Fact Sheets: Internationally Trained Workers: Access To The Engineering Profession in Ontario

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Fact Sheets
Internationally Trained Workers: Access to the
engineering profession in Ontario
The Engineering profession is regulated in the Province of Ontario by Professional Engineers
Ontario (PEO), a regulatory body that ensures public safety by setting standards for admission,
issuing licences to practise professional engineering, and regulating the practice of engineering
in Ontario. The rules concerning the licensing of professional engineers in Ontario are contained
in provincial legislation the Professional Engineers Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter P28 and
Regulation 941, R.R.O 1990.
By law, no one is authorized to practise as a professional engineer without a licence (see Note).
There are over 64,000 professional engineers in Ontario and more than 156,000 in Canada.
Professional engineers use the abbreviation "P.Eng." after their names. In Ontario, professional
engineers specialize in a wide range of engineering activities, in areas including:
agricultural engineering
biochemical/biomedical/bioresources engineering
biological engineering
chemical engineering
civil engineering
computer engineering
electrical engineering
engineering physics
environmental engineering
geological engineering
geomatics engineering
geotechnical engineering
industrial engineering
marine engineering
mechanical engineering
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metallurgical engineering
mining engineering
naval architectural engineering
petroleum engineering
software engineering
structural engineering.
Professional engineers work as employees of large or small companies, in education or

government, or as independent practitioners in the various fields of engineering.
PEO licenses professional engineers for practice only within Ontario. However, there is an
agreement among Canadian provinces and territories that will normally allow you to transfer your
licence or obtain another provincial/territorial licence if you need to practise in another province
or territory of Canada, or choose to move to another province or territory and become licensed.
Each province or territory regulates the practice of professional engineering within that
jurisdiction.
NOTE: Not all engineering graduates in Ontario are professional engineers. A professional
engineer must have satisfied the requirements set by PEO to earn a licence. However, you can
work in engineering without a licence, if a professional engineer supervises and takes
responsibility for your work. You cannot use the title "professional engineer", the abbreviation
"P.Eng.", or any similar title that may lead to the belief that you are qualified to practise
professional engineering unless you are a licensed professional engineer.
Right to Practise in Ontario

Only those who are granted the "professional engineer" licence have the right to practise
professional engineering in Ontario.
To become licensed by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), you must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
You can apply to PEO to start the licensing/registration process before you immigrate;
however, your licence will only be granted after you receive Canadian permanent
residency status and have satisfied the other requirements. (This requirement is under
review and may be eliminated in the future.)
3. Be of good character.
You will be requested to answer questions and make a written declaration on your
application form, attesting to the absence of any past conduct that would afford grounds
for the belief that you will not practise professional engineering with honesty and integrity.
In addition, PEO will solicit opinions about your suitability for PEO membership from
referees whose names you provide.
4. Meet PEOs stipulated academic requirements for licensure.
This may include writing technical examinations. See below.
5. Pass the Professional Practice Examination. See below.
6. Fulfil engineering work experience requirements. See below.
Application Process
While You Are Still Abroad (Before You Immigrate to Ontario)
You may apply to PEO to begin the licensing/registration process from your country of origin.
You will be required to:
provide documentary evidence of your qualifications, which PEO will assess, such as,
notarized transcript(s),
detailed course descriptions, and
an experience record; and
include the appropriate fees to initiate your application for licence.
You will receive information:
to help you determine whether you will be able to obtain a licence to practise professional
engineering in Ontario;
about how long it may take you to get a licence; and
which explains the number of technical exams you may have to complete and the
associated costs.
To download the application for licence, visit PEOs website or contact the office at the address
provided on page 12, of this fact sheet.
You must submit the following:
the completed application form with the required supporting documentation; and
a fee of $187.25 Cdn., payable to "Professional Engineers Ontario". (Please check the
PEO website for the current fee schedule.)
If your academic documents are not in English, you must submit a notarized English translation,
as well as the original documents. You must also provide your detailed course descriptions and
an experience record for PEOs review.
The academic qualifications assessment should take no longer than two months to complete
after PEO has received all the required documents.
Once your documents have been assessed, PEO will advise you concerning what examinations
you will be required to write, in the event your assessment reveals any gaps in your academic
qualifications for licensing purposes, or in order to confirm that they are equivalent to PEOs
academic requirements for licensure. If you do not have the minimum academic requirements,
PEO will advise you that you may not be able to qualify to work as a professional engineer in
Canada.
As soon as you arrive in Ontario you may continue the licensing process without being required
to pay any additional application for licence fee.
When You Arrive in Ontario There is no guarantee that you will find employment in the
engineering field upon arrival in Ontario.
If you have already had your academic qualifications assessed as described above, you should
contact PEO when you arrive to continue the licensing process. You will be asked to provide
proof of:
your full legal name;

