Professional licensing

For accreditation purposes, faculty teaching engineering science and/or engineering design courses must be registered as a professional engineer in Canada. Obtaining and maintaining professional licensure ensures that your home department will be awarded accreditation units (AUs) for engineering science and engineering design. This is critical in maintaining accredited program status as laid out by the .ÌýAll forms of engineering licensure in Canada are considered acceptable.
For assistance with the application process as well as questions regarding fee reimbursement please email engadcepa@uwaterloo.ca

Registration pathways

Application types:

  • EIT: Ideal for new grads without adequate professional experience Ìý

  • P.L.Eng: Professional licensee engineer, ideal for candidates whose work experience is primarily based in research and post-secondary teaching.Ìý

: Ìý

  • 4-year bachelor's in engineering, Science, technology or geoscience (Typically no examinations if any of the following apply)Ìý

    • Engineers Canada accredited degreeÌý
    • Washington Acord signatories accredited degreeÌý

    • Commision des Titre d’ingenieur (CTI) FranceÌý

    • Bachelors from a non-accredited program combined with a master's or higher accredited by one of the accreditation bodies above. For non-accredited applicants you must complete the self-evaluation checklist and submit master's or PhD thesis abstractsÌý

  • Completed EIT application form: ÌýÌý

  • Valid transcripts sent directly to EGBCÌý

  • 2 pieces of Valid Government IDÌý

: 10 years total experience minimum (4 years Undergraduate work, 1-2 years Graduate work, 4-5 years teaching or doing research)Ìý

  • AÌýbachelor's degree in science or engineering or a diploma in engineeringÌý

  • A masters (or higher) in engineering, pure or applied science or mathÌý

    • Academic transcripts must be sent directly to EGBC from the institutionsÌý

  • 4 years' work experienceÌý

    • Last 2 years must be spent teaching engineering science/design; orÌý

    • Doing research in an engineering faculty at a universityÌý

    • Last year of experience must be with the university where the licence will be issued.Ìý

  • Completed Limited Licence Application Form: Ìý

  • Good character assessment (no previous criminal activity)Ìý

  • Pass National Professional Practice examÌý

  • Take Ethics seminarÌýÌý

  • Proof of identificationÌý

  • Competency based assessment (Online)Ìý

Helpful links:Ìý

  • ÌýProvides a detailed breakdown of what is necessary for the Competency based assessmentÌý

  • How much each licence will cost up front before you are reimbursed. Ìý

  • ÌýNote:Ìýonce notified, the applicant is givenÌýtwo yearsÌýto write and pass the exam (~10 sittings) before the file is closed. Refer toÌýÌýfor complete exam information.Ìý

  • Ìýto be completed by registered faculty (P.Eng. or P.L.Eng.)Ìý

  • Helpful guide on applying for licensure, can count as 1 hour of continuing education if signed in while watchingÌý

Breakdown of the 34 competenciesÌý

Effective May 15, 2023Ìý

  • Individuals must meet academic/experience qualifications outlined in theÌýÌýand set out in the regulations at the time they apply.Ìý

  • EIT program willÌýno longer be available to new applicants; work experience must be acquired before applying.Ìý

  • All applicants are required to pass the national professional practice exam before they submit their application.Ìý

Ìý

  • 4-year bachelor's in engineeringÌýÌý

    • Canadian accredited engineering graduates do not require additional testingÌý
    • Graduates from other countries are required to complete 4 technical examsÌý

      • Graduates from outside Canada or the United States must submit a course-by-course report from the world education services to confirm courses meet the necessary requirementsÌý

  • 4 Years of work experience relevant to professional engineeringÌý

  • Completed P.Eng application (In portal)Ìý

  • Good character assessment (In portal)Ìý

  • Competency based assessment (In portal)Ìý

  • Identification (In portal)Ìý

  • Work Experience (In portal)Ìý

Helpful Links:Ìý

  • How much each licence will cost up front before you are reimbursed.Ìý

  • Ìý

  • Validator Guide for Competency Based assessmentÌý

  • Ìý

  • Ìý

Derek Rayside headshot

Derek Rayside Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Co-operative Education and Professional Affairs (CEPA)

ContactÌýus

Derek Rayside, PhD, PEng
Associate Dean
Co-operative Education and Professional Affairs
Engineering Undergraduate Office

Resources and more information

Competency based assessment examples and reviews: Ìý

Practice Exams: Ìý

Practice Exams:Ìý

NPPE seminars:Ìý