What Has Changed
Effective July 1, 2026, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is changing the minimum engineering experience required for professional licensure in Ontario from four years to two years.
Though two years of engineering experience does not automatically qualify an applicant for a license. Applicants still must provide evidence of their experience and have their competencies assessed through PEO’s established review process, including validation by licensed professional engineers. Demonstrated competence remains the standard for licensure.
While some applicants may be able to demonstrate all required competencies after two years of experience, others may require additional time. The change removes a barrier for individuals who can demonstrate readiness for professional practice earlier in their careers.
Why OSPE Supports the New Minimum Two-Year Requirement
PEO’s approach maintains rigorous standards by recognizing competence rather than years of experience.
OSPE supports the reduction in years since high professional standards are still being met. The CBA process requires applicants to demonstrate achievement across multiple competencies, with submissions reviewed by validators and assessors, one of whom must be a licensed P.Eng. The rigorous CBA requirements and review from professional engineers ensures that the reduced amount of time required in professional practice does not negatively impact public safety
OSPE also supports regulatory harmonization across provinces. The reduction in required years of professional practice aligns Ontario’s licensure requirements more closely with those of several other Canadian jurisdictions. Greater consistency across provinces helps reduce incentives for jurisdiction shopping and supports a more harmonized national approach to engineering regulation.
For International Engineering Graduates (IEGs), the change may also help reduce barriers to entering the profession. Highly qualified applicants who can demonstrate the required competencies may be able to obtain licensure sooner, allowing them to contribute their skills to Ontario’s workforce more quickly.
Going Forward
As an organization that advocates for reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining high professional standards, OSPE welcomes measures that support qualified engineers in achieving licensure while continuing to protect the public interest.
Applicants are encouraged to review the latest information directly from PEO as implementation approaches and additional guidance becomes available: Apply | Professional Engineers Ontario
Comments (5)
I agree with the reduction in calendar years for licensure, as individuals have different rates at gaining experience (individual capability, opportunities for learning, etc). The experiences review must still be critical to ensure competency on an individual basis. Changes such as this in the process require monitoring and where necessary, feedback for correcting.
This is great news, and the article above explains clearly that the two years is contingent on relevant experience. This will help with the licensure of may great foreign-trained engineers and ease the shortage of talent so desparately needed here.
Thank you!
Respectfully, this is not a step forward. Most of USA has 4 years for a reason. It’s an established standard. Before making a decision, did the Board evaluate all other agencies, states, provinces in North America. If a survey was done, board would realize this does not make sense.
I respectfully disagree with reducing the experience requirement to 2 years. The objective should not simply be to accelerate licensure. The key question is whether Ontario has demonstrated that reducing the requirement from 4 years to 2 years will maintain the same level of public protection. The P.Eng. designation represents more than technical knowledge- it reflects professional judgment, accountability, and experience gained over time. Those standards are worth preserving.
Where did this come from and who/what pressured PEO to go this way, after so many generations?—political pressure?? Your experience years must not be less than your education years (with the longstanding one-year post-graduate exception). Solely “recognizing competence” within two years is not reasonable and, as stated by someone else, a professional license is far more than technical competence; it is judgment, responsibility, language & communication skills, etc., that takes time to demonstrate towards your licensed peers, at least the amount of time as one’s four-year education. Extremely disappointing this foundational change did not go to a democratic members’ vote.
“unnecessary barriers while maintaining high professional standards”,… that is just absurd in this context.
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