We provide resources to assist our stakeholders in understanding our regulatory role and how we protect the public interest.
As part of its regulatory mandate, PEO establishes, maintains and develops: standards of knowledge and skill; standards of practice for the profession; standards of professional ethics; and promotes public awareness of its role. The following are resources to assist PEO stakeholders--licence holders, applicants, and the public--in understanding their roles and responsibilities and the regulator’s work protecting the public interest.
Resources
Ontario professional engineers are part of a community of more than 87,500 PEO licence and certificate holders committed to enhancing the quality of life, safety and well-being in the province.
PEO’s Engineering Intern (EIT) program provides guidance and assistance to engineering graduates as they acquire the 48 months of acceptable engineering work experience, including annual reviews of experience.
As the regulator of engineering in Ontario, it’s PEO’s role to assure the public that licensed practitioners are competent to practise in their chosen discipline, and that they are taking responsibility for the outcomes of their work.
As Ontario’s engineering regulator, PEO relies heavily on its volunteers. More than 1,000 professional engineers, engineering interns and non-engineers volunteer their time each year on behalf of the association through their participation.
PEO's mandate, as described in the Professional Engineers Act, is to ensure that the public is protected and that individuals and companies providing engineering services uphold a strict code of professional ethics and conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use PEO’s online services?
Paying PEO fees online and generating fee receipts through the PEO portal is fast and secure and saves you money. PEO licence and other fees have not increased in several years, at least partly as a result of online transactions lessening the need for PEO to incur printing and mailing costs for hard copy invoices and reminders
Why has PEO updated its Web portal for online services?
With the implementation of new database software, licence holders, engineering interns and now licence applicants are able to interact online with PEO more than ever before, including updating their contact information, downloading editable applications and registering for exams. Requiring these online transactions to occur within a new, updated Web portal enhances the security of the online information you provide us. The new PEO portal adheres to current best practices for system security and data protection, specifically:
- site pages involving display or transfer of personal user information are secured via HTTPS/SSL/TLS;
- public Internet clients cannot access the site’s administrative functions;
- site forms are protected from known intrusions (SQL injection attacks, JavaScript injection attacks, file upload attacks, SPAM, etc.); and
- sensitive personal data (e.g. passwords) is stored in an encrypted format.
Does PEO provide guidance and specific examples on what types of courses or activities count towards continuing knowledge activities?
PEO provides resources for licence holders, including Frequently Asked Questions, guidelines, a video overview and information sessions.
Who can practice professional engineering?
In most situations only a professional engineer can practice professional engineering in Ontario. According to the Act "professional engineer" means a person who is granted a licence or a temporary licence by Professional Engineers Ontario. PEO can also issue a limited licence to an individual who, as a result of 10 or more years of specialized experience, has developed competence in a clearly defined area of professional engineering. Holders of limited licences are able to practice only within a narrowly defined area of professional engineering. Unlicenced individuals, such as technologists and technicians, are able to do any of the tasks normally reserved for professional engineers only if they are working under the supervision of a P.Eng.
1. What is the Practice Evaluation element?
The Practice Evaluation element is the first step in the PEAK program and a key step since the program accommodates licence holders differently based on their practice status. All licence holders are invited to complete the Practice Evaluation element of the program. Here, licence holders are asked to self-declare their current practice status as “practising” or “non-practising.” A licence holder is in a “practising” situation when they are engaged in the practice of professional engineering because they actively satisfy the 3-part definition for professional practice in the Professional Engineers Act for Ontario and their professional practice activities—including work, volunteer and pro bono projects—are carried out, or provided to parties, in Ontario.
3. How does the PEAK Practice Evaluation apply to “non-practising” licence holders?
Licence holders who are in a “non-practising” situation are asked to complete a non-practising survey comprising a series of short multiple-choice questions on their non-practising circumstances and expectation for a return to a practising status. Non-practising licence holders retain both title and practice rights for Ontario; however, licence holders registered in the reduced fee program only retain title rights and are not allowed to practise professional engineering until they exit the fee remission program. Non-practising licence holders who return to a practising situation should immediately update their practice status declaration and complete the PEAK program as a practising licence holder for that licence period.
Can continuing knowledge activities I already undertake to comply with requirements of a program from another provincial association, technical association, or my company count toward the PEAK program?
Yes, any continuing knowledge activity you undertake to comply with the program requirements of another provincial association (including OACETT), technical association or company will be accepted for the PEAK program.
Does PEO accept continuing knowledge activities completed in another province or with another regulator?
Yes.
Does PEO assist licence holders who find the knowledge declaration challenging?
PEO provides resources to assist licence holders, including guidelines and information sessions.
Does PEO accredit continuing knowledge activities courses to ensure they have value?
No. The value of a course depends on the needs of each licence holder. It is up to licence holders to develop a continuing knowledge plan of value to them.