As of July 1, 2026, PEO will change the minimum required engineering experience from four years to two years as part of its broader competency-based assessment (CBA) model. Our CBA, which focuses on demonstrated competence, remains unchanged. Please visit our experience requirements web page to learn more about the CBA and to download the CBA Applicant Guide.
Applicants will also be able to begin documenting their experience in the application portal immediately, rather than waiting until they have completed the minimum number of years.
Undergraduate engineering experience obtained before the conferral of a bachelor’s degree will no longer count toward the minimum number of years; however, it may count toward the CBA if it meets the criteria.
No. Two years of experience do not automatically confer eligibility for a licence. Applicants must demonstrate competence to prove their readiness for licensure, and some may need more than two years of experience to meet the 34 competencies required for the CBA.
No. Demonstrated competence remains the standard for licensure, and PEO continues to license qualified individuals.
Our licensure standard remains demonstrated competence through a competency-based assessment (CBA). While some applicants will require more than two years of experience to demonstrate all 34 competencies for the CBA, changing the minimum requirement from four to two years removes an unnecessary barrier for those who may demonstrate competence after two years.
Applicants should focus on developing and documenting their competencies, rather than simply meeting a time requirement. They should review our experience requirements web page and the CBA Applicant Guide, and start preparing their competency examples early.
As of July 1, 2026, applicants can begin completing the CBA in the application portal when they start an application, rather than waiting until they have the minimum years of experience. Those who started an application before July 1 will also be able to begin documenting their experience.
While some applicants will require more than two years of experience to demonstrate competence across all 34 areas of the CBA, changing the minimum from four to two years removes an unnecessary barrier for those who can demonstrate competence after two years.
Applicants will also be able to begin documenting their experience for the CBA immediately, rather than waiting until they have all the required experience.
The two-year minimum required experience starts at the conferral date of a bachelor’s degree that is on the Recognized Programs List.
No. Undergraduate engineering experience completed before the conferral of a bachelor’s degree does not count toward the minimum two-year experience requirement. However, it may count toward the CBA if it meets the criteria.
Yes. Undergraduate co-op or internship experience completed before the conferral of a bachelor’s degree may be applied toward the CBA if it meets the criteria. However, it does not count toward the 2-year minimum.
No. PEO does not grant experience credit for completing a graduate engineering degree on its own.
Yes. Engineering work completed while earning a master’s or doctoral degree may count toward both the two-year minimum and the CBA, if it meets the criteria. However, PEO does not grant experience credit for a graduate degree on its own.
No. Demonstrated competence remains the standard for licensure. Applicants must demonstrate all 34 CBA competencies to demonstrate readiness for entry to professional practice. PEO continues to license qualified individuals.
While some applicants will require more than two years of experience to demonstrate competence across all 34 areas of the CBA, two years will be sufficient for others. Changing the minimum from four to two years removes an unnecessary barrier for those who can demonstrate competence after two years.
Please visit our experience requirements web page to learn more about the CBA and to download the CBA Applicant Guide.