Practising engineering in Canada
To be a licensed engineer in Canada, you must be licensed by one of Canada’s provincial or territorial engineering regulators. However, you can still start working in engineering—even if you haven’t been licensed by a regulator—as long as you are supervised by a licensed engineer who takes professional responsibility for your work.
Professionalism and ethics
The Professional Practice Examination
To become an engineer in Canada, you must pass a Professional Practice Examination, or PPE. This exam tests your knowledge of the laws that affect the engineering profession both directly and indirectly, the professional standards to which you will be held accountable, the ethical standards in Canada, as well as other topics such as contracts, patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Several regulators also require applicants to complete a seminar on Law and Ethics.
Taking the exam
Registering for the PPE is done through each provincial regulator. It is important to be well prepared and competent in the language that the exam is offered.
Exams are administered by the regulator you’re applying to for licensure and can take a variety of formats from online exams to in-person exam sittings. In some cases, you may even be able to write while residing outside of Canada. Instructions for acquiring study materials are available from the regulator where you are applying for licensure.
The timing of your exam in relation to the overall application process will again vary by regulator. Depending on where you are applying, you may be able to write it while still completing your degree, immediately after you start your application, or only after you have demonstrated that have met all of the academic qualifications. Check with the appropriate regulator for details.
Additional information
For more information about this examination, refer to the Guideline on the Professional Practice Examination.
Related Information
Find your provincial or territorial regulator
To work as a professional engineer in one of Canada's provinces or territories, you must receive a licence from that province or territory's engineering association.