your PEO file number (this appears on all PEO communication to you); and
your permanent residency status in Canada.
You must also re-submit an official English translation of your documents, certified by a
translator from the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO), or prepared and
certified by a professional engineer.
You will then receive a detailed update on the status of your application and information on the
next step in the licensing process.
Application Steps
From Ontario
If you have not already applied to PEO for a licence, follow these steps:
Step 1 Apply for a Licence
Contact PEO and request an application (see contact information below). If you have access to
the Internet, visit PEOs website to download a copy of the Application Guide and Application for
Licence form.
Step 2 Assess Academic Qualifications
If you do not hold a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited Canadian
undergraduate degree program, your academic qualifications will be assessed by PEO to
determine if you possess equivalent qualifications. You will be asked to submit the following
documents and information:
original, certified diploma(s), degree(s), and full transcript(s), showing courses completed
and marks;
detailed description of each course taken; and
the full address of the educational and professional institutions relevant to your
engineering qualifications.
If your academic documents are not in English, you must submit notarized English translations
prepared by a service that is certified by the Association of Translators and Interpreters of
Ontario (ATIO), or by a professional engineer.
If your academic qualifications are not accepted by PEO as equivalent, PEO may assign you
technical examinations. These examinations are assigned to:
1. give you an opportunity to confirm the equivalency of your degree; or
2. help you remedy identified deficiencies in your academic qualifications.
When technical exams are assigned, PEO will provide you with a list of recommended textbooks
on the subject matter to help you prepare. (Special arrangements can be made with PEOs
Admissions Department to have technical exams written abroad.) There are also institutions in
Ontario that offer preparatory courses to help exam candidates prepare for PEOs technical
examinations.
If you are assigned a confirmatory examination program, you may be required to write and pass
up to four examinations, which you must complete in two years. If you are assigned an individual
(specific) examination program, you may be required to write and pass up to 20 examinations,
which you must complete in eight years. For information on the costs for writing examinations,
see the section of this fact sheet on Fees and Costs.
If you do not pass your technical examinations, you may be permitted to rewrite them, under
certain circumstances. You may also appeal the grade received in an examination. If you appeal
your grade, your examination will be re-marked by another examiner. There is a fee for
appealing your examination grade (see Fees and Costs).
Individual (specific) examination program candidates may be asked to submit an Engineering
Report as part of their academic requirements. This report should demonstrate to the Academic
Requirements Committee (ARC) your ability to define an engineering problem, devise a solution,
draw conclusions and make recommendations using engineering principles, consistent with wellestablished engineering practices. This report must be your own work and must be of an
acceptable professional level.
PEO may grant you an exemption from technical examinations (and the Engineering Report) if:
you have an engineering degree conferred outside Canada that PEO believes to be
equivalent to one from an accredited Canadian engineering degree program and you have
also completed postgraduate studies in engineering at a Canadian university, in the same
discipline as that of your foreign undergraduate engineering degree; or
you have an undergraduate engineering degree from an institution in a country that has a
Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
These countries are: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United
States (after 1989), Hong Kong (1995), and South Africa (1999). (Please note that to be
recognized as equivalent, the degree must have been granted during or after the year
indicated after the name of the country.)
Step 3 Professional Practice Examination

