Application process for applicants who applied before May 15, 2023

Important changes to PEO’s licensing processes

PEO made changes to our licence application process that will make applying for an engineering licence more efficient, transparent and fair for all applicants.

The new application rules for obtaining a P.Eng. licence also comply with new requirements set by the provincial government under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA).

PEO will launch an improved online application system on July 1, 2023.

Academic Requirement

To satisfy PEO’s academic requirements to obtain the professional engineer licence, the P.Eng. applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an engineering program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) or equivalent academic qualifications. If the applicant’s engineering program(s) is not CEAB-accredited, PEO will assess the academic background to determine whether it is equivalent to the academic qualification in the discipline of engineering.

Diagram of CEAB-Accredited Engineering Program and Non-CEAB Accredited Engineering Program

Determine whether your bachelor’s degree in an engineering program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.

Please note that CEAB doesn’t accredit engineering graduate degree programs at this time.

Applicants who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in an engineering program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) have satisfied the first step of the licensing process – the academic requirement. 

CEAB applicants must have their postsecondary institution mail their bachelor’s transcript with the conferral date to PEO directly. 

Upon PEO’s confirmation that the CEAB applicant has met the academic requirement, the applicant will advance to step 2 - writing the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE). 

The P.Eng. applicant who holds a bachelor's degree in an engineering program accredited by the CEAB will meet PEO’s academic requirement. PEO will need to review the transcript with the bachelor’s degree conferral date after the P.Eng. application has been received to confirm to the applicant whether the academic requirement has been satisfied. 

Please have the Canadian postsecondary institution email the transcript(s) with the conferral date for each engineering degree completed to PEO directly at peng.submissions@peo.on.ca.

The academics of applicants who have graduated from non-CEAB-accredited programs (non-CEAB) must be individually assessed by PEO’s Academic Requirements Committee (ARC) as to determine whether they meet the academic requirements for licensing. The applicant will be required to submit academic documents for the ARC’s assessment. 

As a result of the ARC’s assessment, these applicants follow three different paths (A, B and C) to their next step in licensure. 

A. Based on the academic assessment, the applicant has met the academic requirement and advances to the National Professional Practice Examination. 

B. Based on the academic assessment, applicants who do not meet the academic requirement are assigned technical exam(s) to demonstrate whether they have an equivalent academic background and the knowledge required for licensing. PEO has two streams of technical exams: confirmatory or specific examination program. 

C. Based on the academic assessment, the applicant does not meet the minimum academic requirement for licensure. The applicant will be issued a notice of determination to be refused to be issued a license, and the application will be withdrawn. Please note, all PEO fees are non-refundable. 

Upon PEO confirming the non-CEAB applicant has met the academic requirement, the applicant will advance to Step 2 - writing the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE). 

The P.Eng. applicant who has not completed a bachelor's degree in an engineering program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (non-CEAB) will have their academics assessed by PEO to determine whether their academic background is equivalent to PEO’s academic requirement in the discipline of engineering being assessed. The applicant may be required to write and pass up to 18 examinations and submit an acceptable engineering report to satisfy PEO’s academic requirement. 

The minimum educational level required to submit an application for licensure is: 

  • A three-year diploma in technology from a college of applied arts and technology; or 
  • A bachelor's degree in a relevant science area; or 
  • Academic qualifications deemed by the Council to be equivalent to a diploma or degree. 
     

Three different outcomes (A, B or C) to PEO's academic assessment:  

A. Based on the ARC assessment, the applicant has met the academic requirement and advances to the National Professional Practice Examination.

B. Based on the academic assessment, the applicant does not satisfy PEO’s academic requirement and is assigned examination(s) to demonstrate whether the applicant has the equivalent academic background and knowledge required for licensing. 

PEO has two streams of technical examination programs

Confirmatory examination program: The applicant is assigned four examinations to confirm that the content of their engineering studies is equivalent to that of a graduate of a CEAB-accredited program. If the applicant assigned a confirmatory exam program has more than five years of engineering experience, they may be referred to an experience assessment interview for PEO's academics requirements for licensure to determine if, through their work experience, they demonstrate a practical application of engineering principles that is sufficient to warrant waiving the examination program. 

Specific examination program: The applicant is assigned examination(s) to remedy any identified deficiencies in their academic background and knowledge required for licensure. This examination program may comprise up to 18 exams, which may include basic studies exams, technical exams, complementary exams, and/or an engineering report. 

If the applicant assigned a specific exam program has more than 10 years of engineering experience, they may be referred to an experience assessment interview for PEO's academics requirements for licensure to determine if, through their work experience, they demonstrate a practical application of engineering principles that is sufficient to warrant waiving some or all of the examination(s). 

Applicants assigned any basic studies exam(s) must complete their basic studies exam(s) first. After completion of the basic studies exam(s), the applicant will be assessed by PEO and, if eligible, referred to an experience assessment interview for PEO's academics requirements for licensure.  

Applicants that have completed a doctoral degree in engineering and assigned zero basic studies exams may be eligible to be referred to an experience assessment interview for PEO's academics requirements for licensure. 

C. Based on the academic assessment, the applicant does not satisfy PEO’s academic requirement and is assigned examination(s) to demonstrate whether the applicant has the equivalent academic background and knowledge required for licensing. 

Upon PEO confirming the applicant has met PEO’s academic requirement, the applicant will advance to the next stage - writing the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE). 

National Professional Practice Exam

The next step is the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE). This is a 2.5 hour, closed-book on-line exam that covers ethics, professional practice, engineering law and professional liability. All applicants must pass the NPPE within two years of being assessed as meeting the academic requirement for licensing. 

Upon the successful completion of the NPPE, the applicant will be required to provide additional information in regards regarding the experience requirement.

Experience Requirement 

All applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 48 months of acceptable, verifiable professional engineering experience. At time of application, all applicants will now be required to meet the experience requirement through a competency-based assessment (CBA) model. CBA is a tool to assess readiness for licensure that examines engineering competencies across several categories (technical, communication, project management, professional accountability, etc.), in which all professional engineers must be competent to support effective practice and public safety. 

Applicants who applied prior to May 15, 2023, will be required to complete a CBA assessment form, unless they have had their experience already assessed.

Please note: as of May 15, 2023, PEO is no longer evaluating for one-year of Canadian experience.

CBA Applicant's Guide
CBA P.Eng. Application Form
Validator Guide
CBA Experience Records Form

Please email your completed CBA Experience documents to experiencedocs@peo.on.ca.

Licence Review and Approval 

Once the applicant has satisfied all the requirements for licensing, the Registrar will review and give approval for the P.Eng. licence to be granted. After their P.Eng. licensing and annual fees are paid and processed, the applicant is licensed as a professional engineer. 

Resources

Contact Us

applicants@peo.on.ca

Monday through Friday
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40 Sheppard Avenue West, Suite 101
Toronto, ON
M2N 6K9

1.800.339.3716