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
Does PEO offer any guidance on the Practice Review?
Yes, PEO provides guidance for how these reviews can be carried out fairly, consistently, thoroughly and in a manner that complies with the purpose of the review. The primary purpose of the Conducting a Practice Review guideline is to define the content of practice reviews so reviews can be conducted consistently. Here is the link to the "Conducting a Practice Review" guideline: https://www.peo.on.ca/sites/default/files/2019-10/Conducting-a-Practice-Review_1.pdf
2. How many modules should I complete each year?
Licence holders, practising and non-practising alike, are expected to complete one “new” module at the start of each licence period.
15. What do providers of continuing knowledge activities need to know about the PEAK program?
Providers of continuing knowledge activities are offered the following suggestions regarding the advertising of their learning activities in relation to PEAK:
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PEAK encourages PEO licence holders to engage in continuous learning in the areas of technical engineering knowledge, statutory and regulatory knowledge, and engineering professionalism and ethics, and acquired across any available and affordable learning format.
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PEAK is a uniquely practitioner-driven program where licence holders decide whether a learning activity is adequate for their continuing competence needs as well as their reporting needs for PEAK. This involves the licence holders:
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Self-identifying which activity content to pursue and which activity providers to seek out.
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Completing the activities.
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Reporting their completed activities to PEO through an online PEAK reporting form, and marking the true time they spent on the activities (1 hour spent is 1 hour marked).
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PEAK assigns to practising licence holders a CPD recommendation of up to 30 hours towards continuing knowledge activities for each yearly licence period.
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PEO does not endorse any provider of continuing knowledge activities; nor does PEO validate or accredit any continuing knowledge activity. However, providers may advertise their events as offering technical or regulatory knowledge that participating practitioners may consider for their continuing professional development (CPD) needs, at the practitioner’s discretion, depending on the rules for the CPD program they are completing. Also, providers may supply badges and certificates of attendance or completion but these are not required for PEAK. Having said that, providers should never suggest that PEO or PEAK has endorsed, accredited or evaluated any part of the learning activities being provided or advertisements for the learning activities.
Note: PEO does not arrange, prequalify or endorse sessions which count towards PEAK-relevant learning. However, local PEO chapters may provide professional development activities.
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.
Can I use PEO number or email to log in?
Previously, you were able to log in using either your PEO number or email as your username. However, with MFA enabled, the username must match your registered username. That is, if your web user account is created with email as your username, you must log in with your email; if your web user account is created with your PEO number, you must log in with your PEO number.
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?
Refer to the Core Elements page for details about the practice evaluation element.
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.