2 Becoming a Professional Engineer

BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER                                                                   

To legally practice engineering in Canada, you must receive the Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation. In Canada, engineering is regulated provincially, and individuals may only call themselves a Professional Engineer by obtaining a P.Eng. license from the engineering regulatory body in the Canadian province or territory in which they reside. The organization that licenses Professional Engineers in Ontario is Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) [6].

In order to receive a P.Eng. license by PEO you must satisfy the following:

1. Be of good character
2. Meet the academic requirements
   – Be a graduate of a Canadian university CEAB Accredited engineering program
   – OR – PEO evaluates your academic qualifications (may need to write technical exams)
3. Pass the national professional practice exam (PPE)
   – The PPE covers ethics, professional practice, engineering law, and professional liability
4. Satisfy the experience requirements
   – 4 years (48 months) of experience after graduating
   – Eligible graduate degree programs may count for 12 months
   – Undergrad experiences after completing 2nd year can count for up to 12 months

To learn more about becoming a professional engineer in Ontario, review the PEO Website

PEO Licensing Engineering Experience 

The suitability of an applicant’s experience for licensure is assessed against five quality-based experience criteria that specifically define acceptable engineering experience [7]. These are:

1. Application of Theory – analysis, design and synthesis, testing methodology, implementation frameworks
2. Practical Experience – working directly with implementation of systems, software, production, codes, standards, law
3. Management of Engineering – supervision, planning, scheduling, budgeting, project control, risk assessment
4. Communication Skills – correspondence, design briefs, reports, presentations
5. Social Implications of Engineering – evaluating benefits of technology to society and implementation of safeguards to protect society

To learn more details about PEO experience requirements see click here.

PEO Membership Resources and Information

Additional background resources related to the PEO are listed below:

1. Student Membership Program (SMP) – access to PEO resources up until graduation
2. How to become a Professional Engineering in Ontario
3. Mercer OSPE National Compensation Survey 2021

LIST OF ALL LINKS                                                                                                         

1. PEO Website – Becoming a Professional Engineer
2. PEO – Guide To The Required Experience for Licensing 
3. Student Membership Program (SMP)
4. How to become a Professional Engineering in Ontario
5. Mercer OSPE National Compensation Survey 2021

REFERENCES                                                                                                                    

[6] Professional Engineers Ontario, “Become a Professional Engineer.” peo.on.ca. https://www.peo.on.ca/apply/become-professional-engineer (accessed Aug. 29, 2023)