Important changes to PEO’s licence application processes and Engineering Intern (EIT) program

PEO has introduced changes to our licence application process that make applying for an engineering licence more efficient, transparent and fair for all applicants. PEO’s modernized application process will ensure new applicants receive a registration decision within six months of submitting a completed licence application.

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).

Please monitor this webpage for the latest information—it will be updated regularly.

In addition to content updates on the PEO website, we will communicate upcoming changes using our social media accounts and Engineering Dimensions magazine.

 

We have implemented important changes to the P.Eng. application process and licensing system to comply with requirements imposed by the provincial government through amendments to the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA).

The licence application changes include:

Application eligibility—Prospective applicants must demonstrate the required academic and experience qualifications before applying

Academic requirements—The academic requirement to apply for a P.Eng. licence is a bachelor’s degree in an engineering program that is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) or a bachelor's degree that meets PEO's acceptance criteria* plus successful completion of a confirmatory examination program.

*As of May 15, 2023, prospective applicants can check on our website to determine if their bachelor's degree is CEAB-accredited or meets PEO's acceptance criteria. 

Experience requirements—The minimum engineering work experience necessary remains 48 months. However, at time of application, all applicants are 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.

Several application and licensing processes are impacted.

To learn more about how the processes and programs listed below are affected, please review the information on the corresponding webpages:

New P.Eng. applicants – PEO has launched an improved online application system starting May 15, 2023.

New Limited Licence applications – PEO has launched an improved licensing process starting May 15, 2023. We hope to launch the online application system for the Limited Licence in the future.

We will provide more information when it becomes available.
 

PEO has implemented important changes to the application and licensing process for the application types listed below. We will provide more information when it becomes available.

To learn more about how these application types will be impacted, please review the information on the corresponding webpages:

The EIT program will no longer be offered to new applicants as of May 15, 2023. Since the required engineering work experience under the new licensing process must be acquired before applying, the EIT program—which was designed to assist applicants as they acquired work experience—is no longer sustainable in its current form.

We are pleased to continue to support current P.Eng. applicants enrolled in the EIT program. Current EITs may remain in the program as long as they continue their current licensing process.

We understand the value the EIT designation holds for prospective applicants, as well as engineering employers and local chapters. As such, PEO will consult with our stakeholders to determine other options for prospective applicants seeking to gain experience.
 

The V. G. Smith Award and the S. E. Wolfe Thesis Award have been suspended and are currently under review.

The G. Gordon M. Sterling Engineering Intern Award is currently under review.

PEO is one of many regulators in Ontario subject to FARPACTA, which is aimed at promoting fairness and transparency in the licensing process particularly, but not exclusively, for those who are internationally educated and/or trained. Amendments to FARPACTA by the Working for Workers Act, 2021 and the Working for Workers Act, 2022, compel affected regulators to make the necessary operational and policy changes in 2023.

Specifically, these amendments require that PEO:

  • Provides clarity on what constitutes a completed application, so that it can be confirmed as complete within 10 days of receipt;
  • Meets an overall six-month target for reaching registration decisions (a decision to issue a licence or a decision to issue a notice of proposal to refuse to issue a licence) for 90 per cent of all completed applications received;
  • Meets 30-day targets for processing transfer applications from other Canadian jurisdictions; and
  • Eliminates the Canadian experience requirement to ensure appropriate public protection without necessarily requiring a portion of the relevant experience to be obtained exclusively in Canada unless it can be demonstrated that an exemption is necessary for the purposes of public health and safety.