Once you have met the academic standards, whether by successfully completing assigned
technical examinations or being exempted from exams, the next step is to write the Professional
Practice Examination (PPE).
You will be advised when you are eligible to write the PPE and you will be notified of the next
opportunity to write it. The exam is offered three times each year in 16 different Ontario
cities/towns, and you may choose to write in either English or French. (If you wish to write the
exam in French, you must indicate this at the time of applying to write.) You must complete the
PPE within two years of the date you become eligible to write it. (Special arrangements can be
made with PEOs Admissions Department to have the PPE written abroad.)
The PPE has two parts: Part A covers professional practice and ethics; Part B is on engineering
law and professional liability. You must pass both parts in order to pass the PPE.
PEO will provide outlines of the subject matter for both parts of the exam and recommend
textbooks to help you prepare. Copies of previous PPEs are available from PEO at a nominal
cost (and one previous exam in available at no cost from PEOs website (www.peo.on.ca). There
are also some institutions in Ontario that provide preparatory courses to help applicants prepare
for this exam.
If you do not pass the PPE, you will be permitted to rewrite it. You may also appeal the grade
you receive on the examination. If you appeal your grade, your exam will be re-marked by
another examiner. There is a fee for appealing your examination grade (see Fees and Costs).
Step 4 Practical Experience
Under Ontario law, you must complete four years of verifiable, acceptable engineering work
experience under the supervision of a professional engineer, of which at least 12 months must
be experience gained in a Canadian jurisdiction, before you will be granted your licence as a
professional engineer. The mandatory requirement for Canadian experience ensures that you
are conversant with Canadian engineering codes, legislation, technical standards and
regulations as they pertain to engineering practice in your field.
Your engineering experience will be assessed against the following five criteria:
application of theory;
practical experience;
management of engineering;
communication skills;
awareness of the social implications of engineering.
If your academic qualifications satisfy PEOs licensing requirements, all of your engineering
experience gained from the date your engineering degree was awarded is eligible for credit
toward PEOs four-year experience requirement. In addition, you will normally receive a one-year
experience credit for the successful completion of a postgraduate degree in engineering in the
same discipline as your undergraduate degree.
Step 5 Language Proficiency Assessment
There is a legislative requirement for PEO to ensure that all applicants for a licence to practise
professional engineering are able to demonstrate good English language proficiency.
Engineering Internship Training (EIT) Program

If you have been assigned a confirmatory examination program, you are eligible to be registered
in PEO's Engineering Internship Training (EIT) Program. The EIT Program is designed for
applicants who are employed in an engineering capacity. It is not a job search or placement
program.
PEOs EIT Program:
helps you to understand the licensing requirements, particularly the experience required to
qualify for a P.Eng. licence;
offers you the opportunity to obtain detailed, confidential work experience reviews from the
EIT Program Manager. At your request, PEO will review your experience upon changing
jobs, upon completion of any temporary work assignment, and after obtaining your first six
months of engineering experience in Canada;
helps you demonstrate to employers your commitment to becoming a licensed
professional engineer; and
encourages you to become involved in the profession and to participate in PEOs chapter
activities, insurance and investment plans.
PEOs EIT program provides:
access to the password-protected sections of the PEO website (www.peo.on.ca) for

questions and answers of concern to PEOs engineering interns;
subscription to EngineerMENTOR, PEOs on-line newsletter for engineering interns
(available by mail on request);
on-line discussions with other engineering interns and with professional engineers;
advice on reporting work experience;
examples of legal and ethical issues; and
specialized EIT assistance.
The annual fee for the EIT program is $53.50. You must notify your PEO Admission
Representative or the Manager, EIT Program (eit@peo.on.ca) if you wish to be recorded in the
EIT Program.
Labour Market Information

