and responsibilities of applicants, validators and qualification assessors
- Competency rating system
- How to prepare work examples
- Explanations of the 34 competencies and seven categories
Start Documenting Your CBA
Document your experience early. You can begin building your CBA in the application portal when you start an application. You don't need to wait until you have completed the minimum required years before documenting your experience.
You can mark the experience requirement as complete once you have entered at least two years of eligible experience and your CBA has been completed and validated.
Updated Time Component
As of July 1, 2026, the minimum required engineering experience has changed from four to two years. This update changes the minimum time threshold. It does not change our competency-based assessment (CBA) or our licensure standards.
It’s important to note that the update does not mean applicants are automatically eligible for a licence after two years. On average, applicants need three to four years of experience to develop demonstrable competence across all 34 competencies required by the CBA, and some may need more than four years.
For applicants who can demonstrate the required competencies after two years, the updated requirement removes an unnecessary time threshold once competence has been shown.
Immediate Access to Experience Module
As part of this update, we also introduced the ability for applicants to begin building their CBA as soon as they start an application, rather than waiting until they have reached the minimum number of years.
Changes to Pre-graduate Experience
The update also changes how undergraduate work experience is considered. Specifically, it will no longer count towards the minimum time component, but it can still be applied towards the CBA if it meets the criteria. The two-year period begins on the date a recognized four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree is conferred. For more details, see “How Study-Related Engineering Experience is Considered” on this page.
Learn more about the changes by reading our blog post and time-based experience FAQ page.
How Study-Related Engineering Experience is Considered
The two-year period begins on the date your recognized four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree is conferred.
Undergraduate work experience obtained before that date, such as through a co-op or internship, does not count toward the two-year minimum. However, it may be applied to the CBA if it meets the required criteria.
Eligible work experience gained during graduate study, such as in a master’s or doctoral program, may count toward both the two-year minimum and the CBA if it meets the criteria. We do not grant experience credit solely for completing a graduate degree.
Only eligible engineering work that meets the CBA criteria will be considered.
CBA Resources
Download the CBA Applicant Guide
Have questions? Visit our CBA FAQ
Were you asked to verify an applicant's experience for their CBA? Download the Validator Guide
Video: Webinar: Competency-Based Assessment (CBA)
Video: Competency-Based Assessment (CBA): Introduction
Video: Competency-Based Assessment (CBA): Competencies & Categories
Identification
PEO accepts most forms of government-issued ID.
Good Character Assessment
Please complete your good character assessment in the PEO portal.