PEO Announces Changes to Continuing Professional Development Requirements for 2027 and 2028

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has announced changes to its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, with the first phase scheduled to begin in January 2027 and full implementation expected in 2028, subject to regulatory approvals. The changes introduce a standard annual CPD requirement, a new Learning Plan, and broader competency categories to help engineers maintain and develop their professional competence.

The current program operates under PEO’s Practice Evaluation and Knowledge (PEAK) framework. Under the revised program, PEAK will be renamed CPD, with greater emphasis on identifying learning needs, documenting professional development activities, and reflecting on learning outcomes.

Key Changes to PEO’s CPD Program

The revised program introduces the following changes:

• Annual CPD requirement: A minimum of 12 hours of CPD annually for licence holders subject to the requirements.

• Learning Plan: The existing Practice Evaluation will be replaced by a guided assessment to help engineers identify learning needs and professional development goals.

• Learning Activity Report: The existing CPD Report will be replaced by a report documenting completed activities and learning outcomes.

• Six competency categories: Technical competence; communication; project and financial management; team effectiveness; professional accountability; and social, economic and environmental sustainability.

• Simplified reporting: PEO plans to introduce a single annual deadline, aligned with annual licence fee renewal dates from 2028.

The revised framework also removes the existing allocation between priority and supplementary CPD topics, providing greater flexibility to select activities relevant to individual professional responsibilities.

What Engineers Need to Know for 2027

The first phase of the revised program will begin in January 2027. Practising licence holders will complete the full program, while non-practising licence holders may voluntarily participate in the CPD-hours component.

The 2027 requirements will include a Practice Declaration, Learning Plan assessment, a minimum of 12 hours of CPD activities, the Professional Practice Module (PPM), and a Learning Activity Report. The 2027 PPM will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering.

All applicable requirements must be completed by December 31, 2027.

Aligning Competency-Based Licensing with Ongoing Professional Development

PEO’s CPD changes reinforce the connection between competency-based assessment (CBA) for obtaining a P.Eng. licence and maintaining professional competence after licensure. Applicants must demonstrate the required competencies to become licensed, while professional engineers are expected to maintain and develop those competencies throughout their careers.

The revised CPD framework supports a more consistent approach to competency development across the professional licensing lifecycle. The competencies demonstrated during the licensing process provide the foundation for professional practice, while ongoing development helps engineers keep pace with changes in technology, standards, regulations, and professional responsibilities.

The six CPD categories also reflect that engineering competence extends beyond technical knowledge to include communication, project management, teamwork, accountability, and sustainability. By aligning the competencies required to obtain a licence with the ongoing development expected after licensure, PEO is reinforcing the principle that professional competence is not a one-time achievement, but a continuing professional responsibility.

How Does PEO’s Approach Compare with Other Provinces?

Canadian engineering regulators have adopted different approaches to continuing professional development, although maintaining professional competence remains a common objective.

In Alberta, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) emphasizes individualized competency planning through its Personal Annual Competency Evaluation (PACE) framework, alongside mandatory learning modules and CPD activities. Its revised approach does not prescribe a fixed annual minimum number of CPD hours.

In British Columbia, Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) requires practising registrants to complete 60 continuing education hours over a rolling three-year period, alongside annual reporting and a Continuing Education Plan. Saskatchewan’s Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) requires 30 CPD credits annually, including at least 12 verifiable credits and one hour of verifiable ethics training.

PEO’s proposed framework combines a fixed annual minimum with a Learning Plan and broader competency categories. While the requirements differ across jurisdictions, these approaches demonstrate the importance of structured learning, professional accountability, and maintaining competence throughout an engineering career.

Engineers registered in multiple provinces should review each regulator’s requirements rather than assume that completing CPD in one jurisdiction automatically satisfies the requirements of another.

What Changes in 2028?

The second phase, expected to begin in January 2028, will introduce the full CPD program. Under the planned framework, all licence holders will be required to complete the program regardless of practising status. However, individuals in their first year of licensure and those on fee remission will remain exempt from the CPD program.

PEO also plans to introduce broader exemption provisions, including accommodations and compassionate considerations. The Learning Activity Report will include reflection on how professional development activities contribute to ongoing competence and professional growth. Reporting deadlines will also be aligned with annual licence fee renewal dates.

Licence holders should monitor PEO announcements for further details as the revised program is implemented.

For further details, visit PEO’s official announcement on the 2027–2028 CPD changes.