Continuing professional development (CPD) will be a condition of holding a licence to practice engineering in Ontario as of 2023. A recently filed provincial regulation provides authority for Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) to mandate a CDP program, which is expected to be based on the optional exercises for practice evaluation, ethics training and reporting of continuing education that the governing body for the profession already sponsors.

The new requirement will bring Ontario’s professional engineers (P.Eng) in line with those licensed to practice in all other Canadian provinces. Mandatory CPD is considered a regulatory best practice, and has also been adopted by governing bodies for several other regulated professions.

“Implementing a mandatory CPD program is an important part of upholding PEO’s regulatory mandate and affirms to the profession, our stakeholders and the public that PEO is committed to establishing, maintaining and enhancing standards of engineering practice in Ontario,” says Christian Bellini, PEO’s chief executive officer and registrar.

As laid out in the new regulation, professional engineers will be required to complete designated CPD activities and provide proof to the PEO by January 31 each year. The registrar will have authority to suspend the licence of those who do not comply. As well, non-compliance will be reported through PEO’s online directory of engineering practitioners.

“The program aims to guide engineers to develop and maintain their professional knowledge, skills, competence and professionalism,” advises Arden Heerah the PEO’s lead on professional development. “In line with PEO’s public interest mandate, the online directory of practitioners will continue to indicate whether an engineer is in compliance with regulatory obligations, including the new CPD requirement, and is permitted to practice.”