​There's confusion around this title and it's time to clear it up. So first let's look at the definition. 

What is a P. Eng.?

It is simply an abbreviation for a Professional Engineer, and it's a protected term in Canada. 

In Canada, a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) is issued a licence to practice by one of the regulatory associations. The P. Eng. designation is a step taken to protect the public by ensuring only qualified individuals practice engineering.  

How Long Does it Take to Become a P. Eng.?

It can take just 4 years after graduation to become an Professional Engineer if you're educated in Canada (CEAB accredited). Just ensure you've registered with your association as a Member in Training (E.I.T. or M.I.T.) and you're working under the supervision of a licenced engineer. 

If you're internationally educated, it can still take just 4 years after graduation. Yet, be sure to register with your association early as it can take 12-24 months for them to perform an academic review and an experience review. 

Important: you can work in Canada without the P. Eng. designation

just be sure to register with your association and ensure you'll work under the direct supervision of a professional engineer. ​
Here are the steps to register for the P. Eng. exam and to apply for the professional engineer designation...

Step 1: Obtain an Approved Engineering Education

If you have an engineering degree from Canada, then ensure it's CEAB (Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board) accredited. Don't worry almost all Canadian Engineering degrees are accredited and you can confirm that here...
If you're an internationally educated engineer you'll go through a more elaborate academic assessment process that often involves forwarding your degree credentials and sometimes transcripts.  

This will take time, so be sure to register with your association right away.  

PS: each regulator has its own academic assessment processes and some are a lot tougher than others. Alberta has one of the most thorough processes, keep that in mind if you're moving from another province. 

Step 2: Register With Your Association

In Canada, be sure to check with your specific regulatory association first, as some have specific requirements. 

Here's a list of the regulatory associations:
Here's the fine print on the specific requirements:

Step 3: Work Underneath a Professional Engineer

You'll need four years of work experience under the direct supervision of a professional engineer and 1 of those years must be in Canada. 

Step 4: Pass the P. Eng. Exam

As an outcome of their academic assessment, your association will assign the P. Eng. exam (known as the NPPE exam or PPE exam) and possible some technical exams. This will come in the form of an email or a physical letter. 

So head over to your association's website, log in, apply and pay for the exams you must write. 

Here's a guide on P. Eng. study courses and what it takes to pass these exams...
The cost to register for the exam varies (as of September 2019):
British Columbia
$325
Nova Scotia
$200
Alberta
$230
Nfld & Labrador
$225
Saskatchewan
$320
NWT & Nunavut
$242
Manitoba
$260
Yukon
$242
New Brunswick
$266
PEI
$220

Step 5: Submit Your Final Application

Once you've passed the exams, submit your application and pay the required fee. 

Professional Engineering in Canada

Below is a seminar that we held for Professional Engineering exam (that is everywhere except Quebec). So this includes the P. Eng. in Alberta, the P. Eng. in Ontario, and the P. Eng. in British Columbia. 

  • We share exam pass rates -> this drastically changes your approach and time spent studying.
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  • You'll learn what products are available and select the best method for you.  
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  • Find out if you should buy the textbooks (HINT: you can save ~$250, and avoid pain of reading 1000 pages of ethics and professionalism). 
 
  • Discover the #1 reason for failure and learn how to avoid it, before you start studying.  

P. Eng. Exam Preparation

Here is a summary of the available preparation products for the P. Eng. exams in various locations. 

The Right To Title

Your right to title and the right to practice are considered significant contributions to society.  Your Association carries out the EGP Act and reserve the titles such as:

  • P. Eng.
  • P. Geo.
  • Professional Engineer
  • Professional Geoscientist

including any sort of variation of the above that may mislead the public.  
The Associations protect these titles and deem them a useful and quality control signal to the public.  When dealing with a geoscientist or engineer, the public and be comfortable that it is a person who is professional, ethical and competent.  This confidence is managed with training and experience requirements.  
Many people see this concept of reserved titles and practice as a monopoly.  However, the benefits to the public are substantial and by far outweigh the benefit of a potential monopoly for members of the Association.  Therefore this restriction is considered fair and equitable.  

Why Should I Become A P. Eng.?

Firstly, and generally most important to most professionals, achieving the professional status is often met with a raise in wages.  The second reason is simply that it is required by law.  Most students are quite shocked to learn they cannot legally call themselves engineers after they graduate.  They simply do not have the right to that title until they register with the correct provincial Association according to the Professional Engineers Act.  

The professional engineer  or professional geoscientist licence or status demonstrates that you have met a educational requirement, and have been through an structured supervised process and adhere to a strict code of ethics.  
PPE Headquarters, All rights reserved.