Technical Examinations on the Path to Obtaining a Professional Engineering License in Canada (P.Eng)

Confirmatory Exam Program (CEP)

The Confirmatory Exam Program (CEP) is for applicants with a Bachelor of Engineering degree deemed similar to a CEAB-accredited program. Typically, they must complete four technical exams to demonstrate their academic readiness equivalent to CEAB graduates. Key details include:

1. Work Experience Assessment: Candidates with at least five years of engineering experience may have their work evaluated to reduce or exempt some exams. Required documents must be submitted by the deadline, or the opportunity is forfeited, and exams must begin within the set timeframe.
2. Examination Program:
   • Candidates can receive exemptions for exams by meeting the Good Performance Criteria.
   • Failure in two exams results in assignment to the Failed-to-Confirm (FTC) program, a more rigorous form of the Specific Exam Program (SEP).

Failure to start the program within the allotted time cancels the P.Eng application. Success and performance dictate the path forward or additional challenges.

The technical examination program consists of four exams:

• Two Group A exams from any engineering discipline,
• One Group B exam from any engineering discipline, and
• One Complimentary Studies (CS) exam.
• The pass mark for all PEO exams is 50%.

An applicant will be considered to have successfully completed the technical examination program if the average of the technical exam marks is at least 55%.

Specific Exam Program (SEP)

The Specific Exam Program (SEP) is assigned to candidates whose academic qualifications do not meet Canadian standards, as determined by the PEO assessment. The SEP addresses identified weaknesses through a tailored set of exams, which may include:

• Basic Studies exams (must be completed first)
• Discipline-specific exams
• Complementary Studies exams
• Thesis requirement

Candidates must pass the Basic Studies exams before PEO reevaluates their qualifications and potentially modifies the remaining exams. For those with at least 10 years of engineering experience, the PEO may refer them to a Work Experience Assessment to evaluate whether any exam exemptions are possible.

SEP can require up to 18 exams in total, and candidates without Basic Studies exams but with 10+ years of experience may also be evaluated for possible exemptions. Completion of the Basic Studies exams is a prerequisite for the remainder of the program.