Dear colleagues,

This email is to advise you of important changes to Professional Engineers Ontario’s (PEO) licence application processes and engineering intern (EIT) program starting May 15, 2023. Attached is a brief article on these changes that we invite you to share with your colleagues and membership.

Upcoming licence application changes:

On May 15, 2023, PEO will introduce changes to our licence application process that will make applying for an engineering licence more efficient, transparent and fair for all applicants. It will also ensure new applicants receive a registration decision within six months of submitting a completed licence application.

The modernized application rules comply with new requirements set by the Ontario government under 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 will be 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* and successful completion of a confirmatory examination program. 

*As of May 15, 2023 (or earlier), 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 will remain 48 months. However, at time of application, all applicants (including both Canadian and international applicants) will now be required to demonstrate completion of 48 months of experience that meets requirements for engaging in the practice of professional engineering, as evidenced by a competency-based assessment (CBA).  A 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.

Engineering intern (EIT) program

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. As of May 15, 2023, the EIT program will no longer be offered to new applicants. 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 understand the value that the EIT designation holds for prospective applicants, as well as engineering employers and PEO chapters. As such, PEO will be consulting with our stakeholders to explore other options for prospective applicants looking to gain experience.

For all the latest updates on PEO’s licence application process, please visit the PEO website.

If you have any questions or feedback on PEO’s licence application changes, please email me or PEO’s Director of External Relations, David Smith, at dsmith@peo.on.ca.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Quaglietta, P.Eng, ICD.D, MBA
CEO/Registrar
Professional Engineers Ontario