The labour market for professional engineers in Ontario varies according to your area of practice
and the industries in which you wish to work. In general, professional engineers are expected to
continue to be in high demand in Ontario's globally competitive, knowledge-based economy.
Whereas unemployment levels for professional engineers in Ontario are low relative to the
unemployment rate as a whole, it is a very competitive job market and jobs are not easy to find.
Average earnings in engineering are higher than the provincial average for all occupations.
Increasingly, professional engineers are expected to update their knowledge and technical skills
continuously. In many employment settings, professional engineers must also demonstrate
leadership abilities and the ability to work effectively in teams.
NOTE: Although engineers are generally in high demand in Ontairo, many foreign-trained
engineers have difficulty finding employment in their field in Ontario. This can be caused by
various factors, including:
lack of a professional engineer licence to practise in Ontario;

academic credentials that are not well understood by Ontario employers;
lack of good English language communication skills; or
unfamiliarity with the industry in Canada, resulting in lack of contacts and networking
opportunities.
It is important to prepare for your job search early even before you immigrate by becoming
familiar with job-search techniques, conducting research on the industries and companies in
which you are interested, and improving and documenting your skills and knowledge. There are
sources of information listed in the contacts section of this fact sheet to help you do this.
Canadian Labour Market Trends

Many of the industries that employ engineers are cyclical in Canada, that is they experience
periods of growth and decline. The Canadian government expects that:
employment in the construction, business services and health sectors will experience
above average growth until at least 2004;
the agriculture, mining, transportation, and utilities industries will experience below
average job growth;
although employment in the manufacturing sector will grow only slightly, there will be
some pockets of strong growth, such as in the rubber, plastics, paper products, printing
and publishing, and maching industries;
the forestry and fishing industries will experience a decline in employment levels to 2004;
and
while employment in the communcations industry overall will shrink, growth will occur in
the telecommunications side of the industry as a result of the development of new
technology.
Key Industries for Engineers in Ontario

There are strong sectors in the Ontario economy that rely heavily on the expertise and
knowledge provided by professional engineers.
Consulting Engineering
The consulting engineering industry comprises companies and sole practitioners engaged in the
practice of professional engineering. They provide services related to technology-intensive
projects.
This industry is linked to many other sectors by the expertise it provides in rationalizing,
designing and managing facilities expansion and technology development.
Firms must be competitive at a global level. International markets and linkages between
Canadian and international firms are assuming increasing importance.
Many projects are delivered as "total business solutions" sometimes called BOOT (build-ownoperate-transfer). This means consulting engineers need to expand their practices and/or strike
strategic alliances with other firms to deliver the range of expertise required by clients.
Aerospace Industry
This industry is defined as those organizations involved in the design, manufacture, operation
and maintenance of civil, commercial, military and dual-use aircraft and spacecraft and their
parts, components, and subsystems.
The aerospace industry is extremely cyclical; as a result, employment can shrink dramatically
during lean periods. However, the industry in Canada is currently very healthy and the forecast
for the coming years continues to be positive.
There were more than 400 companies active in the Canadian aerospace industry in 1997,
concentrated in Quebec and Ontario. Key segments in which Canadian companies are active
are commuter aircraft, business aircraft, flight simulators and advanced gas turbine engines.
Bombardier is the largest employer in this industry, employing about 1000 engineers and
technologists in 1997.
Currently suffering from skill shortages, this industry employs engineers from various disciplines,
including:
aeronautical and aerospace engineers;

electrical and electronics engineers;
computer and software engineers;
systems engineers;
mechanical engineers; and
chemical engineers.
The aerospace industry is program- and project-oriented. This means that work is often
conducted in teams that are established for a project or program and then disbanded once the
project or program is completed. Workers are then reassigned other projects, if available.
Automotive Manufacturing
This industry is defined as the assembly of light vehicles (autos, small trucks, minvans, and sport
utility vehicles).
Canadian companies compete on a global level and are under increasing pressure to lower the
costs of manufacturing. This pressure has resulted in cost-cutting, international sourcing of parts
to obtain the lowest prices, and intense technological change to lower the cost of both products
and production processes. Environmental pressures on companies in this industry are also
increasing.
The industry is experiencing skill shortages but not generally in the area of engineering. Rather,
companies are looking for skilled tradespeople, particularly those who are familiar with new
computerized production machinery.
For more information on labour market conditions see Ontario Job Futures on the Human
Resources Development Canada (HRDC) website at www.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca. In Ontario, this
information is available at public libraries or HRDC Employment Resource Centres in your
community.
PEO conducts annual salary surveys; detailed results are available on PEO's website.
Fees and Costs (in Canadian Dollars)
Make cheques or money orders payable to Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
1. PEO application fee:...................................... $187.25 ($175 + $12.25 GST)
(must be included with application)
2. Technical Examination Programs.
One-time administration fee........................... 285.00
Each exam ...................................................... 115.00
- Exam re-marking .......................................... 100.00
3. Professional Practice Exam .......................... 100.00
- Exam re-marking .......................................... 200.00
4. Engineering report .......................................... 225.00
5. Engineering Internship Training
(EIT) Program ............................................ 53.50 ($50 + $3.50 GST)
6. Final registration fee ................................ 187.25 ($175 + 12.25 GST)

