Ontario is a Canadian province. It provides a tremendous amount of growth opportunities, a secure job and a handsome annual package to engineers. That’s why there is a rat race happening among engineers all over the world to migrate to this province and work here. However, it’s not as easy as it seems to become a licensed engineer in Ontario. It is because Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has some criteria that an engineer has to fulfill for attaining a license.
What these requirements are, how to apply for a license and the like? You must be wondering all these questions. If so, then read this whole blog. Here, we will tell you valuable information related to achieving a Professional Engineers Ontario license. However, before you know all that, let’s know about PEO first.
What is Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)?
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is an organization. It has authority, under the Professional Engineers Act, to set the criteria for admission. Besides that, the authority also sets standards for the regulation of professional engineering practice in Ontario.
To work as a professional engineer in Ontario, you must have an engineering license that PEO has issued.
License Requirements:
To achieve an engineering license in Ontario, you must meet the following Engineers Ontario license criteria:
- The age should be at least 18.
- Need to be of good character.
- Have a bachelor’s degree in an engineering program. It should be from a Canadian university with accreditation to the Council’s satisfaction. It is also acceptable if it is equivalent to engineering educational qualifications that the council approves.
- The (NPPE) National Professional Practice Exam.
- Show a minimum of 48 months of acceptable, verifiable engineering experience. At least 12 months which you should have acquired in a Canadian jurisdiction under a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng.).
The licensing authority will accept a license application before a candidate has met all of the above-given requirements. However, all requirements have to be fulfilled before the approval of a license.
Keep in mind:
PEO has the right, as its sole discretion, to request extra information or proof of given information. The authority can do so at any time during the application and licensing process. It does so to ensure the fulfillment of all license requirements. This might include, but is not limited to, signed documentation. That is either originals or certified copies, extra proof of identification or qualifications, names and contact information for referees, and the like.
As per PEO’s governing legislation, a licensed candidate has to communicate properly in English. Therefore, if a question comes up regarding this ability, PEO will make this determination.
Professional Engineers Ontario Licensing/Admission process:
PEO’s admission/licensing process is below:
- Meet the given academic requirements,
- Complete the NPPE
- Satisfy PEO’s work experience requirements (at least 48 months).
Necessary Academic documents:
Candidates who have a degree from a CEAB-Accredited Program:
Candidates whose undergraduate engineering degree from a Canadian university issues meets the PEO’s academic requirements. Apart from that, the candidate whose program has accreditation by CEAB also fulfills the academic requirements.
Evidence of degree in the form of a copy of a transcript emailed directly from the institution or a copy of the diploma is necessary.
Candidates having a bachelor’s degree from a NON-CEAB-Accredited Program:
The following documents must be with this license application. (The authority can ask for extra documents after the review of the application by staff):
Copies of diplomas, transcripts, degrees, or certificates, to establish the candidate’s educational qualifications. Submit copies of academic documents in their language and English translations. More about this is below.
If the diplomas, transcripts, degrees, or certificates are not in English, the applicant needs to prepare English translations. They need to do it either by a certified member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario. Apart from that, it can also be by a Canadian professional engineer. Providing that, the engineer must certify that the professional engineer is fluent in both languages.
Things to remember:
P.Eng license holders must not use their P.Eng seals on non-engineering documents. To know about this, ask a PEO engineering license help professional.
Steps to complete PEO license application:
1. Type of application:
You need to indicate if this is an application for a new professional engineer (P.Eng) license. If you are a past PEO or Engineers Ontario license holder, then ask an expert in the PEO licensing system application process.
2. Name:
This is the name that will appear on the certificate of license. You need to enter your full legal name as shown on your proof of identity and age.
Put in your date of birth and indicate your gender, checking the appropriate box.
3. Age and identity proof:
For a license, a candidate has to be at least 18. For the verification of your age and identity, you need to include a photocopy (both sides) of government-issued identification documents. These documents must specify your full name and date of birth. The following are acceptable documents:
- Student/Work Authorization
- Record of Landing
- The Citizenship Card of Canada
- Canadian Permanent Resident Card
- Canadian birth certificate, or birth document proof
- Driving license
For the Financial Credit Program (FCP), you need to give an identification document. It will help you prove that you are a Canadian citizen or eligible for a permanent resident.
4. Current Residence Address:
Give your current residence address, email address and telephone number.
5. Academic Background:
You need to specify:
- The discipline of study
- Type of earned undergraduate (bachelor’s) and (master’s, doctorate) degrees like B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.)
- the date (month/year) of each degree you earned
- Location and name (city/country) of the degree-issuing institutions.
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Good character:
Besides the experience and education requirements, by the Professional Engineers Act, a prospective license holder must have good character. You need to answer in this section by checking the appropriate box. If your answer is ‘yes’ to any questions, give details on a separate sheet.
7. Your declaration:
Complete the declaration after reading it properly before signing your application.
Costs for attaining Professional Engineers Ontario’s engineering license:
- Application Fee of $360 and HST, which makes a total of $406.80.
- NPPE fee of $225.50.
- Where applicable, the technical examination candidate has to pay:
A one-time administration and first examination fee of $700.
$200 for each subsequent examination
$360 for submission of an engineering report.
- Final registration/licensing fee of $300 and HST, which is a total of $339. You will get an invoice for this fee when you get your license.
- To continue to have a license, you need to pay yearly dues of 4265 and HST (a total of $299.45).
Keep in mind:
All costs are non-refundable. Make sure that all documents to support your application reach PEO. You will get submissions back in case of incomplete submissions.