7. Annual membership fee ........................... 160.50 ($150 + 10.50 GST)
All fees are non-refundable.

For More Information
For more information on how to become a licensed professional engineer in Ontario contact:
Professional Engineers Ontario
25 Sheppard Ave. West, Suite 1000
Toronto, ON M2N 6S9
Telephone: (416) 224-1100
Toll Free: 1-800-339-3716 (only in Ontario)
Fax: (416) 224-8168
Toll Free Fax: 1-800-268-0496 (only in Ontario)
Website: www.peo.on.ca
For more information on advocacy and services for engineers contact:
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
4950 Yonge Street, Suite 1000
Toronto, ON M2N 6K1
Telephone: (416) 223-9961
Toll Free: 1-866-763-1654
Fax: (416) 223-9963
Toll Free Fax: 1-866-763-1655
Website: www.ospe.on.ca
For information on finding a certified translation service, contact:
Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1202
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
Tel: (613) 241-2846

Fax: (613) 241-4098
Toll-free: 1-800-234-5030
Email: atio@fox.nstn.ca
Website: www.atio.on.ca/
For information on Ontario university programs in engineering, contact:
Professional Engineers Ontario (see above)
or
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
180 Elgin St., Suite 1100
Ottawa, ON K2P 2K3
Telephone: (613) 232-2474
Fax: (613) 230-5759
Email: ia@ccpe.ca.
Website: www.ccpe.ca
For information on where and how to get help with settlement in Ontario visit:
www.settlement.org
or contact:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M4R 1A3
Telephone: (416) 322-4950
Fax: (416) 322-8084
Email: generalmail@ocasi.org
Website: www.ocasi.org/
For a government contact about accessing professions and trades in Ontario:
Government of Ontario
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Access to Professions & Trades Unit
Tel: (416) 326-5656
Toll Free: 1-800-387-5656
Fax:(416) 326-6265
Email: aptinfo@edu.gov.on.ca
Website: www.equalopportunity.on.ca/eng_g/apt/
Copyright in this fact sheet is held jointly by the Queen's Printer for Ontario and Professional
Engineers Ontario, 2001.
This document was developed in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges
and Universities, Access to Professions and Trades Unit in April, 2001. Requirements may have
changed by the time you apply. Please contact Professional Engineers Ontario before
completing your application.
See also:
News Release: Ontario government helps foreign-trained professionals contribute to

economic growth and job creation
Backgrounder: Occupational Fact Sheets
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Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities > Occupational Fact Sheets: Access to the engineering profession in Ontario

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Professional engineers work as employees of large or small companies, in education or

Right to Practise in Ontario

You will receive information:

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your full legal name;

Step 3 Professional Practice Examination

Engineering Internship Training (EIT) Program

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PEOs EIT Program:

PEOs EIT program provides:

access to the password-protected sections of the PEO website (www.peo.on.ca) for

Labour Market Information

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lack of a professional engineer licence to practise in Ontario;

Canadian Labour Market Trends

Key Industries for Engineers in Ontario

aeronautical and aerospace engineers;

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6. Final registration fee ................................ 187.25 ($175 + 12.25 GST)

All fees are non-refundable.

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Tel: (613) 241-2846

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News Release: Ontario government helps foreign-trained professionals contribute to

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